This thread will now be used, to the best of my ability, to update on and direct toward reports of anti-Olympics protests occurring in and around the city of Vancouver.

Cheerleading is great for those who are for the event, but in the interest of balance I feel the opposing view needs to be highlighted.
[Edited 2/13/10 16:43pm]

meow85 said:

Not a fan eh?

RenHoek said:

"Not a fan" doesn't even begin to cover it.

This is going to suck so much in so many ways.

On the bright side, there are several protests planned to coincide with certain corporate and entertainment events having to do with the Games. That I am looking forward to.

meow85 said:

See, there's a bright side to everything, just gotta know where to look!!

RenHoek said:

Thanks.




Also on the bright side, I don't drive so at least I don't have to be too concerned with all the road closures.

When does all the figure skating take place? That's pretty much all I care about.

johnart said:

http://www.vancouver2010....e-results/

Has it snowed or have they had to manufacture the white stuff? Two months ago it had been reported there had been lil' snow for skiing and stuff.





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[Edited 2/11/10 20:53pm]

johnart said:

although I'm only into the mens.

I also like the opening/closing ceremonies.
[Edited 2/11/10 9:39am]
[Edited 2/11/10 10:14am]

I have about 10 hours of real tv shows DVRed and a video game to play, so I will be able to avoid the games.

You're just a great ball of sunshine!

matthewgrant said:

that's what I want to watch as well

I kinda like the olympics. I get a bit tired of figure skating (sorry johnart) but I like watching stuff like skiing & bobsledding & curling every four years.

Moreover, I wish all of our stupid competitiveness could be taken out on the playing field instead of in politics or wars.

JustErin said:

I'm looking forward to the opening ceremonies - just want to see if they're going to bring it up a notch in light of the spectacle that was Beijing.

I like those downhill ski things with the flags (slolems?) and the snowboarding.

My wife is into the figure skating.

I heard this morning that they're having to manufacture snow and that they're hauling it down from the mountains.

I could take or leave the Olympics. I will watch bits and pieces randomly. I do love the opening and closing ceremonies though.

PurpleJedi said:

honestly I think it will be tough for anyone to match that!

meow85 said:

Be careful, Mr. Freeze is going to be there

TD3 said:

They've been wasting even more money by helicoptering in the white stuff from other mountains. I bet recycled snow is a delight to ski on.

I do feel for the athletes though. As opposed as I am to the whole endeavour, some of these people have worked their entire lives to get here and Mother Nature might bugger it up for them something fierce. So far no events have been cancelled, but that could still change.

JustErin said:

Yeah, I may have forgotten to mention this and I'm sure I'll be arrested by the VANOC Nazis now that I'm coming clean, but in fact, I am the sun that's keeping the winter weather at bay.

veronikka said:

Aside from my compassion for the unfortunate situation many of the athletes may find themselves in due to the weather, I can't think of a single thing about this Olympics to support.

Curtailing of free speech of Canadian citizens? Check.
Massive corporate sponsorship monopolies? Check.
Exoticizing and Tokenizing local First Nations? Check.
Diverting money away from sorely-needed social services? Check.
A heightened surveillance state? Check.
Blocked off roads in an already overly-congested downtown? Check.
Sweeping homelessness, drugs, and crime under the rug so we don't embarass ourselves instead of actually addressing the problems? Check.
Forced evictions of tenants for Olympic rentals? Check.

I could go on.

meow85 said:

Brilliant

Mach said:

Actually, the sun's finally gone today. It's raining though.


Even in colder years, Vancouver's not really the best Canadian city weather-wise to hold the Olympics. Some years it doesn't snow at all, and this year it only snowed once at the end of November and melted in a few days. It's just too warm here for there to be reliable snowfall. I'd assume we were a candidate to begin with because unlike Calgary and Montreal we actually have mountains.

As much as I wouldn't wish the Olympics on anyone, I actually think Kelowna would have been a better choice in terms of climate to hold the Games. There are mountains, and it's cold enough snow probably never would have been a concern.
[Edited 2/11/10 12:58pm]

meow85 said:

RenHoek said:

Why can't the Bay Area be a host for the Olympics?


wait...now I remember, nobody wants to see a sideshow or a turf dance battle while the torch is being passed

Canada will come in second to the U.S. in the medal count. China third, Russia 4th.
Canada and U.S. tie in gold medals.

I like the competition.
Great athletes on the biggest stage.
Hopefully I'll be able to watch a foreign feed.
Watched the 2004 Athens Olympics in France and the coverage was much better than the American-centric U.S. coverage.

johnart said:

ME 2!!!!! OH WOW, I'VE NEVER EVER EVER FOUND SOMEONE WHO LOVES IT!

I'M YELLING I NO, I'M EXCITED!