Tuesday February 9th, 2010 - 2010 Olympics Set to Showcase Vancouver as Opening Ceremony Draws Near

After years of celebration, consternation, preparation and anticipation, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games are about to start.  The city of Vancouver will be under the world’s spotlight, and good or bad, all of its beauty and perhaps a few of its warts will be broadcast around the globe.

Mother Nature certainly is not cooperating.  The city, as well as most of the West Coast and Vancouver Island are experiencing one of the warmest winters on record.  That’s good for the locals spared a reprieve from snow shovels and iffy driving, but bad for Cypress Mountain where Olympic athletes are planning to compete on a world wide stage.  The warm conditions have created a mountain full of slush, only to be saved by snow making machines and the trucking in of snow from interior British Columbia locations.  

Protesters will be out in force, taking advantage of world wide notice to verbalize their opinions on homelessness, fish farm practices and who knows what other causes.  Vancouver and VANOC may not be happy about it, but the protesters have that right. The vast numbers of security personnel from the military, local and provincial police and private firms will help keep them, as well as the tens of thousands of excited fans in check.

The Olympic Village, and Vancouver itself, along with the ski resort town of Whistler, will be busy places.  Nearly 7,000 athletes, 12,000 media personnel and 34,000 Olympic Sponsors are expected to attend the games. That is on top of the fan base and security force, numbering 16,000, already accounted for.

Time will tell whether the increase in business and exposure will offset the cost of hosting the Olympic Games.  While in the short term, construction jobs increased during the building of the venues and the tourism industry will show a profitable first quarter, long term results are being debated.

One opinion is that Vancouver’s exposure to the world will solidify its status as a world class city, increasing its desirability as a tourist destination as well as a beautiful place to call home.  Another is that same exposure will cause Vancouver to become an exclusive resort city for the rich and famous, or maybe not so famous.  

For now, it is hoped that politics will take a backseat to those who have worked so hard to compete in the Olympic Games. Vancouverites and Canadians around the world will be supporting their athletes.  They will do so from a stadium seat, a perch behind a roped off ski finish line or from their living room easy chairs.  Winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics is a great accomplishment.  To do so in your own back yard is just that much sweeter.