2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver
Billboards in our landscape, Exhibits at Granville Island, Olympic Rings at Sea
Exhibitions – Part of Granville Island will become a lively French Quarter from February 10th to 28th during the 2010 Games. Street entertainment, a farmer’s market, tourism exhibits and a line-up of French-Canadian entertainers will be part of a larger effort to promote Francophone culture. The venue will be called Place de la Francophone and will be within walking distance of the Athletes Village. In addition to the French-Canadians, Swiss House and Atlantic Canada House as well as a Coca Cola exhibit will also be located on Granville Island during the Games.
Billboards – The leaders of the Squamish First Nation plan to erect six massive billboards prior to the 2010 Olympics in the following locations – the south end of the Burrard Bridge, the northeast end of the Lions Gate Bridge, three along the Trans-Canada Highway at the north end of the Second Narrows Bridge and one near Squamish, close to the Stawamus Chief. This is the first time that billboards will be erected in such prominent locations that will compete with views of our landscape. In the past the municipalities of Vancouver, North Van and West Van would not allow the billboards. However, this time the Squamish First Nation took its unpopular billboard scheme to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs which, using its federal powers covering native reserves, gave the green light.
Interesting – By July 2009, VANOC had a full-time workforce of 1,302. By Games time, the number will grow to more than 55,000, including 1,400 paid staff, 3,500 temporary staff, 25,000 volunteers, 10,000 contractors, and 15,000 ceremony participants.
This Week – It was announced on October 4th that the Olympic Rings will be put on a barge and anchored in the middle of Coal Harbour, where they will have Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains as their backdrop. The rings will remain safely inside the Olympics’ security buffer, be unreachable by land and guarded by the military divers and security patrols sealing off the Harbour. Also announced this week – On October 5th Vancouver City Council was presented with an update confirming that the Southeast False Creek Olympic Village project will be completed on schedule and delivered to the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Committee in the next few weeks.
Next Week – The Olympic and Paralympic Medals will be unveiled on Thursday, October 15th.
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