Vancouver Games Get High Marks for First Week

The 21st Winter Olympics in Vancouver enter their final week Sunday. Local organizers have received high marks for the way the Games have gone so far.

The first eight days of the Winter Games in Vancouver have had plenty of controversy. Before the Games began, Georgian luge slider Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed during practice.

The Whistler and Cypress Creek venues have been dealing with a lack of snow and warm temperatures. Some events have been rescheduled because of the warm weather.

Several thousand fans had their tickets to snowboarding and freestyle canceled because conditions were unsafe and Vancouver Organizers had to pay back more than $1 million to fans.

There were also complaints about a chain-link fence that surrounded the Olympic Cauldron. The fence has since been replaced with Plexiglas so fans can see and photograph the flame.

But despite the challenges, International Olympic Committee Executive Director for Olympic Games Gilbert Felli says that Vancouver organizers have done an excellent job.

"So altogether we are pleased now after eight days," said Felli. "Of course we still have got eight days to go, but there is no reason to believe that those next eight days will not operate as smoothly as we have done so far."

David Cobb is the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee deputy CEO. He says organizers plan to continue making every effort to solve problems with transportation, venues and other issues so everyone has a positive experience.

"The volunteer spirit is as high now as it was on the first day," noted Cobb. "They are smiling every day and I think enjoying what they are doing. And they are extremely proud of what they're doing. But all of us - volunteers, workforce, everybody involved - has to keep their eye on the ball, work hard right to the end. And we have to be as prepared as best as we possibly can."

Both the IOC and Games organizers know that significant challenges lay ahead. Several events are scheduled for the Whistler resort, as well as Cypress Mountain, but weather forecasters are calling for warm temperatures to continue. Once the Games end February 28, safely and effectively getting all fans, athletes, and officials out of Vancouver will be a huge task as well.


Source:voanews.com/

Amy Williams holds back tears at emotional Vancouver medal ceremony

Amy Williams shows off her Winter Olympics gold medal after the ceremony in Vancouver. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Amy Williams promised to toast her Olympic skeleton gold medal with "a sip of champagne" after being presented with it in front of a cheering crowd at the Whistler Medals Plaza.

Williams held back tears as the Union Jack was raised over a Winter Olympic podium for the first time since Rhona Martin's curling team took gold at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

But she admitted she had shed tears earlier in the day, when she paused to view internet footage of her brother and twin sister cheering her home on TV in the local pub in Bath. Williams said: "I'm going to have a sip of champagne tonight but I'm going to save the party for when I get home. I did have tears when I saw the scenes at my local pub. It really choked me up."

Williams insisted the experience of being awarded her medal in such a public way had scared her and her two German rivals, who won silver and bronze, far more than throwing themselves head-first down a 90mph ice track.

She added: "All three of us were just shaking before going on. To have the medal now is just incredible. I didn't think I would get a medal – I was just hoping to do better than my training runs.

"I've been in a bubble since I won and it feels like it's got thicker. It feels a little bit more real now that I'm holding the medal. I've had a message of congratulations from the Prime Minister and the whole thing is amazing."

Source:guardian.co.uk/

Olympics: Thousands of happy visitors jam Vancouver streets

VANCOUVER -- How do you like us now, Lawrence?

The Vancouver Winter Games, which British golf writer Lawrence Donegan -- after only three days! -- suggested might go down in history as the "worst ever," put on their best face Saturday.

Under blue skies and a warming sun, thousands of people from around the world took to the city's streets, clogging major thoroughfares like Robson and Granville that have been converted to pedestrian malls.

Street performers could scarcely believe their good fortune as people lined up five and six deep to watch the shows. On every corner, two traffic cops struggled to control the rivers of people, never mind cars.

For those from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, it was unlike anything they'd ever seen before.

"Never," said Kevin Neustaedter, 52, from Coquitlam. "I bought tickets to one event and I was only going to go for one event." But then people kept telling him how much fun it was downtown, so he showed up Saturday to soak up the carnival atmosphere and take in the evening fireworks.

"The hype is building on the hype," he said. "There's no doubt about it."

Over at the Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion, Shavi and Melissa Morsara and friends Megan Kennedy and Shannon Nichol expected to wait up to seven hours to see Olympic medals up close.

"Our city's known to be not too exciting," Shavi Morsara said. "This is an indication if you bring the right venues to town how people come out. It's good to see. It's so positive, a good vibe and different types of culture." Tourists from other countries raved about the party atmosphere. The orange-clad Van Denboom family from Holland -- mother, Fieny, in a traditional Dutch bonnet -- wandered Robson posing for pictures with Canadians in red hockey jerseys.

"It's wonderful," said Rob Van Denboom.

"Awesome," added brother Bram.

"And the people are friendly as well," said father Jos.

The British media, they said, have no idea what they're talking about.

"It's only the British," said Jos. "They were always separate." German tourist Torsten Danke, who got his picture taken with two Mounties in red serge at the corner of Granville and Hastings, said he was most taken with the friendly service and the number of people who stopped to ask where he was from.

"You don't have it in Europe like this," he said.

Even Olympic organizers and tourist officials have been surprised at the level of enthusiasm.

"The reaction of our city and I think the entire country has been overwhelming," said Dave Cobb, deputy chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee. "I've lived in this city my whole life and have never seen this type of excitement." The crowds have got so big, in fact, that Vancouver police have asked for reinforcements to deal with the numbers at night. But Const. Lindsey Houghton said that, except for a number of liquor-fueled incidents, there have been relatively few problems. Crime, in fact, is down nearly 40 per cent over the same period last year.

"The attitude and vibe has been unbelievably positive," he said.

Will it all be enough for Vancouver to shed the early criticism about a malfunctioning cauldron, early transportation glitches, and the lack of snow on Cypress Mountain?

Tourism Vancouver president Rick Antonson believes it will. He likens the Games to the performance by B.C. snowboarder Maelle Ricker.

"She came out of the gates on her first trial that morning and slipped and got up and by the end of the day, we saw what she was made of. And she was gold.

"I think what we're seeing, despite the early glitches with these Games, is what British Columbians are made of."

Source:vancouversun.com/