Covering the Olympics
The party in Vancouver during the Olympics is unlike anything the world has ever seen before.
The first thing that you notice is the unmistakable international feel. A lot of people don't realize that most countries rent out a restaurant, bar or hotel lobby for the Olympics, and that becomes that country's official "house" for the Games. It's a great way to take a quick trip around the world, and check out a different culture.
We visited the Swiss House (left), which is located on Granville Island, and the German House, which is located downtown.
We tried to get into some of the Provincial Houses, which are located in Yaletown, and the Russky House (the Science World Sphere to the right), but were denied entry. You need a special credential to get into a lot of these Houses at night, apparently, but you won't have any problem finding a party. The party spills out into the streets until the wee hours of the morning. More on that in a second.
I was working the first few days of the Olympics. I was live in Yaletown as the torch arrived in Vancouver on Thursday night, before the opening ceremonies. There was a huge party in the streets. Probably 100,000 people were on hand to witness the torch arrive and the fireworks show that followed.
I covered the Opening Ceremonies from a site called "Live City", which is a stage just down the street from BC Place, where folks come and watch the events, and live concerts and performances during the games, for free.
I wandered over to Live City on Saturday and caught a free show by Wilco, who blew me away with their live performance.
As I mentioned, the streets are packed downtown. The bars and restaurants are jam packed. The party is unlike anything I've witnessed before. It's sheer joy. Flag-waving, high-fiving, unaduterated joy. The Olympics is like the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, Vegas, Disneyland and Bumbershoot all rolled into one.
The intersection of Robson and Burrard is an absolute Gong show. The streets are blocked off to vehicles for at least six city blocks.
Security, however, is very tight. Police and Yellow-clad Olympic security guards are visible everywhere, at all hours.
A zipline has been installed that carries you over Robson Square. It's become a popular attraction, with waits as long as five hours. My photographer and I were fortunate. We were able to do it for free the day before the Games began... as many times as we wanted. Sometimes being a member of media has its perks.
That does it. I gotta go back. I'm taking the family up for a few days. The Canada/ USA Hockey game is tomorrow. Downtown will be a very interesting place after that one wraps up.
I'll let you know what happens...
The first thing that you notice is the unmistakable international feel. A lot of people don't realize that most countries rent out a restaurant, bar or hotel lobby for the Olympics, and that becomes that country's official "house" for the Games. It's a great way to take a quick trip around the world, and check out a different culture.
We visited the Swiss House (left), which is located on Granville Island, and the German House, which is located downtown.
We tried to get into some of the Provincial Houses, which are located in Yaletown, and the Russky House (the Science World Sphere to the right), but were denied entry. You need a special credential to get into a lot of these Houses at night, apparently, but you won't have any problem finding a party. The party spills out into the streets until the wee hours of the morning. More on that in a second.
I was working the first few days of the Olympics. I was live in Yaletown as the torch arrived in Vancouver on Thursday night, before the opening ceremonies. There was a huge party in the streets. Probably 100,000 people were on hand to witness the torch arrive and the fireworks show that followed.
I covered the Opening Ceremonies from a site called "Live City", which is a stage just down the street from BC Place, where folks come and watch the events, and live concerts and performances during the games, for free.
I wandered over to Live City on Saturday and caught a free show by Wilco, who blew me away with their live performance.
As I mentioned, the streets are packed downtown. The bars and restaurants are jam packed. The party is unlike anything I've witnessed before. It's sheer joy. Flag-waving, high-fiving, unaduterated joy. The Olympics is like the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, Vegas, Disneyland and Bumbershoot all rolled into one.
The intersection of Robson and Burrard is an absolute Gong show. The streets are blocked off to vehicles for at least six city blocks.
Security, however, is very tight. Police and Yellow-clad Olympic security guards are visible everywhere, at all hours.
A zipline has been installed that carries you over Robson Square. It's become a popular attraction, with waits as long as five hours. My photographer and I were fortunate. We were able to do it for free the day before the Games began... as many times as we wanted. Sometimes being a member of media has its perks.
That does it. I gotta go back. I'm taking the family up for a few days. The Canada/ USA Hockey game is tomorrow. Downtown will be a very interesting place after that one wraps up.
I'll let you know what happens...
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