Olympics soon to be upon us, so let's celebrate the athletes and their achievements

And not this silliness:

Vancouver buttons down its shirts, irons its ties

'Try not to be too chatty,' etiquette guide beseeches already-mum populace

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/vancouver-buttons-down-its-shirts-irons-its-ties/article1450127/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/citycaucus/sets/72157623282871864/show/

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/100126/canada/canada_britishcolumbia_bc_vancouver_olympic_protocol_training [3]

This looks good. Party on!
Vancouver 2010 Olympics Free Events Guide

"Where 2 Be for Free" - the Definitive Guide for low-cost 2010

Games fun!

http://www.citycaucus.com/2010free

Be Still My Beating Heart!!!

Abbotsford Live!

Alberta House!

Centre Place Manitoba!

Bell Ice Cube!

Royal Canadian Mint Pavillion!

WTF is paying for all this anyway?

(don't answer I already know)

Why do you think the BC Liberals will be changing their Leader once the bills come in.

In the meantime however most Vancouverites intend to welcome the world and have a grand ole Olympic party. Might as well take advantage of it, as it is gonna happen anyways, regardless of whether or not you originally supported the Games.. 

No Thanks! Here's why...

What is Wrong with the Olympics
http://olympicresistance.net/content/what-wrong-Olympics-0

"the Olympics are not about the human spirit and have little to do with athletic excellence..."

If the federales are forced to give one cent for this blackmail attempt by Fortress, Fortress should get the boot from Canada.

Just as the USA has a no-fly zone for terrorists, Canada needs a corporation executive persona-non-grata watchdog agency in Canada to ensure these kind of scum don't get to set their dirty feet on Canadian soil. 

Whistler owner wants Ottawa to pay $90M US: report

The New York Post reported Monday that the parent of Intrawest ULC, the company that owns one of the venues for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, wants the Canadian government to put up $90 million US before the Games start or it will sue.

The Post reported the parent firm, Wall Street hedge fund Fortress Investments LLC, is negotiating with the Canadian government, with the report quoting Fortress as saying Ottawa had promised to compensate it for the time Whistler Blackcomb is used for the Olympics.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/02/01/nypost-report-fortress-intrwest.html#ixzz0eLSgqldW

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/02/01/nypost-report-fortress-intrwest.html#ixzz0eLSWs57R [9]

Oops, be careful where you smoke that Olympic doobie, big brother is watching you.

Nearly 1,000 Olympic security cameras go live

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/01/bc-olympic-security-cameras.html

The CBC was reporting yesterday about James Moore's comments about Canada House or whatever it's called at the Olympics in Vancouver. The repOrters were querying him about the profits on the structure going out of the country to an American company. Moore responded by saying the pfofits were going to the workers which surprised me. I didn't realize Canada Place was being built by a worker-owned cooperative construction company. As a matter of fact I have never heard of this construction company because it doesn't friggin' exist. What a blatant lie for a Cabinet minister to make, so these right wingers really do take the public for fools. 

I watch watching a report on CBC yesterday of trucks bringing in snow for the various Olympic venues - and the snow was melting as the trucks went on their way, with water dripping behind. Are the games are going to be a fiasco if it warms up still further?

Olympics Well Worth It: Harcourt

Former premier comes out swinging against naysayers, says billions invested will pay off.

http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/02/05/OlympicsWellWorthIt/

I've got nothing against the Olympic athletes.  It's that greaseball Campbell that makes me gnash my teeth.  Fucking idiot drunk driving doofus.

Of course it's worth it. Vancouver is a great city and now the whole world can get a glimpse.

Homeless people and all!

Boom Boom,

This is Canada in the middle of winter. Of course we'll have snow.

The thing is though, we may have to truck it in from the Rockies.

No, they'll be conveniently shoved out of the way.

Oh yes, Vancouver will be showing the world what an amazing city it is. Activists, fighters and resisters. Vancouver rocks.

I don't often listen to CKNW but yesterday there were discussing protestors, or more accurately, whether on not it was acceptable to even allow protestors. This is the most listened to radio station in Vancouver, perhaps even in BC, although the CBC might have a bigger listening audience provincewide. They pump out this kind of garbage day after day on commercial radio. Scary. 

There's much more to Vancouver than the fact they don't do as good a job of hiding their poverty.

Been a few times and loved it. If I lived there I'd be really tired of people bad mouthing it all the time "downtown eastside ! downtown eastside !" I expect that from rednecks who like to link "crime" with "immigration" and "socialism", it's surprising to see it elsewhere.

I think there is shelter accommodation for all those that want it now - at least during the winter months. Mayor Gregor Robertson made the issue a top priority for his administration.

Less than one week to go - you can feel the excitement in the air.

Globe to publish Sunday in B.C. for Olympics

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2010/02/05/globe-olympics-sunday.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020502812.html

PBS to air documentary on Lake Placid, Olympics

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100206/NEWS05/302069966

Too bad! They should have let them in based on their history alone.

Jamaican Bobsled Team Falls Short in Qualifying

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/sports/olympics/6rings.html

Three surprise athletes competing in Vancouver

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/the_view_from_vancouver/2010/02/three-surprise-athletes-competing-in-vancouver.html

Ridiculous

Olympic chef renames his 'bison burgers' after McDonald’s objects
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2529371#ixzz0emPco5s5 

Thank you Maysie and Boom Boom for injecting a bit of sense into this laughable thread.

Oh, I didn't know that. I guess we can call off the protests and just sit back and enjoy 'cause it's gona happen anyways and its poor people's fault for not taking advantage of all those nice shelter spaces Mr. Robertson made for them. I'm just going to spend the rest of the day posting stupid pro-Olympics, uncritical bullshit in babble thread.

Only a few more days before the torch has the audacity to head down East Hastings. I have no words...

The criticisms about Vancouver have nothing to do with their ability to "hide their poverty" which is a fascinating and rather disgusting phrase.

Carting off, or arresting the poor and the homeless to "hide them" from the media during big scale international events is what cities do, and Vancouver is no different. Pointing this out, however, and the immorality of excess in the face of poverty, homelessness and desperation deserves front and centre attention.

And hey, here's a radical wacky idea! How about instead of trying to "hide" poverty, cities actually spend money to help alleviate, decrease and eliminate poverty? Even when there's NO big international dog and pony show in town? Hmmm? FFS.

And this is as good a time as any to make a preemptive activist link to the G20 bullshit coming to Toronto in June. It will be the exact same thing. Disgusting.

I wouldn't go that far, but the athletics has almost become incidental - just the stuff that gets people to look so they can see the advertising.

CTV is reporting Vancouver is had the warmest January on record, and more than 750 volunteers right now are bringing snow in for the Games by truck and helicopter. Training events have been cancelled until Monday.

It's not a "disgusting phrase", it's a phrase describes a disgusting act. Perhaps if I wrote "X murdered Y" you could get on your pulpit again?

NorthReport wrote:

Olympics Well Worth It: Harcourt

Former premier comes out swinging against naysayers, says billions invested will pay off.

 

http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/02/05/OlympicsWellWorthIt/

I held my nose when I voted (twice) for that luge-er, you'd need a bio-hazard suit to do so now.

The Olympigs need to be banned, because they leave a financial catastrophe behind everywhere they go.

Be that as it may they are going ahead.

Sometimes it is hard if not impossible to measure the financial benefits of an event like this. 

For example how many jobs were created for this Vancouver, Canada celebration of the best athletes on the planet? 

So, because we were robbed in order to throw a party we should enjoy it anyways? I don't think that's very good advice.

I can't find the link, but I remember reading that the Olympics were predicted to return one billion dollars in economic growth. For those keeping score, that's one-sixth of our investment. When this stat is quoted, yay-sayers usually respond with a statement similar to NorthReport's:

Which is basically mysticism: "sure these olympics cost a lot--both in terms of money and the civil liberties we used to enjoy--but the return will be dark sorcery magic--intangible economic benefits as concrete as the so-called 'spirit' lighting up the city right now."

The Toronto Star published this report on Olympic economic return:

Oops, NR did it again.

Yea, the Vancouver housing market has taken such a shit-kicking hasn't it. It's getting so bad that it seems only millionaires can afford to live here any more.

What's the point of wailing about about the Olympics now. They're a done deal, so we might as well enjoy the party while it lasts. That's the problem sometimes with the left. They often seem to be whining about something. Sometimes the left reminds me of the people who are always closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.The left needs to be much more pro-active and start leading instead of following like they do a lot of the time. 

Who wrote that the real-estate market in Vancouver has taken a shit-kicking? The article says that there has been no correlation between real-estate growth and an olympic city. However, I suppose when you are so thoroughly invested in fantasy, reading for comprehension becomes superfluous to your goals.

When a housing market takes a shit-kicking it doesn't imply that there is scarcity in housing stock due to high demand but rather surplus stock and little capital interested in it. A housing market taking a shit-kicking producing the result of only millionaires who can afford to live there  makes absolutely no sense.

Um, exactly. Do you know what that sentence means?

I couldn't agree more Gord. Great blog.

Debating the Winter Olympics is like trying to debate the wisdom of committing troops to a war zone after they have already landed and engaged

 Perhaps now is not the time for this debate. It's like trying to debate the wisdom of committing troops to a war zone after they have already landed and engaged. Any dissenting voice will be quickly dismissed as being anti-Canadian and not supportive of the troops. So, in the case of the Winter Olympics "Go Canada Go" is the appropriate slogan to spur on our athletes, after all the games will be open in a few days and we will all take pride and rejoice in the personal accomplishments of individuals who compete for Canada, as we should. We should not fault the athletes for gross overspending and the elitist structure to the games, anymore than we should blame our troops in the field. They worked hard, and we should applaud them for their accomplishments and the sacrifices they have had to make to be the very best in their sport.
So let those who are invited enjoy this private house party, but don't make the mistake that issues that surround these games will be swept away with the placard signs off Vancouver's streets. There is a real debate needed. One that should seriously question need for this "Olympic Movement" but one that will, more importantly for British Columbians, demand accountability from their government.

I saw a report on CBC that anti-doping tests are going to be stepped up. That's quite a telling comment on the integrity of the games, where athletes will try to cheat to win. 

So we are allowed to dissent when undemocratic decisions are made, but we are not allowed to dissent when those decisions unfold? WTF!!!

If athletes and soldiers want to compromise their personal politics and participate in war and corporate spectacles for the elite, I don't give a shit how hard they trained to get there. Why should they be absolved from addressing their personal politics and the politics of these events and the rest of us hushed? ?

Fuck anti-democratic actions and fuck blind nationalism - people should be held accountable for their politics!

Athletes are also not soldiers. Soldiers go to war because it is their job, many people join up for economic reasons. Athletes go to the Olympics because they are among the best supported (i.e. rich) people in whatever sport they do.

I missed the Hockey Powers show on Team Canada .Can someone please tell me if it is being rebroadcast or if it is available on the internet. email me  if possible.

GO CANADA GO!!!!

Baaaahhhhhh!, you give the NDP a bad name. 

This looks interesting - lots of different versions about what actually took place.

Did Vancouver protesters force Harper to scrap appearance 

So, what the heck happened in Vancouver?

The prime minister has only been in British Columbia for a few hours, but his pre-Olympic tour is already proving to be a memorable one, at least for those who were at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver where he was scheduled to watch a dress rehearsal this afternoon, only to be greeted by several hundred  protesters who were apparently unhappy by his government's decision to appeal the ruling on the InSite safe injection site. 
NDP MP Libby Davies, who took part in the protest, described it afterwards as a "peaceful protest."  

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/02/postpmprotestspinwatch... [70]

Cross posting this post by Erik Redburn.

http://olympicresistance.net/content/convergence-summit-schedule-feb-10-11

"Kick off the Convergence week at the 2010 Olympic Resistance Summit!


It all begins on opening day!"

Harper must have really pissed off Canadians, of all sorts, as even the comments  at CBC are against him  almost 96% wise.

Oh and why in hell did they take the torch over the border and into the USA?

--

Who else gets the feeling Harper is losing this Public Relations battle with the NDP

In the ring: PMO vs. NDP

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/02/in-the-ring-pmo-vs-ndp...

What's with this 2-week period.

What's wrong with a permanent, universal, and lasting peace.

Come on Canada, Canadians, we can do better than this.

Nik on the Numbers

On the eve of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, a new Nanos Poll shows that a very strong majority of Canadians embrace the idea that all countries participating in the Olympics should declare peace for the duration of the Games (80.7%). Support cuts evenly across every age group and region, but Quebecers were more likely to support Olympic peace than respondents in other regions (87.7%).

When asked whether they agreed or disagreed that the benefits of a temporary peace declaration would outweigh the negative impact on athletes who could not compete because their countries were not declaring peace, Canadians were more likely to agree (49.3%) or somewhat agree (19.5%). One in five Canadians disagreed (16%) or somewhat disagreed (5.4%) that the benefits would outweigh the negative impacts on athletes.

To chat about this poll join the national political online chat at Nik on the Numbers. The detailed tables and methodology are posted on our website along with regional breakdowns. You can also register to receive automatic polling updates.

Methodology
Nanos conducted a random telephone survey of 1,001 Canadians, 18 years of age and older, between February 5th and February 8th. A survey of 1,001 Canadians is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

Support for Olympic Peace Question: As you may know, the Winter Olympics will be starting in February 2010. Do you support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or oppose all participating countries declaring peace, that is stopping hostilities around the world, during the Olympic Games?

Support 80.7%
Somewhat support 7.6%
Somewhat oppose 1.9%
Oppose 5.5%
Unsure 4.3%

Impact of Olympic Peace Question: Do you agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or disagree with the following statement: The possible benefits of a temporary peace during the Olympic Games outweigh the negative impact on athletes who could not compete because their countries did not declare a temporary peace.

Agree 49.3%
Somewhat agree 19.5%
Somewhat disagree 5.4%
Disagree 16.0%
Unsure 9.7%

Feel free to forward this e-mail. Any use of the poll should identify the source as the latest "Nanos Poll."

Maybe having them on stolen land is one of the problems; that it was fascist and undemocratic in its process is another. Having states declare peace whilst they commit internal violence is not peaceful. No wonder I. Berlin calls Kant's perpetual peace a source of nationalism.

Just caught the end of Harper'sspeech in the BC Legislature - he got a standing ovation, looks like the entire Legislature is applauding him, I have no idea why, unless it's for contributing federal money for Olympic this and that. 

This highlights how democracy works.  The people are clear in this poll and a majority of the parliament would support a motion if they already haven't. This is the response from our NATO military.  Will VANOC speak up?  the hypocracy of the IOC and VANOC talking about peace is enough to make me want to puke.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83858.html

Doesn't nationalism lead to war?

Stephen Harper delivers paen to patriotism
in B.C. Legislature

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/stephen-harper-delivers-paen-to-patriotism-in-bc-legislature/article1464881/?cid=art-rail-bureaublog

I want to know why Govenor Arnold is carrying the torch in Canada's relay?

I want to know also why they changed the Canadian anthem....

I think NBC gave him the opportunity from their corporate allotment.  These are truly the corporate games. I think the surprise lighter of the official cauldron will be the Emperor himself.  That would make me so proud especially after the Governator ran too.  

"I want to know also why they changed the Canadian anthem..."

I think Kropotkin is right about Arnie and the torch but what is Remind referring to regarding the anthem?

Almost one third of the opening ceremonies - about an hour - will have a strong First Nations presence.

You're kidding, right?

What???

Welcome to Steevie's & Gordo's 21st century Canada.  

My understanding from the news is that the opening ceremony will do some "stylized" version of our anthem.  Mind you given that VANOC has copyright over part of it now I don't really see it as my anthem anyways.

As for Politics 101 I will waiting to see if any of them pay their respects to Harriet Nahanee. 

This is an interesting article in Time:

So much money wasted on privileged rich people. Not to mention the cutting back in healthcare services for several weeks, all in the name of "Olympic spirit".

Balaclava VMC Olympic Broadsheet, Issue 2

http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/story/2682

"the daily newspaper of the 2010 anti-Olympic convergence - a project of the Vancouver media coop

Vancouver's current Mayor, Gregor Robertson, inherited the Olympics, but he is the 1st Mayor in recent memory to at least make housing for homeless people a priority. 

And actually it was Premier Glen Clark and the BC NDP that initially promoted the Vancouver Olympics. Unfortunately it was Premier Campbell and the BC Liberals, and former Mayor Sam Sullivan that screwed things up.  

I think it is a mistake to protest the same day as the opening ceremonies. It is just going to piss off some people of good will.

Boycott the Olympics and the TV Stations that broadcast. The power must be taken away from corporatists whom profit at the expense of native people, when thye are required to fully consult, accommodate and reconcile.

The Olympics are being held on stolen land, that will remain in private hands after they are done.

So if the Olympics are so bad, why are the First Nations people such a big part of the opening ceremonies?

Maybe they were concerned that there was an endangered species like a coho salmon attached to it.

Suspect package a fishing rod 'Err on side of caution,' says Mountie

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/11/bc-suspicious-package-lonsdale.html#ixzz0fIZNRafn

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/11/bc-suspicious-package-lonsdale.html [94]

Why don't you get back to us after February 28th and let us know how that goes.

Canada is going to go nuts over the Olympics (lots of enthusiasm, sky-high TV ratings, etc.)...especially if, as I expect, Canada does well in these Olympics.

North Report - I don't think that Charter Rights has much use for the 4 First Nations that are partners in the Games.

1980 Summer Olympics boycott echoes today

...

They don't have to pay the bills.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/11/bc-olympics-benefits-costs-environics-poll.html

Here's the schedule and the results will be posted on this website page as well. It's well done.

Opening ceremonies commence at 6 PM

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/event-results-schedules/index.html

Wow, that's a great question. I guess you got us, eh?

Seriously, get a fucking clue. There are probably thousands and thousands of websites on the internet were you can compare the size of your olympic erection with other salivating sportsmen. Why is it that you feel the need to raw-raw a disgusting huaman rights violation that serves only corporate interests and nationalist, racisist sentiments on this board?

I see now - if you support the Olympics you are a racist. Good thinking there.

Will Sweden and Canada repeat their 2006 gold medals respectively in the men's and women's hockey?

Saw this on television last night: At least 30 athletes fail doping tests 

I say we stop testing and let the Games be a doping free-for-all; they're nothing but a circus anyway.

If you think that that is what I was saying than you are a total idiot. I don't think that you are a total idiot so I think that you are just pulling some defensive manuvering. It's easier for you to laugh of the idea that you could be a racist than for you to think critically for even one second about the Olympics. You don't know what racism is, you don't understand what's wrong with the Olympics and you keep making threads (like you airport security threads) that are just you spamming us with your stupid opinons that are based in total acceptance of MSM articles. Why are you here? You obviously have no interest in learning what progressive movements are happening in Canada or what people oppressed by your lifesyle have to say about it.

NDP MLA Who Proposed Hosting Olympics Pans Games

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Olympics2010/2010/02/11/GentnersVision

"Few will remember where or by whom the idea was first presented. Long forgotten will be BC Transit driver Gary Gentner of Delta who wrote a 6 page Olympic bid proposal back in November 1995 to get the wheels in motion..."

Schwarzenegger Takes Torch Through Stanley Park

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/12/bc-olympic-re... [105]

given the torch relay's Nazi provenance how appropriate

Hey everybody, enjoy the Olympics! Go Canada!

Six pm Pacific start time for the opening ceremonies?  That's 3 am for me.  I'll know what to do if I wake up in the middle of the night.

-Dio

So Arnold ran with the torch this morning, what a steaming pile of BS that is...

As for the 30 athlites suspended,  already, it is just icing on the classist cake of BC taxpayers who are having to foot the bill for a bunch of cheaters, sociopaths and narcissists.

Going to tune into the open ceremonies only so I can hear the Canadian anthem to see if it is mixed with the american one. As I believe that is what they have done, or  people who have heard it would not be so pissed otherwise...

I can't believe Canadians show so much support over the Olympics it's such a sham now.

http://no2010.com/node/1331 [110]

The corporations own the podium I just don't get those who are so willfully blind they cannot see the reality in front of them

Protesters Force Olympic Torch Off Course

http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/764500--protesters--force-olymp...

"Protesters forced the Olympic Torch relay to change course as the flame ventured into the host city's troubled Downtown Eastside today.."

It's official, the opening ceremony has started and the games are open. Let the games begin!

Excellent coverage of the protest on Russia Today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCTTlq_OwA0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S4dnAjMfIc&feature=related [114]

Business as usual.

:puking emoticon:

Of course I watch, you need to, to properly critique the gagfest.

We're the true NORTH strong and FREE!

HA!

What's not to like about the opening ceremonies and Gretsky was the right choice.

Leni Riefenstahl was better

You can't even spell Gretzky FFS.

True though, eh, good 'ol American.  Terry Fox and his Mom would have gotten me.  Oh well...

First the flame next GG.

If you'd learn to spell his name after I've corrected you at least twice, i'd take you more seriously.

I'd rather you wouldn't.

All that money they spent on that hype instead of combatting poverty, and they couldn't even get the torch pillars to work!  Oh well, I guess The Dead Dead Children Were Worth It anyhow!

So funny with a dead man.  :rolleyes:

Gotta love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_H1FzBQD0&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-1-HM

LoL, your post on a deadman is music.  You're fucked dude.

I thought I had problems.

"Gotta love it" indeed.

You got it.

Vancouver Olympic opening ceremony: Wayne Gretzky lights cauldron

"I really like how countries can unite for this one event," said Vallee. "I'm so excited!"

http://www.vancouversun.com/Vancouver+Olympic+opening+ceremony+Wayne+Gretzky+lights+cauldron/2558137/story.html

Errmm, not so sure I'm a big fan of the National Anthem.  She had a great voice, but it's not a pop song called OMG! Canada.

Rught on, bro.

GO CANADA GO!!!

..not quite. robertson's party, vision, broke away from cope so that it could support and campaign for the olympics. all that robertson has done so far for the homeless is temporary. he ran on a campaign to end homelessness at the same time supporting the olympics. now the city is broke. it is clear to me which issue was the priority.

And these peace games had live feeds from Afghanistan that only showed the occupying army enjoying the party.  I wonder what t the people who live in Helmand Province think of the GG and her message of peace.

I have posted - and I still fervently believe - that the place of a Commander-In-Chief is at the head of her troops. Once she takes her proper place, I'm sure the people of Helmand will know how to express their true appreciation.

One of his greatest days, says Gretzky

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_pIL0l-AsDqKSSOr-6I_ALQJWNA

Long thread.