It’s been very exciting on the Olympic front in the past few days and many of us are dreading what the next four months will bring.
Unveiling of 2010 Olympic Medals
The new 2010 Olympic medals were unveiled this morning in Vancouver. They have a unique “rippled” look – quite like a Ruffles potato chip. An interesting tie-in with the white Olympic torch that resembles a giant joint. Munchies anyone? View them at:
Military Fly-bys
Yesterday, residents living next to the downhill venue in Creekside (Whistler) were treated to a non-stop barrage of military aircraft doing secret maneuvres. The Fence Guys were out scouting where to erect the 40 kilometres of security fencing required for the Olympic venues.
2010 Transportation Plan – Phase 2
On October 14, VANOC officials released the anticipated Phase 2 of the 2010 transportation plan. Many residents were stunned (but not surprised) to learn that road closures will start earlier than anticipated. On November 1st for some of Vancouver’s main streets and the Stanley Park Seawall.
A checkpoint is being set up at Alice Lake, 13 kms north of Squamish for visitors and residents heading to Whistler. This will be in effect from February 11 to 28 and during the peak hours of 6 am to 6 pm. All vehicles will need a permit or a hotel voucher to pass through the checkpoint. Outside those hours, people can drive to Whistler, provided they have a reserved parking spot. There will be no public parking at any of the Games venues.
Probably a good idea for Whistler folks to stock up on rice, beans and other essentials before February, just in case a natural catastrophe arises.
In the words of VANOC, “Know before you go!”
Visitors and residents can visit two new websites to plan their visit:
www.travelsmart2010.ca
www.whistler2010.com (which directs you back to http://www.vancouver2010.com/)
Bill 13 bans anti-2010 signs
On October 8, Bill 13: Miscellaneous Statues Amendment Act was introduced in the B.C. legislature to amend the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act (No. 3). This new law would only apply to the Olympic host cities of Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler. If passed, so-called ‘violators’ could be fined up to $10,000 a day and jailed up to six months for posting anti-Olympic signs, posters or graffiti inside their residences.
The CBC reports that, “A proposed BC law would allow municipal officials (in Whistler, Vancouver and Richmond) to enter homes (with just 24 hours notice) to seize unauthorized and anti-Olympic signs on short notice (says) the BC Civil Liberties Association.” It’s amazing the lengths our elected officials will go through to satisfy the IOC’s demands.
In the meantime, we have Olympic elitists writing letters to our local papers, like the one submitted by M. Blaxland in the Pique Newsmagazine on Sept 23, 2009:
“…To me it is obvious that a vocal minority do not support the Olympics at Whistler and hate the Olympic movement and philosophy. To them I say the party invitations have been bought and if you do not want to go, don’t. Please respect the majority who wish to party to the best of our abilities. For those of us who are working or volunteering to show the world the best party possible for the limited budget, exercise your democratic right to not attend and get lost until the Games are over.“
Hopefully El Niño doesn’t rain on the Olympic parade!
For the record: On February 22, 2003, Vancouver residents had the chance to vote on whether to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. According to the City of Vancouver’s website, “the results were 64% in favour of the Olympic Bid (voter turn-out was 50%).” Whistler residents never got to vote or have a say on the matter.
As we enter the final stretch of this corporate madness, I refer to The Reckoning, written by famed Yukon poet and writer, Robert Service:
Time has got a little bill – get wise while yet you may,
For the debit side’s increasing in a most alarming way;
The things you had no right to do, the things you should have done,
They’re all put down; it’s up to you to pay for every one.
So eat, drink and be merry, have a good time if you will,
But God help you when the time comes, and you
Foot the bill.
Source: The Best of Robert Service (1953)
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