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	VANOC board of directors declare Vancouver and Whistler ready to host the world in 23 days VANOC board of directors declare Vancouver and Whistler ready to host the world in 23 days *Arrival of Olympic Flame in British Columbia heralds final leg of journey towards 2010 Olympic Winter Games* Vancouver, BC — With just 23 days remaining before the world is welcomed to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the board of directors — in their final meeting before the Games begin — gave their seal of approval to the finishing touches the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is preparing on behalf of all Canadians for a worldwide audience. “The board is confident the organizing committee and its partners are well prepared to meet the extraordinary day-to-day challenges of hosting one of the largest international sporting events,” said board chairman Rusty Goepel. “Many hurdles have been overcome in the past few months —both with ingenuity and a lot of long hours by dedicated staff, contractors and volunteers, which will make all Canadians proud.” Among the general updates discussed was the final leg of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, whichofficially starts Thursday when the Olympic Flame re-enters British Columbia, the Host Province of the Games, through the Rocky Mountains and into the town of Golden. The flame will complete its 106-day journey across Canada towards BC Place and light the Olympic Cauldron on February 12, welcoming the world to the Games. “Tomorrow will be an incredibly exciting day for all of us involved in the 2010 Winter Games as we welcome the Olympic Flame back to British Columbia. It’s been an inspiring relay throughout Canada with warm welcomes extended everywhere leading to a steadily growing excitement towards the Games. We are truly in the home stretch now of final preparations to welcome the world,” Goepel continued. Peter Lougheed, who was instrumental in the securing and organizing of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, will pass the flame to Wally Buono, head coach of the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions, as it officially enters British Columbia through Kicking Horse Pass. The pass, the highest point on the Canadian Pacific Railway at 1,627 metres, is a national historic site and played an important role in connecting Canadians to each other and the world through the railway in the 1880s and later on with the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway in the 1960s. “It’s been a remarkable journey up to this point and we take a moment now and again, like today, to enjoy the moment but then it’s back to work asour team continues to work around the clock to make sure every detail is tended to,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of VANOC. “The relay continues to showcase what a marvelous and beautiful country Canada is, filled with people willing to share their amazing stories and show lots and lots of heart. We hope you’ll all be with us in spirit, if not in person, on February 12.” Today, the board of directors also discussed the following updates: CypressMountain: A light snow fell late last week on the Olympic venue as the venue team continues to work 24 hours a day to preserve and protect the integrity of the snowboard and freestyle skiing courses. After days of unseasonably warm and wet weather, VANOC and Cypress Mountain management agreed on January 13 to close the ski resort’s alpine runs to the public. The snow management and snow harvesting program for the Games remains on track and contingency plans are in place to deliver an exceptional field of play for athletes. Transportation: The third and final phase of the 2010 Winter Games integrated transportation plan was launched on January 12 and detailed temporary street closures planned in the City of Vancouver on February 10, 12 and 28 and March 12. The closures are necessary to help ensure successful ceremonies. As the third week of the TravelSmart 2010 Challenge takes place on Friday, January 22, there is more work to be done to encourage drivers who frequently travel by car in downtown Vancouver to start practising their Games-time travel plans now. This week’s road closure is Renfrew Street between McGill and Dundas (as of January 24). To date, 50 per cent of tickets available on the Olympic bus network (OBN) have been booked. All spectators must purchase these tickets for travel to events at Cypress Mountain, and spectators originating from Metro Vancouver attending events in the Whistler area will also require tickets on the OBN. VANOC is encouraging all spectators to book as there is no public parking at any of the Games venues and daily traffic restrictions are in place for vehicles attempting to drive northbound on the Sea to Sky Highway during Games time. Venue Overlay: VANOC’s overlay teams are continuing to work on the complex process of making Games venues ready for the world’s top winter athletes and spectators. Overlay and the construction of temporary structures, such as bleachers and tents, are substantially complete at the mountain venues and work is progressing well at city venues. The athletes’ villages in Vancouver and Whistler anticipate the first arrival of team delegates on January 28, withformal openings scheduled for February 4. More than 80 country flags will soon be hoisted on flagpoles at the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver. The dining halls in the villages are substantially complete, and furniture, fixtures and equipment load-in ison schedule. Finance: The project remains on target to finish with a balanced budget. Procurement is largely complete for numerous goods and services. Information is posted at www.vancouver2010.com once contracts are finalized. Ticketing: Tickets are still available online at www.vancouver2010.com/tickets or by calling the call centre (1.800.TICKETS). Main Ticket Centres in downtown Vancouver at Robson Square (at the UBC Bookstore), the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre (located at Plaza Level, 200 Burrard St.), and in Whistler continue to serve customers daily, with venue box offices opening on the first day of competition. Licensing and Merchandise: Olympic merchandise continues to sell well and the Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens continue to be a hot item beyond expectations. More than 1.8 million pairs have been sold since the launch last fall and inventory has been added in advance of the Games. More than 725,000 units of plush mascots have also been sold to date. Workforce: All planned Games-time recruitment has been completed. VANOC’s recruitment strategy included: a student sponsorship program, secondee program, in-house recruitment, and outsourced recruitment with a service provider. Approximately 1,100 employees were recruited in six weeks. Accreditation: Since the Uniform and Accreditation Centre in Vancouver (UAV) opened at the Pacific Coliseum on December 14 and two other accreditation centres opened earlier this month at the Main Media Centre in downtown Vancouver and in Whistler, more than 25,000 people, including 100 press and 1,200 broadcasters, have received their accreditations for the Olympic Winter Games. On the UAV’s busiest upcoming days, between February 4 and February 11, the centre will serve up to 840 people per day (uniforms) and 3,000 people per day (accreditations). More accreditation centres are opening this month at the athletes’ villages, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the Olympic Family hotel. Cultural Olympiad: The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad officially launches on Friday with the opening of the newly expanded version of Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum by the Alberta Ballet. More than 200 projects are part of the lineup of music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and digital programmingtaking place in Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky region until March 21, 2010. The Cultural Olympiad program guide is now available for free throughout the Games region. Tickets are available at www.vancouver2010.com. Bilingual Experience at the Games: Last week, the Government of Canada announced the signing of an agreement between the federal government, the federal Translation Bureau and VANOC. Additional translators from the bureau are relocating and will provide services as needed — both at VANOC headquarters and the Main Media Centre (MMC). Paralympic Torch Relay: The application window for torchbearer spots on the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay closed on January 6 with thousands of applications received by the Province of British Columbia at www.YouGottaBeHere.ca. Successful applicants will be confirmed in early February. The relay starts on March 3 in Ottawa, ON. VANOC Board of Directors Background The VANOC board of directors is made up of 19 members nominated by: the Canadian Olympic Committee (seven); the Government of Canada (three); the Province of British Columbia (three); the City of Vancouver (two); the Resort Municipality of Whistler (two); the Canadian Paralympic Committee (one); a joint appointment by the Band Councils of the Lil'wat and Squamish Nations (one). The board is scheduled to meet six times per year, and more often at the call of the chair as required. The meetings are generally held at the VANOC offices in Vancouver, although they have been occasionally hosted by our Games partners in other locations. The board’s responsibility is to oversee the conduct of the business of VANOC as it works toward achieving its Mission: to touch the soul of the nation and inspire the world by creating and delivering an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience with lasting legacies. As part of its commitment to public transparency and accountability, the VANOC board of directors has made today’s agenda, discussion topics and decisions available to the public on www.vancouver2010.com, subject to conditions of confidentiality related to personal information and/or competitively sensitive or privileged information. VANOC is also committed to hosting media briefings following each board meeting with the board chairman, the CEO and other director(s) or members of the VANOC senior management team to elaborate further on matters. About VANOC VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
	Who gets prime Olympic tickets remains mystery Who gets prime Olympic tickets remains mystery The BC Liberals spent $1 million on Olympic tickets. Who gets prime Olympic tickets remains mystery Updated: Wed Jan. 20 2010 20:00:00 ctvbc.ca Months after it was revealed they'd spent $1 million on tickets for the 2010 Olympic Games, the BC Liberals still won't say how they plan to hand them out. The government has more than 3,200 of the best seats and exclusive suites. It says the tickets are reserved for business leaders, dignitaries and politicians on official business. But who those people are remains top secret. Last November, Mary McNeil, minister of state for the Olympics, said the ticket distribution policy would be revealed soon. "I think people are going to be pleased with what we end up coming out with," she said at the time. But now, taxpayers won't learn who got the Olympic freebies until the Games are over. "Until we know actually who's going to be in that seat, we'll have full disclosure at the end," she told CTV News on Wednesday. NDP leader Carole James said it's not money well spent. "For the public, they're just scratching their head, when is government going to get it? These are taxpayer dollars and they don't expect them to be spent on Olympic tickets." The opposition won't accept any of the premium perks. James said she bought her own tickets. "I think I'm about three rows from the roof at BC Place but it will be a great opportunity to celebrate with the public," she said. With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
	Support for Olympics on the decline in B.C.: Poll Support for Olympics on the decline in B.C.: Poll VANCOUVER — Support for the 2010 Olympics is more tepid in British Columbia than elsewhere in Canada — and the province's ambivalence about the Games appears to be growing rather than declining, according to an online poll. The Angus Reid Public Opinion survey found that 50 per cent of British Columbians believe the Winter Olympics will have a mostly positive impact on the province compared to 73 per cent of all Canadians who think B.C. will benefit. A similar poll by Angus Reid in November found that 57 per cent of B.C. residents expected that the Olympics would be a boon to the province. "The most striking thing in the poll is that as the Olympics get closer, British Columbians are less likely to see the Games as having a positive impact on B.C. and Vancouver," said Hamish Marshall, research director for Angus Reid. "Conventional wisdom was that as we got closer to the Olympics, people here would get more excited and more supportive." Thirty-one per cent of B.C. residents feel the Olympics will have a negative impact on the province, more than triple the nine per cent of Canadians overall who share that pessimistic view. Eighteen per cent said they were not sure. Marshall cautioned that B.C. residents' crankiness about the Olympics shouldn't be overstated. "British Columbians are still more likely to be supportive and think the Olympics will have a positive impact than not. We're still positive about the Games — but that support just isn't as overwhelming as everywhere else." The survey of 1,020 Canadian adults was conducted last week and is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points. British Columbians also believe that the Olympics will have more benefit to Canada (59 per cent) than they will for B.C. (50 per cent) and Vancouver (52 per cent). Marshall said that the poll results reflect unease among British Columbians about how their daily lives — and their pocketbook — will be affected by the Olympics. "Elsewhere in Canada, the Olympics will be something to watch on TV. Here people are worried about how its going to impact their commute and how they get around — and what impact the Olympics might have on their taxes down the road." British Columbians have faced frequent media reports for many years about cost over-runs on Olympic projects and warnings of traffic chaos during the games, said Marshall, while Canadians elsewhere were largely unaware of coverage of the potential downside to the Games. "So, people in B.C. understand that living with the Olympics may not be a uniformly positive experience," said Marshall. "There are pluses and minuses. There's the excitement of being part of something big. But there's also the downside of how getting to work may be difficult." British Columbia's political culture also has a cranky, populist streak as exemplified by the long-standing popularity of radio hotline shows, said Marshall. "I think that cynicism in general, is a little higher in B.C. than it is across the country. I don't think I'm going out too far on a limb by saying that." © Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
	U.S. border officials prep for 2010 Olympics U.S. border officials prep for 2010 Olympics The border crossing into the U.S. at Peace Arch south of Vancouver is expected to look much busier during the 2010 Olympics. (CBC) U.S. officials have unveiled their plans for dealing with an increase in traffic from B.C. during the 2010 Winter Olympics, with up to 12,000 people a day expected to cross the border into the U.S. during the Games. While the Olympics are being held in Canada, the number of visitors drawn to the entire region — and into the U.S. — is expected to rise dramatically. The U.S. officials said at a news conference in Blaine, Wash., on Tuesday they will have 10 primary inspection booths running — two more than normal at the busy Peace Arch crossing, south of Vancouver. One extra booth will open in each of Lynden and Sumas, in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver. Officials estimate that every day during the Olympics in February will be like a busy summer day. "Those are the projections that we've been given, time and time again," said U.S. Customs and Border protection spokeswoman Michele James. Most crossings not affected Summer days at the Peace Arch crossing can involve delays of up to two hours, in either direction. A new $70-million U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the Peace Arch crossing was originally planned to be ready for the Games, but construction delays have put the opening back to December 2010. The 12 other B.C. crossings, most of them hundreds of kilometres east of Games sites in Vancouver and Whistler, are not expected to experience a significant increase in traffic volume. James urged travellers to think about using border crossings other than Peace Arch, to plan travel for off-peak hours, and to ease the time it takes to cross by having their documents ready. Major border crossings between Washington state and B.C. are open 24 hours a day.
	Eye on Olys: 55 Days until 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Eye on Olys: 55 Days until 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics 7-119 -- Canada ranks seventh all-time in medals won at the Winter Olympics with 119 (38 gold, 38 silver,43 bronze). Ranking ahead of Canada are Norway (280), the United States (217), the Soviet Union (217), Austria (185), Germany (179) and Finland (151). OLY BITS AND PIECES Comedian RJ Currie came up with a Beatles Top 5 curling hits during last week's Roar of the Rings in Edmonton. Counting down: 5. Paperback Slider; 4. A Guard Day's Night; 3. Hack in the U.S.S.R.; 2. You're Going to Lose That Curl; 1. I Should Have Thrown Better... Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, who is also the GM for the American hockey team, is to carry the Olympic torch today in downtown Toronto and his leg comes between former CFLer Tom Hipsz and John Craig, a member of the 1980 Canadian Olympic track and field team that did not go to the boycotted Moscow Olympics. "People have been very cute about it," Burke told The New York Times. "A guy on the subway the other day came up to me and said, 'Mr. Burke, I'd like to congratulate you on your silver medal.'"... Russian Oly wannabes in the KHL will have one more shot at impressing head coach Vyacheslav Bykov this weekend at the Channel 1 Cup in Moscow. The four-team event also features Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The Moscow News reports the Russian coaching staff wants to construct two lines from NHL stars,w with the two other lines likely to be drawn from an NHL-KHL combination. TEAM CANADA WATCH Hockey Canada will announce its 23-man roster for the Olympic team on Dec. 30. ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun said the brain trust is now down to watching nine defenceman and 16 forwards, with a handful of others still on the radar screen. Here's our take on some candidates who have seen their stock rise or plummet of late: RISING Mike Cammalleri, LW, Montreal Canadiens Entered Friday's action just 17th among Canadianborn players in scoring (18 goals, 12 assists), but highest among left-wingers. He has a superb touch around the net -- his 39 goals last year was fourth-best among Canadians and more than Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla and Evgeni Malkin. As well, he has a very respectable +10 plus-minus this season. Dustin Penner, RW, Edmonton Oilers Why is it that so many continue to snicker when Penner's name is mentioned as an Oly candidate? Last week, Kevin Lowe suggested the big Manitoban was one of six players who were not originally invited to the summer camp but are now being considered. He has seven points in his last five games and has played well with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, two former Anaheim teammates who will likely wear Canada's colours in February. Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks Went through a bad spell at the beginning of December where he was a minus 6 over four games, but has found his game again. Smooth-skating puck handler (born in Winnipeg) who is third among Canadian defencemen in scoring with 25 points (5G, 20A), behind Mike Green (32 points) and Dan Boyle (29 pts). FALLING Marc Savard, C, Boston Bruins Some observers wailed when Savard wasn't invited to the orientation camp this summer and with good reason -- his 88 points last year put him among the NHL's top 10 scorers. But he broke his foot in October and, aside from a three-point night against the Leafs last week, has struggled of late with no points in four of his last five games. Dion Phaneuf, D, Calgary Flames Love the idea of him lighting up unsuspecting forwards while wearing Canada's red and white, but trade rumours have been following him for a spell for a reason: His play has been inconsistent.
	VANOC apologizes to Vancouver Symphony Orchestra VANOC apologizes to Vancouver Symphony Orchestra The public applause was deafening when Maestro Bramwell Tovey refused to play along with VANOC’s tune this week — and now 2010 Games organizers have apologized for asking him to. Tovey, the famed conductor of the Grammy-winning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, slammed the 2010 group for asking his orchestra to pre-record a performance for the opening ceremonies of the Games — and then planning for another conductor to “mime” his part of the soundtrack during the internationally broadcast show. Saturday, after Tovey and the orchestra received a two-day, standing-ovation-like response for turning VANOC down, 2010 officials issued a statement apologizing “for putting the orchestra in an untenable position regarding the opening ceremonies.” They now say the orchestra will “play a prominent role” at the Games’ Cultural Olympiad, and will be asked to record more than 90 national anthems for use at medal ceremonies. Earlier, VANOC said technical requirements were to blame. “For international televised live spectacles of this size and scope, it is standard practice to pre-record the musical segments to ensure the integrity and security of the broadcast transmission,” said David Atkins, executive producer of the 2010 ceremonies. In one news report, Tovey responded by calling the proposal for musical miming a type of plagiarism that was “non-Olympian in spirit” and “on a par with Ben Johnson’s [steroid-enhanced] fraud” when he won a gold medal at 1988 Olympics. Both sides were singing a different tune Saturday night, with VANOC apologizing and Tovey cooing that “the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is proud to be an integral part of the 2010 Games — and wishes every success to VANOC. “Our collaboration with VANOC is one of the most important in the orchestra’s long and distinguished history,” he said. — files from Canwest News Service
	The games have already begun in beautiful Vancouver Whistler The games have already begun in beautiful Vancouver Whistler VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Forget skiing. I could barely stand on the steepest part of the Whistler Mountain slope that will host the men’s downhill race in the 2010 Winter Olympics. As soon as I tried edging carefully down the icy course, my skis slipped, sending me skidding on my hip for at least 20 yards before I could climb back on my feet. » Click to enlarge image A powder skier makes a run on the steep side of Whistler Mountain, home to some of the skiing events in the upcoming Winter Games. (Photo courtesy Tourism Whistler) » Click to enlarge image The public is welcome to take a spin at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a sparkling new arena outside Vancouver. (Photo courtesy Tourism Vancouver) IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: It’s about a four-hour flight between Chicago and Vancouver International Airport. GETTING AROUND: The city’s newest light rail line connects the airport with downtown. A ride on the Skytrain can be a great way to make an initial exploration — as well as providing incredible views. Buses are generally efficient, but the best way to explore the accessible city center is to bundle up and walk. Even if it’s raining (and there’s a good chance it will be), the city core has plenty of underground malls. The figure skating arena is about 20 minutes by bus from the city center. Snowboarding and freestyle skiing events on the city’s North Shore will be tougher to reach. Alpine events are 90 miles away in Whistler, but an Olympic fleet of buses will be running. Traffic will be strictly limited on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, which was recently redeveloped at a cost of nearly $500 million. WHAT TO EAT: Vancouver’s multi-ethnic population provides for an unequaled dining adventure. Chinatown offers a taste of the Orient for all price ranges, the Punjabi Market at 49th Avenue and Main Street delivers the spicy tang of the Indian subcontinent, and Little Italy on Commercial Drive provides a distinctive Mediterranean flavor. WHERE TO STAY: During the Olympics, even mountain lovers may have to stay in Vancouver because of the shortage of shelter in the hills. Both Vancouver and Whistler tourism officials are expecting more accommodation to open up as the games get closer. Check the Web site 2010destinationplanner.com. CoSport is handling much of the accommodations, event tickets, airport meet-and-greet services, meals, ground transportation and host services. OLYMPIC TICKETS: In Canada, Olympic tickets were sold by lottery through the 2010 Games Web site, vancouver2010.com. A list of ticket agents for countries outside Canada also is available through the spectator information and ticketing link at that site. In the U.S., the agent is at cosport.com. SKIING: Local skiing lasts into April at Whistler-Blackcomb, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Cypress Mountain. Cypress is hosting Olympic snowboarding and freestyle skiing events. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Transit, tours and accommodations in Vancouver: tourismvancouver.com. Information about British Columbia: hellobc.com. AP Eventually, I wobbled awkwardly down the slope until it flattened into a sharp left-hand turn, where mountain guide Wayne Hanscom grinned and shook his head as I came to a shaky stop nearby. “The racers are usually going about 90 miles an hour through that part,” he said. So I’ll never win a gold medal. But the skiing on that gorgeous, sunny day was still world-class. This February, the world is coming to Vancouver for the XXI Winter Olympics — the second time Canada will host the Winter Games. The Olympics and Paralympics are expected to draw 300,000 spectators to the gorgeous oceanfront city and to Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, which will be a hub for many of the Alpine and Nordic skiing events, including the signature downhill race. Some venues — including the ski resort — are open and ready to give visitors at least a taste of what the Olympics are about. Other sites are closed to prepare them for the Games but will reopen to the public afterward for skiing, sliding and skating. Away from the venues, Vancouver and Whistler — one of the premier ski resorts in the world — are always ready to welcome travelers with friendly, north-of-the border hospitality, spectacular views and plenty of activities. Last February, to mark the one-year countdown to the Olympics, I spent five days poking around the Olympic venues, Whistler and Vancouver to sample what the region has to offer. It’s all downhill from here Even the bus ride to Whistler is special, carrying travelers from Vancouver for 90 miles along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, which starts off hugging the rocky coastline and ends up in a snow-covered alpine valley. But Whistler Mountain and its neighboring peak, Blackcomb, are best seen from the top while skiing or snowboarding. With two interconnected mountains — each boasting more than 5,000 vertical feet of terrain — there’s enough skiing or boarding to exhaust even an Olympian. That’s where a guide like Hanscom, who knows all the shortcuts and freshly groomed runs, comes in handy. Hanscom is a native Canadian, but he spent 23 years living in suburban Hinsdale and working in Chicago. Now retired, he lives outside Vancouver but spends two or three days a week in the winter at Whistler, staying in a cabin and working as a mountain host showing visitors around his beloved mountains. “It’s a pretty nice life,” Hanscom said. He shepherded our group of journalists all over Whistler Mountain, leading us down everything from carpet-smooth cruisers to steeper, icier runs off the peak’s 7,160-foot summit. Thanks to Hanscom’s expertise, we mostly avoided the crowds, which were substantial — even on a Wednesday. Later, we climbed aboard the Peak-2-Peak gondola that traverses the canyon separating Whistler from Blackcomb Mountain, marveling at the airplane-quality views through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the cable car. At its peak, the gondola hangs about 1,420 feet above the canyon floor — nearly as tall as Chicago’s Willis Tower. The ride was smooth and steady, but I still was glad we hadn’t grabbed one of the cars that boasts a glass floor to enhance the views. On Blackcomb, the runs were emptier but just as sweet, providing the quiet, peaceful moments skiers long remember. The highlight of the day occurred back on Whistler when Hanscom led us to the nearly two-mile-long men’s downhill course, named after deceased ski racer Dave Murray, one of the famed “Crazy Canucks” who racked up wins and wounds in the 1970s and early ’80s. We ducked under a rope and followed him down a run that was so steep it was tough to turn but too scary to keep going straight. When the course, which drops more than 2,700 vertical feet, flattened on several sharp turns, netting was strung 15 feet high along the edge to keep out-of-control racers from hurtling into the trees. As a long-time intermediate skier, just making it down the run with only one fall — even at low speed with lots of stops — felt like winning an Olympic medal. The course, of course, won’t be open during the Olympics, but organizers promise that 90 percent of the mountain will be accessible to visiting skiers and boarders. Whistler a hub of activity Skiing isn’t the only Olympic sport that will take place at Whistler. The Whistler Sliding Center hosts the luge, bobsled and skeleton races during the Games. Visitors can stand alongside the high-banked, refrigerated track and watch the speeding sleds rattle by a few feet away. During my visit, a local youth luge club — with sledders ranging in age from 8 to 14 years old — practiced on the track. Though many of the youngsters were barely taller than the sleds they rode, they still sped by at speeds topping 50 miles an hour. At nearby Whistler Olympic Park, I tried my hand at the biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and target shooting. I quickly discovered I lacked talent in both disciplines. Trying to maneuver on the skinny, loose-heeled skis for just a few hundred yards left me out of breath. That didn’t help my aim when it came to firing the 8-pound rifle at targets 50 meters away. But I get points for consistency: I missed all five of my Canadian-dollar-sized targets. A teen-age biathlete skied up as I finished, quickly plunked all five of her targets, then headed out for another lap of the course. The Olympic park also contains tracks for Nordic skiing races and two graceful towers for ski jumping competitions. Whistler Village itself is a destination worth seeing. Tucked away in the mountains, it contains a host of elegant hotels, including the regal Chateau Fairmont Whistler, and an array of restaurants and nightspots that run from gourmet to low-key. There’s always a party going on somewhere in the village, locals told us. It’s kind of like Rush Street, except black bears occasionally wander into the bustling town. Venues close to the city Closer to Vancouver, there’s skiing and snowboarding available at Cypress Mountain, which sits only 30 minutes from the heart of the city. The resort will host the free-style skiing and snowboarding competitions during the Games. A World Cup snowboardcross race during our trip gave us a sample of what to expect during the Olympics — lots of snowboarders hurling through the air and sometimes crashing violently. Boarders jostled and bumped each other as they raced around what amounts to a mountain obstacle course loaded with sharp turns, bumps and ramps. Falls happened about as often as the long, graceful leaps through the air. Speed skating events will be held at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a sparkling new arena outside Vancouver that’s so green, its ice-polishing Zambonis are electrically powered. When I visited, skaters training for the Games sped by in a blur with almost no sound aside from the soft click of their skate blades striking the ice. But it’s not just world-class athletes using the facility. The arena regularly opens for public skating. A recent weekend event drew more than 1,000 recreational skaters, said Aran Kay, a spokesman. “We’re trying to give the public as much access as we can,” Kay said. More than just the Games Away from the Olympic venues, Vancouver has both a cosmopolitan atmosphere and plenty of space for outdoor activities and ocean views that remind a visitor of Chicago’s famed lakefront. Strolling along Vancouver’s harbor walkway feels like walking along Monroe Harbor — with the added benefit of snow-dusted mountains in the background and boats still in the water in February, thanks to the city’s moderate weather. Perhaps the best way to take it all in is by airplane, or actually, floatplane. A scenic flight that takes off from the harbor costs about $93 (U.S.). After I climbed into the single-engine floatplane, pilot Tom Radatzke taxied out into the harbor, maneuvered around a passing boat, then accelerated until the plane pulled smoothly out of the water. For 20 minutes we circled at barely 1,500 feet, banking over the expansive waterfront, then pushing out over the hilly city and finally turning back for a view of Cypress Mountain before plopping gently back into the harbor. “People tell me I’ve got the best job in the world, and I say, ‘I do,’” said Radatzke, who has flown for Harbour Air since 2002. He may be right. But don’t tell Wayne Hanscom. Information for this article was gathered on a research trip sponsored by Tourism British Columbia and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Related Blog Posts Spotlight on Vancouver 2010 Olympics: Whistler & Blackcomb From PeterGreenberg.com: Peter Greenberg Worldwide Spotlight on Vancouver 2010 Olympics: Whistler & Blackcomb
	B.C. spends $1M on Olympic tickets B.C. spends $1M on Olympic tickets The B.C. government has confirmed it spent almost $1 million of taxpayers' money on 3,200 prime seats at the upcoming 2010 Winter Games for MLAs and cabinet ministers to host visiting politicians, dignitaries and business leaders. On Wednesday, the NDP opposition released documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that showed the government had bought the tickets, but the prices had been deleted from the documents. During question period in the legislature that afternoon, the NDP turned up the pressure on B.C.'s Liberal government to release the cost of the tickets, which included 1,000 luxury seats in box suites at BC Place, GM Place and the Pacific Coliseum for the duration of the Olympic Games in February. 'We actually can't tell you right now exactly where these tickets are going.' —Mary McNeil, Minister of State for the Olympics "What is shocking is that this minister would not tell British Columbians just how much it is going to cost them," said NDP MLA Jenny Kwan. Short on answers It took heavy questioning, but the NDP did get some answers from Minister of State for the Olympics Mary McNeil. "To help them with the math, 3,000 tickets is approximately $900,000," said McNeil. It wasn't clear if that estimate actually included the full 3,200 seats, but the minister had few other details. "We actually can't tell you right now exactly where these tickets are going. However, we are going to focus on business leaders, investors from around the world," said McNeil. NDP Leader Carole James said no matter who ends up in the seats, no one could say the luxury seats were a good use of taxpayers' dollars at a time when hospitals and schools have been slashing programs in order to rein in the government's record $2.8 billion deficit. "This goes over the top!" said James. "A million dollars when they're cutting back mental health services?" No longer acceptable At least one expert in the Olympic movement says it's no longer acceptable for host governments to spend thousands of dollars for event tickets that will be given to politicians, dignitaries and business leaders. Kevin Walmsley, the co-director of the University of Western Ontario, International Centre for Olympic Studies, said there is a long history of host countries doing these kinds of things, but it still appears excessive to average taxpayers. "Canadians will be looking at a price tag of $6 billion for all things Olympic, so I don't think people will be happy, particularly in British Columbia, where there is a considerable percentage of people who have voiced their displeasure about hosting the Games in the first place." Controversial purchases Just two weeks ago, questions were raised after the federal Canadian Heritage Department spent $447,000 to reserve 2,000 tickets for MPs and senators and people working in government agencies to buy. BC Hydro, ICBC and the BC Lottery Corporation have also bought thousands of Olympic event tickets worth an estimated $1.3 million to distribute to staff, contractors, business partners and customers in contests. Of the 1.6 million Olympic tickets printed, 896,000 were made available to Canadian residents. The rest were reserved for government and corporate sponsors, Olympic and sport organizations of other countries, athletes and their families, the media broadcasting the games and to residents of other countries.
	22-9-2009 2010 Olympic officials unveil high-tech lab to test for performance enhancing drugs 22-9-2009 2010 Olympic officials unveil high-tech lab to test for performance enhancing drugs VANCOUVER, B.C. — The head of the state-of-the-art laboratory that will test athletes for performance-enhancing drugs during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver admits she might not be able to catch all the cheaters. Dr. Christiane Ayotte, the director of the newly completed lab at the Richmond Olympic Oval, describes a technology arms race between cheaters and the sporting authorities trying to keep up with the latest doping techniques. And she notes that if an athlete used drugs during his or her training but stops before coming to Vancouver, the tests might not pick that up, either. But Ayotte, who took reporters through a tour of the $8.9-million facility on Wednesday, said the lab features the very latest tools to detect steroids, blood-doping agents, hormones or other substances athletes might use to gain an unfair advantage. "We cannot say pure sport, pure Games," said Ayotte, whose staff from Canada's only World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab in Montreal will run the Vancouver operation. "We sure put in the best energy. I'm 100 per cent confident that nobody can do better than what we are doing now, what we will be doing." The Richmond lab, which is an exact replica of Ayotte's facility in Montreal, will test about 2,400 samples during next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver. Athletes will be subjected to both random tests and also targeted screening, based on intelligence from anti-doping officials. Nearly 500 trained volunteers will collect blood and urine samples at the sports venues in Vancouver and Whistler. After that, they'll be transported to the lab in Richmond, which has several levels of security to prevent tampering, and results should be available within 72 hours. The lab will test considerably more samples than in previous Winter Olympics - in comparison, 1,200 samples were tested at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy - and will use newly developed tests and more sensitive technology that hasn't been available at previous Games. "It is simply the evolution - the instrumentation, the technology is always changing, getting better," said Ayotte. The lab will be up and running at the beginning of February, with 30 technicians from the Montreal lab and several others from other international labs working day and night. It will cost $7.5 million to operate the facility for the duration of competition. "We have to try to keep our Games as clean as possible, and we need the programs and the deterrents to do that," said Cathy Priestner Allinger, executive vice-president of operations for the organizing committee. "I think it would be really sad if athletes felt that they could come to our Games and get away with doping." After the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics are finished, the lab's equipment will be sold to the Montreal lab and the 1,350 square metres of space currently housing the facility will be turned into a sports medicine centre.
	Canadians snap up Olympic hockey jerseys ahead of games Canadians snap up Olympic hockey jerseys ahead of games Canadians snap up Olympic hockey jerseys ahead of games Canada's 2010 Olympic hockey jersey is closing in on record sales with over three months to go to the Winter Games. Over 115-thousand jerseys have moved off store racks since the uniform was unveiled in Vancouver last August. Hockey Canada COO Scott Smith says that sales are close to what was sold around the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. The 2002 Olympic hockey jersey is the previous best-seller. The 2010 red and white jerseys are retailing for about 135 dollars each across the country. The jersey is selling better in some parts of the country than others. A purchasing director for Jersey City, which has 24 outlets throughout western Canada, says sales have been brisk. However, the co-owner of Sportzone in Toronto says that sales have been down even with a promotional price of 99 dollars in effect.
	Richmond Olympic Oval wins gold for structural design Richmond Olympic Oval wins gold for structural design The Richmond Olympic Oval will be the site for the speed-skating events during the 2010 Winter Olympics. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)The Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C., just south of Vancouver, was awarded a prestigious international engineering prize for its structural design on Friday. The Olympic venue, which will host speed skating during the 2010 Games, beat out a tough field of competitors, including the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest," and the new retractable roof at Wimbledon's Centre Court in London, to win the top award for a sports or leisure structure by the Institution of Structural Engineers The roof of the Richmond Olympic Oval was built from pine beetle-killed wood from B.C.'s forests. (CBC) Earlier this year, the Oval was also one of 272 buildings shortlisted for the Building of the Year Award at the 2009 World Architecture Festival. It also won the Innovation in Architecture Award at 2009 Awards of Excellence from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, in May. The Richmond Olympic Oval, designed by Cannon Design, is a multi-purpose sports and recreation facility. Its roof features hollow, triangular-shaped wood steel arches and so-called wood wave panels constructed from pine beetle-killed wood boards from B.C. forests. Based in London, the Institution of Structural Engineers is dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering.
	Rainbow could house 1,600-person security camp during Games Rainbow could house 1,600-person security camp during Games Neighbourhood Watch Up to 1,600 Olympic security personnel could be based at the Rainbow site in temporary housing. Published 2009-10-07 16:01:11 Rainbow could house 1,600-person security camp during Games Pemberton mayor says the move is a blow to the local economy By Alison Taylor Just four months before the 2010 Games, Whistler council will consider allowing a 1,600-person work camp to set up temporarily at the Rainbow subdivision. Municipal staff is now processing an application from Target Logistics on behalf of Contemporary Security Canada for a 150,000 square foot camp at the new neighbourhood development. It is set to go before council for a decision on Oct. 20. "The site and the proximity to Whistler provided us with a good option that gives a housing solution near the Olympic venues," said Todd Severson, project manager with Contemporary Security Canada. When asked if four months was enough time to put up 150,000 square feet of living space, Severson said: "Like many things with the Olympic Games, we always wish that we had more time and it would have been great if we had started this a year ago but we are going to make the most of the time that we have available to us." The application shows several buildings with not only sleeping quarters but also a large three-storey dining and entertainment area for the security personnel. The camp is slated for the south side of the Rainbow subdivision, which has yet to see any residential building. The land, which will eventually see employee and market housing on it, is already fully-serviced with sewer, water and hydro hook ups. The work camp application comes after months of speculation about the location of 1,600 private security personnel needed for the Sea to Sky corridor during the Games. The Pemberton Industrial Park was an option at one time. That's why the application at the Rainbow lands came as a disappointment to Pemberton Mayor Jordan Sturdy whose council had cleared the way and given the green light for a temporary work camp at the Pemberton Industrial Park. "It's a tremendous loss if it is in fact approved in Whistler," said Sturdy. A 1,600-person security camp in Pemberton would have been a boon to the village. Without it, Sturdy says they are left out in the cold to some degree. "There's a sense that we're on the periphery here, that we're not really involved (in the Games)," said the mayor. The decision to put the camp in Whistler could also jeopardize plans that are in the works to expand Pemberton's Live Sites program. Sturdy said there were ongoing discussions to expand the Live Sites in Pemberton with a showcase of local art, music and food. But that expanded program needs numbers to make it work. "We may not have the critical mass necessary to justify it," said the mayor. Just last month Paul Selina, president of Pemberton's Spirit of B.C. Committee, lobbied Whistler council for its support of a Pemberton base camp. But Severson said there were a variety of factors that led to the decision to put the camp at Rainbow. "It's a very big investment so we have to be sure of the solution that we're getting," he said. He would not say how much the camp costs. It is part of the $100 million contract, awarded by the RCMP-led Olympic security unit to Contemporary Security Canada, for private security work during the Games. That includes the 5,000 personnel needed from Vancouver to Whistler. The 1,600-person application is for maximum capacity and it remains to be seen if the site and the proposal can accommodate that number of security personnel. If approved, however, it should take care of Contemporary's needs in the Sea to Sky corridor. "Predominantly it should," confirmed Severson. It is not clear when construction will begin on the site and when security guards will first move in. Severson said their start dates are subject to the RCMP official venue lock down dates. "We build our schedule around their needs," he said. Though he is confident that Rainbow will be a great site for the camp, Severson has a back up plan should council not give its approval for the Temporary Commercial Use Permit (TCUP) for the site. "With the Olympics there is always a contingency that we have in the back of our mind if things don't work out one way or the other," said Severson. "We're trying to do as many things in parallel so we can have a fallback if there's any reason that something doesn't go ahead." Target Logistics is the chosen supplier for the camp at the Rainbow lands. The company has provided housing solutions for several high profile events such as the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Its role in that event increased dramatically in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Its solution was to lease more than 1,000 brand new apartments for U.S. Secret Service and others, providing more than 2,000 bedrooms. The following year Target built a temporary city in Milwaukee for 9,000 Harley-Davidson riders, called Riders Ranch. The company leased a 184-acre county fairground and installed roads, electricity, running water, stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and then returned it to its former state when the 100th anniversary celebration was over.
	Field hockey never grows old for Short Field hockey never grows old for Short Rob Short of Team Canada makes a pass during a friendly match against Belgium ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 07, 2008 in Beijing, China. Photograph by: Jean Levac, Canwest News Service VICTORIA — This never grows old for Rob Short of Victoria, the seemingly ageless the two-time Olympian who will lead Canada against India in a field-hockey Test match Friday night at his old University of Victoria grounds. “I’m just waiting for these younger guys to kick me off the national team. They haven’t yet,” said Short,37, who with fellow Olympic veteran Connor Grimes of Duncan, B.C., have flown in for the Test from their pro teams in the Netherlands. No Canadian player wants to miss this Test series, which begins with matches Friday and Sunday, before concluding with five games next week in Surrey, B.C. The fabled Indian national team may now be marked by faded glory, but its eight Olympic gold medals and 11 in total still shine brightly. “It’s awesome to play at home against India. It doesn’t get any better than this,” Short said of India’s first games in Canada since the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The 11th-ranked Canadians and 12th-ranked Indians are preparing for the 2010 World Cup in March and 2010 Commonwealth Games next October, both scheduled for New Delhi. Short said he hopes to see as much red and white in the stands this weekend as saffron and blue. Back when Ian Bridge of Victoria and UVic Vikes coach Bruce Wilson patrolled the back line for the Canadian soccer team, it was common to see Italian, Portuguese or Trinidadian flags and colours outnumbering the Maple Leaf during international friendlies in Toronto. “India has support worldwide in hockey, no matter where they play, and this is going to be great fun . . . I hope there is support left over for us,” Short said. Canada returns eight players from its 2008 Olympic team, but not two-time Olympian Ravi Kahlon of Victoria, who has retired. India is rebuilding with its brightest young stars after the tumultuous national angst of missing the Beijing Olympics. Short’s cagey and cool international experience will be key as Canada begins the 2012 London Summer Olympics cycle. “I was born in England and it would be ideal to end my career in my third Olympics at London,” he said.
	Olympic Critics Challenge Vancouver Ad Ban Olympic Critics Challenge Vancouver Ad Ban VANCOUVER, B.C. (CN) - Critics of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics say the host city enacted an unconstitutional bylaw aimed at restricting unauthorized advertising during the Winter Games. Plaintiffs Chris Shaw, author of the book "Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games," and Andrea Westergard-Thorpe are members of the Olympic Resistance Network. The anti-Olympics group plans to distribute information about the games to residents and visitors during the "games period," which runs from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2010. But the city's "Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bylaw," the complaint says, aims to restrict any advertising material being distributed on city lands. "The purpose and effect of the [bylaw] is to restrict the content of public expression and communication within and around large and central areas of Vancouver," the complaint states. The plaintiffs claim that the restrictive provisions infringe on free speech and "cannot be justified in a free and democratic society." They add that the city's charter doesn't grant it the right to enact such a law. Represented by Jason Gratl, the plaintiffs seek an order nullifying the bylaw and barring its enforcement.
	Swedish royalty to visit Vancouver for Games Swedish royalty to visit Vancouver for Games VANCOUVER — The King and Queen of Sweden will visit Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games next year, a Swedish embassy official in Ottawa confirmed Tuesday. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are expected to be in B.C. throughout much of the Games period, said Swedish Counsellor Elin Miller. The royal couple have a strong Olympic connection — marrying in 1976, four years after they met at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where she was an interpreter and host. They are believed to be the first foreign heads of state to publicly confirm their attendance at the 2010 Games. A City of Vancouver report this year predicted 25 heads of government or state and 10 members of royalty would visit Vancouver during the Olympic Games. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are among those expected to attend, given the 2012 Summer Games will be held in London and the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
	No Olympic events will be cancelled Officials more concerned with effects on athletes than general population No Olympic events will be cancelled Officials more concerned with effects on athletes than general population Fears that the H1N1 virus will take a deadly swipe through the spectator stands or the athletes' village during the 2010 Olympic Games aren't likely to be realized. More likely, the virus will be felt in smaller ways: the absence of an athlete here, a cluster of fevers and chills there, and a little paranoia among those with coughs and fevers. For countries like Canada -- whose potential medallists are concentrated in a few sports -- swine flu could also have a disastrous effect on the standings if it sweeps through a team. Podium Canada chief executive Roger Jackson made that point earlier this year when he noted the effect speed skater Cindy Klassen had on Canada's medal count -- third overall with 24 -- at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. "People don't remember that one gal won five of our medals," he said of Klassen. "And if she'd had a cold during the Games, we'd have been sixth or seventh." And if she'd had H1N1 and passed it along to Kristina Groves or Deny Morrison or other members of the speed skating team, Canada could have ended the Games with 16 medals instead of 24. Health professionals for months have been trying to ratchet down the fear people have about contracting and dying from swine flu. They've pointed out that the pathology of the pandemic is now showing itself to be -- for most people, at least -- a nasty but not particularly dangerous disease. They point out that in Canada, an average of 6,000 people die annually from seasonal flu symptoms. Medical officials overseeing the 2010 Winter Games say they're not taking the virus lightly, but they also don't believe it will be necessary or even wise to shut down the Games or close events to spectators in the event of a fresh outbreak. "I think influenza is an infection that we should always respect. But the last time we had a flu pandemic, in 1968, there were two Olympic Games," said Dr. Reka Gustafson, the medical director of communicable disease control for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. "It's important to remember that H1N1 is behaving like a seasonal influenza virus, albeit one for which a separate vaccine is being developed." Still, that hasn't stopped other countries from reacting strongly, even to the point of cancelling sports events. Last week, India's hockey federation postponed next month's national championships and other sports officials mulled cutting short shooting and table tennis camps. In June, the Trinidad and Tobago government cancelled the inaugural Caribbean Games, scheduled for July, as it wrestled with a growing number of flu infections. And in China, visiting Canadians, Mexicans and Americans were summarily quarantined after arriving on flights with passengers who had the flu. Recently, the British government mused about putting contingency plans in place as the flu pandemic escalates, including possibly banning crowds from sporting events such as the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. In Vancouver, health officials are taking a more measured approach. Gustafson's boss, the health authority's chief medical officer Dr. Patricia Daly, said recently she disagrees with closing schools or public assemblies, even though the World Health Organization has declared the flu a pandemic. "I can tell you right now there is not a lot of evidence they are of any benefit. We have no plans to do any of those things for H1N1. We will not be cancelling any of the Olympic events as a result of the pandemic," she said. "We just don't think the spectrum of illness warrants those kinds of Draconian measures." Health officials are more inclined to study the potential effects of an H1N1 outbreak in Vancouver than they are to come up with plans to close borders, doors or events. In May, the B.C. Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network sponsored a symposium for 90 institution-based scientists to discuss a dozen research projects they want to conduct around the 2010 Games, including the effect of H1N1 at mass events. "I tell athletes that the Olympics is where the viruses of the world meet," said Dr. Bob McCormack, the chief medical officer for the Canadian Olympic Committee. McCormack said the COC has regularly advised athletes to get vaccinations for seasonal flu, and expects to repeat the advice when the H1N1 vaccine is produced later this year. Dr. Patrick Schamasch, the IOC's medical director, said his group is following the lead of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and has adopted the recommendations of the Word Health Organization. "We are working on communications for the national Olympic committees and the Olympic family. We will not go further than the WHO recommendations, which are, for the moment, hand hygiene and no isolation. We will wait for potential vaccination," he said. "There will be no quarantine of athletes." McCormack said the COC has developed a comprehensive strategy for dealing with H1N1 during the Vancouver Games, but he wanted to first share it with administrators and team officials at a meeting in Vancouver next month. Much of that nuts-and-bolts strategy deals with how to lessen the chance of an infection sweeping through an entire team, and what to do when an athlete is suspected of contracting the H1N1 virus. The spectre of a flu outbreak at the 2010 Olympics has, however, given organizers an unexpected marketing opportunity. Earlier this year, Vanoc signed two publicly-traded companies that each claim to have products that affect H1N1. One, Afexa Life Sciences, is the maker of a cold and flu remedy called COLD-fX. The other, ALDA Pharmaceuticals, was named the official supplier of hand sanitizer and disinfectant cleaning products. Both companies will provide quantities of their products for distribution to athletes and officials. ALDA claims independent tests have shown its signature T36 Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer will "completely kill the new H1N1 virus ... in 15 seconds or less." Gustafson, however, said regular hand-washing with warm water and soap is just as effective as using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Hand-washing: the new Olympic sport in the age of H1N1.
	Acquaintance of Games critic queried by RCMP Acquaintance of Games critic queried by RCMP Acquaintances of one of Vancouver's most outspoken anti-Olympic activists have become the targets of RCMP questioning. Two RCMP officers from the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit approached Danika Surm, a pre-nursing student at Langara College, outside her classroom on Sept. 29. Ms. Surm told the officers she had a quiz and couldn't talk, but they waited until she finished and escorted her to an empty classroom to chat. "They basically asked me to tell them anything I could about Christopher Shaw," said Ms. Surm, who met the 2010 Olympic Games critic a year ago through a job unrelated to the Games. "What did I know about his anti-Olympic work? Was there anything dangerous, illegal or anything of that nature about his anti-Olympic work?" Mr. Shaw is the lead spokesman for 2010 Watch and wrote a book called Five Ring Circus!, which takes a critical look at Vancouver's Olympic bid. "I think that it is valid to be concerned about security, but I thought that their questions being directed to a friend of [Mr. Shaw's], who has no connection to the Olympics, is starting to get creepy," Ms. Surm said. She said she was even more concerned after the same RCMP officer called her cellphone the following day. Ms. Surm had refused to disclose the number in their face-to-face meeting, and she wants to know how the police got it, as well as her class schedule. Mr. Shaw, who has also been questioned by police, is frustrated with police surveillance of his friends and family - including people he said have no association with the Olympics. The police questioned Mr. Shaw's former wife last week. "This is getting totally creepy," Mr. Shaw said. "They are so far down in the weeds I don't even think they know what they are looking for. They are just hoping they will come across a weapon of mass destruction." If the police want to hear about his plans, Mr. Shaw said they can call his lawyer to set up a meeting. "Looking at people who are only peripherally involved is not acceptable," Mr. Shaw said. The RCMP is well within the boundaries of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said Constable Mandy Edwards, an RCMP spokeswoman. "It's important that people keep in mind that the police have a right to ask questions and gather information," Constable Edwards said. "We are looking to speak to anyone who has information on any threats or plans to disrupt the Games. We are doing our due diligence in protecting the safety and security of Canadians and visitors to Canada during the Games." But according to David Eby of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, the RCMP is coming close to harassment and to infringing on the right to freedom of speech under the Charter. "There is such a thing as freedom of speech. Criticizing government policy alone should not be enough to draw the attention of the RCMP," Mr. Eby said. He said police questioning could create a chilling effect that would stop people from speaking out. According to Mr. Shaw, the police visit sent a clear message: "If you are going to protest 2010, you are going to pay a price and the price is that you will be surveyed by police."
	Sikhs will perform during the Vancouver Olympics Sikhs will perform during the Vancouver Olympics Of the seventy plus new acts that will perform during the Vancouver Olympics, Sikh icon Harbahajan Singh Mann will lead the bhangra celebrations. This will take place on February 27, 2010 at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Theatre 649 Cambie St, Vancouver, the event will be organised in calibration with Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society (VIBC) “We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of these celebrations, profiling Sikhs and Punjabis is so important “We are honored the Harbhanjan Ji ahs committed his valuable tie to ensure that we have a true display of our music and culture for what is an iconic moment for Canada, as Candian Sikh we are very proud to be a part of the celebrations” Return home, in the early hours, danced out and still buzzing from this one-night bhangra blitz. Quantum Bhangra multiplies the party, collecting influences and styles from around the world — rock, funk, hip-hop and jazz — and weaving them together with a common thread of bhangra and Punjabi folk traditions. Singer and movie star Harbhajan Mann headlines, mixing fast-paced bhangra rhythms and trademark Punjabi ballads. With Shin, founding member of the seminal British band DCS, joining Vancouver rockers En Karma, and the hip-hop inspired funk of San Francisco’s Black Mahal featuring vocalist and Dhol master Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti. International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games through its Chairman, René Fasel. For its ninth and final visit (25 – 26 August) to the next Olympic and Paralympic Host City, the Commission was joined by representatives of the Olympic Winter International Federations, who were able to bring their expertise to bear in the discussions with the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) relating to the sporting elements of the Games, as well as by observers from the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee. Speaking at the close of the meetings, Fasel said, “The organizers of the Games in Vancouver and Whistler are ready for 2010. We’ve heard from VANOC and its partners about all the steps that they are undertaking to ensure that the athletes and other Games visitors have a fantastic Olympic and Paralympic experience. We are extremely happy with what we have seen and heard, and are confident that they will deliver.” With the Olympic Torch Relay underway , VANOC and its partners are becoming increasingly operational and are reaching a very precise level of detail in their planning. This is normal at this stage of the Games preparations and requires great focus from the organisers to ensure that the Games reach Olympic level. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.
	2010 Olympic Security Regulations Consultation Meeting Raises Some Issues 2010 Olympic Security Regulations Consultation Meeting Raises Some Issues Transport Canada held an Olympic Security Regulations consultation meeting on September 9 in YVR and a number of concerns were articulated by HAC and others in attendance. Notwithstanding that Transport Canada only provided a very few days notice of the meeting, the meeting room was filled with about 50 stakeholders who raised a wide variety of issues as they relate to the security preparations for the 2010 games. Transport Canada claimed that their objectives were to make the regulations performance-based and simple to understand – and in that, they succeeded. The more complicated task of complying with some of the proposed rules will fall to the operational community – the devil is always in the detail… Bottom-line? Operators planning to conduct scheduled operations, but particularly operators who are hoping to provide casual charter within the Olympic Control Area ‘in the rings' during the Olympic period should carefully review the requirements set out in the draft regulations and ensure that they are able to provide, or arrange-for the required services. We expect that the regulations will be modified post-Gazette I to reflect changes to the most glaring errors and ambiguities (like the current proposed requirement to screen transiting passengers and flight crews), but we do not expect to see any substantive change to the responsibilities that they impose on operators. The proposed rules call for a broad variety of new responsibilities that call for airport-like staffing and airside/groundside infrastructure that is simply not available at many ‘portals' – unless of course you intend to use or share a contracted service provider on the ground. For operations in to Whistler, contact should be made with Blackcomb Aviation. The proposed regulations, published in Gazette I on August 15 2009 impose the following new responsibilities on operators: Prevent ‘unauthorized access' to screened passengers and their bags Convey screened bags to the aircraft under secure circumstances To conduct ‘aircraft searches' prior to departure Employees or contractors on-site and carrying out these responsibilities must possess a Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) or be registered on a list approved by the RCMP – and even RAIC-holders may require screening The processes which apply to ‘essential service providers' during the Olympic period have yet to be articulated in the draft regulations There is some question whether operators may even be responsible for preventing access to ‘sterile areas', which of course don't currently exist at many heliports and Class ‘Other' airports. CATSA did indicate however, that screeners would be working with operators to make the process as practical as possible given the constraints and lack of usual security infrastructure. And there are others… For further assistance in understanding the temporary security regulations and operator responsibilities it is suggested that operators contact Transport Canada Security and Emergency Preparedness in Pacific Region at (604) 666-4733. Transport Canada carefully avoided any discussion of financial compensation for lost business, but operators should be attempting to quantify any financial losses that could occur as a result of the restrictions. HAC has raised the issue in writing with ISU, but operators should carefully document any prospective and actual losses, and make efforts to mitigate them. The proposed regulations can be viewed at: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-08-15/html/reg1-eng.html http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2009/2009-08-15/html/reg1-fra.html Our formal submission on the proposed Gazette I version of the regulations will be made on Monday September 21 2009. Members with eleventh-hour comments, should forward them to fred.jones@h-a-c.ca without delay.
	NORAD to patrol skies over 2010 Olympics NORAD to patrol skies over 2010 Olympics CALGARY, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - Security is expected to be tight when the 2010 Winter Olympics get underway next February in Vancouver. The RCMP will be the lead agency responsible for security on the ground. But when it comes to protecting Canadian skies, it could quite possibly be an American military officer, through the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), making critical judgment calls should a terrorist incident or other security situation arise. Despite this key role, Joseph T. Jockel, professor of Canadian Studies at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, believes NORAD is heading for obsolescence. But is NORAD worth preserving? In his paper, "Saving NORAD: Should Ottawa Seize the Obama Moment?", Jockel presents his arguments on the future of the 51 year old bi-national agreement. The paper, released today by The School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, is part of the series, "Focus on The United States", a collection of papers resulting from an initiative the Institute for United States Policy Research within The School of Public Policy and the Canada Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The intention of this ongoing collaboration is to cast light on the critical issues pertaining to Canada-US relations.