Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Have the Olympics gone completely off the rails?

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

First they decided to move the winter event to the midterm year, which IMO dilutes both seasons of the Games. It seemed right to me to have a four year long, Olympics-free period, followed by the huge dog and pony show that can only be achieved by holding both the Winter and Summer games in the same year. Now they seem to have forgotten how important it is to choose a reliably cold place for "winter".

Thus we now have the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Well, some of the indoor events, that is, because it hardly ever snows in a town that's more like a somewhat cooler and much wetter version of San Francisco, than it is like a Winter Wonderland. The outdoor events are going to be at Whistler, two hours outside the "host" city--where today they've had to truck in artificial snow because they haven't been getting any through the usual channels. Despite the lack of snow, it would have made more sense if they called it the Winter Olympics in Whistler, BC.

What ever happened to the old days when they held the Winter Olympics in a truly cold city that actually does reliably get snow? Like Lake Placid, Grenoble, Innsbruck, or Sapporo?

[Kid_A]

It was all a ploy by us Canadians to show the world that the whole country isn't an Arctic tundra.

An expensive ploy but it's going just as we had planned.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

It was all a ploy by us Canadians to show the world that the whole country isn't an Arctic tundra.

An expensive ploy but it's going just as we had planned.I've been to Vancouver. I would have gotten the word out for you for but a fraction of the cost.

[K364]

You make Whistler sound like a suburb of Vancouver.

It's a ski resort up in the mountains.

[Magiver]

It was all a ploy by us Canadians to show the world that the whole country isn't an Arctic tundra.

An expensive ploy but it's going just as we had planned. You mean the official definition of Canada is wrong (2 weeks of bad skiing)?

[Dewey Finn]

I'm pretty sure that having some Olympic events outside the host city is nothing new. For example, during the 2008 Summer Games, the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong. The 1984 Summer Games had events throughout Southern California. (Besides, how many host cities have the appropriate geography for all the events?)

[Markxxx]

I wondered about that when I heard Vancouver won the Olympics, I though it didn't snow, or at least not much there. The thing I like about the Winter Olympics is they give smaller cities a chance at hosting an international event.

I'm sure the Canadians will do a good job though. To kind of hijack the thread what is the security like in Vancouver? Have they stepped it up through the city or do they plan to?

[Robot Arm]

I'm pretty sure that having some Olympic events outside the host city is nothing new. For example, during the 2008 Summer Games, the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong.In 1956, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm.

The rest of the events? Melbourne.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

You make Whistler sound like a suburb of Vancouver.

It's a ski resort up in the mountains.
Well, the Olympics Committee apparently believes it's actually in Vancouver, as if Whistler is just a minor district or street.

[DWMarch]

Well, since the whole mess has been deeply in debt since it started and since the city/province/Feds are on the hook for a lot of the costs, I'd say it was never on the rails in the first place. I don't know if this is really common knowledge but the owners of the Whistler resort are in massive debt and have no intention of paying it meaning the resort is going to be auctioned off... during the Olympics!

I've also heard rumors that the City of Vancouver is using the extra security measures to justify a vigorous crackdown on the homeless, mentally ill, etc. There is absolutely no way the Olympic Village on False Creek is going to be low income housing after it's all said and done. It will end up being another set of million-dollar condos just like all the rest of them in the same area.

what is the security like in Vancouver? Have they stepped it up through the city or do they plan to?

Float plane passengers are getting screened, which means an hour in line for a twenty minute flight. God forbid someone hijack a float plane... they might knock down a tree!

I've also seen a CBC article about the command center over there. It's straight out of 24. It's the Canadian version of CTU. Filled with gigantic plasma screens so the security forces can watch in hi-def as drunken revelers piss on monuments. Should be lots of fun!

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

I'm pretty sure that having some Olympic events outside the host city is nothing new. For example, during the 2008 Summer Games, the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong. The 1984 Summer Games had events throughout Southern California. (Besides, how many host cities have the appropriate geography for all the events?)Even so, it appears that the definitive events (e.g. snowboarding and Alpine skiing) will be at Whistler. Certainly in L.A. they did have to go down to Long Beach (IIRC) for some of the water based events, but the main draws were at the Coliseum and Pauley Pavilion, both in the city.

[RickJay]

In 1956, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm.

The rest of the events? Melbourne.
I used to think Montreal holding the sailing events in Kingston - 3 hours away - was impressive. This tops that.

Actually, the last Winter Games Canada held, in Calgary, was much the same. Calgary is known for being, well, flat. The Rockies are a decent drive away.

Even so, it appears that the definitive events (e.g. snowboarding and Alpine skiing) will be at Whistler.
There's almost always some distance between the host city and the alpine events. (And snowboarding's a DEFINING event? More than hockey, figure skating, speed skating?)

[Savannah]

I agree with the thought that the Olympics were more interesting to me when both summer and winter games occurred the same year, every four years.

As for the Vancouver games, I'm mildly amused by the lack of snow and the hoopla--until I remember that my tax dollars are funding it. Then I'm disgruntled.

It didn't stop me from watching the torch run, though. (I happened to be in the right place at the right time to see it if I stayed 15 minutes where I was. So I did.)

[KennerTheGreat]

In 1956, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm.

The rest of the events? Melbourne.

The equestrian events had to be held in Stockholm (or at least, not in Australia) because Australian quarantine laws were too strict to allow foreign horses into the country. They held the equestrian events in June, and the rest of the Olympics in November-December. From here (http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Past-Olympic-Games/Summer/Melbourne--Stockholm-1956/).

[Pleonast]

It was all a ploy by us Canadians to show the world that the whole country isn't an Arctic tundra.
Wait, what? Vancouver is in Canada? I always thought it was in upstate Washington. I mean, it's not really cold enough there to be Canada, right?

;)

Although I'm only half kidding. It's very hard to underestimate the geographical knowledge of the typical American.

[astorian]

What ever happened to the old days when they held the Winter Olympics in a truly cold city that actually does reliably get snow? Like Lake Placid, Grenoble, Innsbruck, or Sapporo?

Lest we forget, the last Games held in Lake Placid were regarded as an unmitigated disaster by practically EVERYONE who was there (everybody excpet the US men's hockey team)

[garygnu]

Wait, what? Vancouver is in Canada? I always thought it was in upstate Washington. I mean, it's not really cold enough there to be Canada, right?

;)

Although I'm only half kidding. It's very hard to underestimate the geographical knowledge of the typical American.
There is a Vancouver in Washington. Its closest mountain got blown up, though, so it took a hit in its ability to host Winter Games.

I disagree with the notion that alternating Winter and Summer Olympics was a bad idea. I love it. The Winter Olympics were always being overshadowed by the Summer.

[Asimovian]

The winter Olympics could be held in Ecuador, for all I care. Just give me my curling and get out of my way!

[notfrommensa]

Back in 1982, I spent the xmas holidays with some relative in Vancouver. I grew up in the Northeast, Vermont and update NY. We went to Whistler, I have never seen as much snow as saw at that ski resort.

IIRC, they had snow machines working OT for the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

[Simplicio]

Even so, it appears that the definitive events (e.g. snowboarding and Alpine skiing) will be at Whistler. Certainly in L.A. they did have to go down to Long Beach (IIRC) for some of the water based events, but the main draws were at the Coliseum and Pauley Pavilion, both in the city.

How many large cities have ski resorts within their city-limits? I imagine most of the ski/snowboarding events are always outside the host city.

Of course they could just move the whole thing to Whistler and call it the Whistler games, but I seriously doubt a ski-town has the resources or desire to host an Olympics.

[notfrommensa]

Of course they could just move the whole thing to Whistler and call it the Whistler games, but I seriously doubt a ski-town has the resources or desire to host an Olympics.

Lake Placid population at the last census was 2,638 people. Montreal is the nearest major city, about a 2 hr drive away, NYC, is 4-5 hrs drive away.

[garygnu]

...I seriously doubt a ski-town has the resources or desire to host an Olympics.
Squaw Valley

[Leaffan]

This just in: Apparently there will be no Jamaican bobsled team this time after all.

We did invite Eddie the Eagle back to participate in the torch run though.

[YogSosoth]

How many large cities have ski resorts within their city-limits? I imagine most of the ski/snowboarding events are always outside the host city.

Of course they could just move the whole thing to Whistler and call it the Whistler games, but I seriously doubt a ski-town has the resources or desire to host an Olympics.

Does County limit count? Because LA has mountains, ski resorts, deserts, beaches, forests, and urban areas within it's limits. You could have a Winter AND a Summer Olympics here! :D

[Neidhart]

There was no snow in Calgary either; IIRC they had chinook wind and temperatures in the 60s throughout the '88 games and some of the ski events had to be cancelled.

[Robot Arm]

The equestrian events had to be held in Stockholm (or at least, not in Australia) because Australian quarantine laws were too strict to allow foreign horses into the country.I know why it was done. I just think that driving two hours to get to the skiing events seems kinda trivial in comparison.

Lest we forget, the last Games held in Lake Placid were regarded as an unmitigated disaster by practically EVERYONE who was there (everybody excpet the US men's hockey team)Were they? I remember watching the Winter Games in 1980, and I've been to Lake Placid a couple times in the last eight years or so. The trail map at the ski area still shows where the Olympic runs were. There's a great view from the top of the ski jump.

I like it there, but I remember thinking it was kind of a shame that the Olympics had outgrown the ability to ever be hosted by a mountain resort town again. Were the 1980 Games really that bad?

[fiddlesticks]

Not like Lake Placid was the last small city to host the games. Lillehammer is a town of 25,000 according to Wikipedia. Were those Olympics looked upon as a disaster as well? Who could hate the Norwegians? :)

[Muffin]

The outdoor events are going to be at Whistler, two hours outside the "host" city--where today they've had to truck in artificial snow because they haven't been getting any through the usual channels.
You have West Vancouver confused with Whistler. Snow is being trucked into the Cypress Olympic venue in West Vancouver. The Whistler Olympic venue has more than enough of its own snow.

[notfrommensa]

Does County limit count? Because LA has mountains, ski resorts, deserts, beaches, forests, and urban areas within it's limits. You could have a Winter AND a Summer Olympics here! :D

Yet, they can't keep an NFL franchise in the city. :p

[Rodd Hill]

I wondered about that when I heard Vancouver won the Olympics, I though it didn't snow, or at least not much there. The thing I like about the Winter Olympics is they give smaller cities a chance at hosting an international event.

I'm sure the Canadians will do a good job though. To kind of hijack the thread what is the security like in Vancouver? Have they stepped it up through the city or do they plan to?

Right now, outside my office window, I can see a number of small rigid hull craft zipping up and down around a Navy tug; just like they've been doing for the last six months. Canada's "secret" commando unit, JTF2, and a special RCMP unit have been practicing all manner of anti-terrorist scenarios; so in addition to the airport-style security at the Olympic venues, there will be the unseen-unless-needed special units.

We hosted the Torch on Day 2 of the run, and while I really have no interest in the Olympics per se, a chance to pimp out our lighthouse was too good to miss. Hey, we even made the front page of the Pittsburg Post-Gazette--the big time, baby!

[Asimovian]

Does County limit count? Because LA has mountains, ski resorts, deserts, beaches, forests, and urban areas within it's limits. You could have a Winter AND a Summer Olympics here! :DAs much as we like to usurp San Bernardino County only when it is convenient for us, I don't think that's fair, here. I challenge you to name a ski resort in Los Angeles County. :)

[Asimovian]

As much as we like to usurp San Bernardino County only when it is convenient for us, I don't think that's fair, here. I challenge you to name a ski resort in Los Angeles County. :)Huh. I'm going to call myself out, here. I knew that Wrightwood was in SB County, but apparently Mountain High, the ski resort adjacent to it, is on the other side of the border. So I stand corrected: my apologies to YogSosoth, and here's to the Winter Olympics in LA! :)

[YogSosoth]

Yet, they can't keep an NFL franchise in the city. :p

We hate football! It distracts us from our other problems :D

Huh. I'm going to call myself out, here. I knew that Wrightwood was in SB County, but apparently Mountain High, the ski resort adjacent to it, is on the other side of the border. So I stand corrected: my apologies to YogSosoth, and here's to the Winter Olympics in LA! :)

I was going to say Big Bear but yours is good too! But they'll have to be lucky to time the Winter Olympics to be between exactly the 4-6 weeks that are actually cold around here. :D

[Ike Witt]

There was no snow in Calgary either; IIRC they had chinook wind and temperatures in the 60s throughout the '88 games and some of the ski events had to be cancelled.

I was at the opening ceremonies and it was freaking cold. 2 days later a chinook did come through and I was sitting outside in a T-shirt.

[appleciders]

Wait, what? Vancouver is in Canada? I always thought it was in upstate Washington. I mean, it's not really cold enough there to be Canada, right?

;)

Although I'm only half kidding. It's very hard to underestimate the geographical knowledge of the typical American.

There is a Vancouver in Washington. Its closest mountain got blown up, though, so it took a hit in its ability to host Winter Games.


For those of you playing along at home, there's a Vancouver, WA in the far south of Washington. Its nearest mountain is Mt. St. Helens, an active volcano which blew itself up twenty-odd years ago.

[audit1]

to go back to the original question of hve the Olympics gone off the rails? A sidebar

In August the 2010, the first Youth Summer Olymics will be held in Singapore.

In January 2012 the first Youth Winter Olymics will be held in Innsbruck, Austria.

The answer is yes the Olymics have gone off the rails

[Savannah]

For those of you playing along at home, there's a Vancouver, WA in the far south of Washington.

And don't get confused, and come to Vancouver Island, where I live, looking for Olympians.

[Rodd Hill]

And don't get confused, and come to Vancouver Island, where I live, looking for Olympians.

Although you can see the Olympics (http://victoria-canada.ca/images/olympicmountains.jpg) from here.

[Annie]

To kind of hijack the thread what is the security like in Vancouver? Have they stepped it up through the city or do they plan to?



I've also heard rumors that the City of Vancouver is using the extra security measures to justify a vigorous crackdown on the homeless, mentally ill, etc. There is absolutely no way the Olympic Village on False Creek is going to be low income housing after it's all said and done. It will end up being another set of million-dollar condos just like all the rest of them in the same area.


Well, the panhandlers are still 3 a block downtown and the grocery cart guys are maintaining their patrols, so the local indigent-y population hasn't been sent to live on a farm in the country-yet. We still have a week to go. As far as other security measures, the only thing really apparent is they've replaced the garbage cans with translucent green baggies snapped over a basketball net type frame. They look like enormous female condoms.

My office is right downtown; the most fun I can hope out of all this is for is the chance to shove a Today show host into traffic. :D

(Cool your jets, they're closing the roads to vehicle traffic)

[Robot Arm]

For those of you playing along at home, there's a Vancouver, WA in the far south of Washington. Its nearest mountain is Mt. St. Helens, an active volcano which blew itself up twenty-odd years ago.I think Mt. Hood might be closer.

[Annie]

Hold up-I forgot to mention-more helicopters. None playing Ride of the Valkyries, dammit

[RaftPeople]

For those of you playing along at home, there's a Vancouver, WA in the far south of Washington. Its nearest mountain is Mt. St. Helens, an active volcano which blew itself up twenty-odd years ago.

and which killed most of the remaining dinosaurs in the area.