One year and counting
Feb. 12th, 2009 08:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcIn one year and approximately 9 hours, the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will begin. A bit less than one month later we get to do it all over again for the Paralympic Winter Games.
I am very excited!
What isn't highlight enough to my mind is that much of the competition venue construction in metro Vancouver will benefit everyday people more than elite athletes. Two city public ice rinks have been wholly upgraded as training venues for the Games--to a standard well above what would have been built otherwise. Vancouver Olympic Park (curling) will not only see new curling sheets, but a brand new indoor pool--heated by the cooling system for the ice. And the Richmond Olympic Oval (speed skating) will be converted to a multi-use public recreation facility, hosting hockey, figure skating, tennis, basketball, indoor soccer, running. All for the general public, not sporting elites.
The upgrade to the Sea-to-Sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler was already on the books: it was simply moved up a few years because of the Games. Building the new Canada Line Skytrain between Vancouver International Airport and downtown Vancouver did displace other transit projects--most notably the Evergreen Line for the tri-cities of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody. I think this was unfair, but now there seems to be funding in place for the Evergreen Line to go forward. But the ability for visitors to get to downtown Vancouver in less than 30 minutes will benefit everyone except taxi drivers.
These are all things, however. What I'm most excited about is the impending arrival of Olympic magic. People who have attended previous Games have told of how the city become full of positive energy and excitement. There will be colours, sounds, and smiles. Even with traffic, crowds, and security line-ups.
We are ready to welcome to world. Are you coming?
I am very excited!
What isn't highlight enough to my mind is that much of the competition venue construction in metro Vancouver will benefit everyday people more than elite athletes. Two city public ice rinks have been wholly upgraded as training venues for the Games--to a standard well above what would have been built otherwise. Vancouver Olympic Park (curling) will not only see new curling sheets, but a brand new indoor pool--heated by the cooling system for the ice. And the Richmond Olympic Oval (speed skating) will be converted to a multi-use public recreation facility, hosting hockey, figure skating, tennis, basketball, indoor soccer, running. All for the general public, not sporting elites.
The upgrade to the Sea-to-Sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler was already on the books: it was simply moved up a few years because of the Games. Building the new Canada Line Skytrain between Vancouver International Airport and downtown Vancouver did displace other transit projects--most notably the Evergreen Line for the tri-cities of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody. I think this was unfair, but now there seems to be funding in place for the Evergreen Line to go forward. But the ability for visitors to get to downtown Vancouver in less than 30 minutes will benefit everyone except taxi drivers.
These are all things, however. What I'm most excited about is the impending arrival of Olympic magic. People who have attended previous Games have told of how the city become full of positive energy and excitement. There will be colours, sounds, and smiles. Even with traffic, crowds, and security line-ups.
We are ready to welcome to world. Are you coming?
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 05:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 05:54 pm (UTC)So I'm looking forward to a fun time. I cycle to work so the traffic jams won't affect me much. There might be some neat events to go to. And in the meantime there are people who are now working because of it.
It would be great if there was some sort of light rail transit up the coast at least to Squamish. Something with a great view but maybe I'm dreaming here.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 07:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-12 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 09:59 am (UTC)(I have had floor space staked out at a friend's place in BC since the DAY the IOC announced that they had given the bid to Vancouver!)
PS I was watching the skating, kept hoping irrationally to see you two in the audience!
no subject
Date: 2009-02-13 08:14 pm (UTC)If we win lotto... otherwise, I will be watching on TV and mavelling at the changes since I was last there (2000 or thereabouts).
I think it would be great if they had public transport all the way to Whistler (some kind of railway?) I'm not sure how feasible that would be, but it would be useful!