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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 25, 2009 16:21:11 GMT -8
Well, only five more days till the Olympic torch comes to Victoria. I figure its time to get ready to track it. Everyone should start getting their camera's ready so that we can get photos of the torch on the ferries. Dont forget to make reservations (specailly with the Northern route) early or we'll miss the trip.
;D GO TEAM GO, WE ARE NUMBER ONE ;D
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 25, 2009 22:03:24 GMT -8
And while you're tracking the torch relay, here's something you don't want to keep in mind.
As the Globe and Mail pointed out yesterday, the whole torch relay thing was invented by the Nazis for the '36 Berlin Olympics. It had nothing to do with the classical notion of the Olympics. Hitler had a thing for torch parades; it was a hallmark of many early Nazi marches. The route went from Athens, through a number of the countries the Germans would conquer shortly after the Olympics ended, and as the torch neared the stadium in Berlin, a crowd of 100,000 heard:
"In a few minutes, the torch bearer will appear to light the Olympic fire on his tripod, when it will rise, flaming to heaven, for the weeks of the festival. It creates a real and spiritual bond of fire between our German fatherland and the sacred places of Greece founded nearly 4000 years ago by Nordic immigrants."
Ironically, when those German troops rolled back along the route the torch had followed, their weapons came from the Krupp armament factories, as did that first titanium torch that we now take to be symbolic of the peaceful march to the Olympics.
So, sure, chart the torch's path, but amid all the overwhelming Olympic hype, it might be worthwhile to give a moment's thought to where it all began. Go team go.
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 25, 2009 22:32:54 GMT -8
OOH, Good to know.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 26, 2009 7:09:44 GMT -8
For another "moment in Olympics history", you might consider the first time that an Olympic games were held in North America.
Check out "St. Louis 1904" and especially the Marathon event and also the "sideshow" events. I'm sure you'll find some interesting articles on Wikipedia.
As for the 2009-10 torch relay, it will be in my home-town on this coming weekend. I'm not excited and don't really care.
I'll watch some of the actual Olympics on TV, but that's about it. I'm not feeling the excitement. I wonder if Vancouver should have done what Denver, Colorado did after they were awarded the 1976 Winter Olympics?
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 26, 2009 16:24:45 GMT -8
It holds very little interest for me. It's not really a political thing; I just don't care. And judging by a recent poll, I'm not alone. The sight of someone lying on their stomach on a weird little sled and rocketing down an icy chute does nothing for me, especially when I reflect on how much that icy chute cost to build. And my feelings about my country won't be affected one iota by whether some Canadian on a toboggan can beat some Austrian on a toboggan. Since Canadians normally wouldn't cross the street to watch a toboggan race, how can it become a matter of national pride once every four years? I don't get it.
I also wonder about the projected two billion TV viewers we're told will take in the Games. Consider that the Super Bowl is unquestionably the biggest sports event in North America, and it is watched by about one in three Americans. So almost one in three people in the world are going to watch the winter Olympics? Suuure. Outside of northern Europe and the northern part of North America, I can't imagine there's much interest in bobsledding. And how many Brazilians are going to be riveted to their couches watching the men's final of curling? How about the suspense in Calcutta over the inevitable Canada-U.S. final in women's ice hockey?
Of course we'll get some benefits from the Games, with a number of great new venues and some improved transportation infrastructure, but that stuff could all have been built anyway, and without the massive side cost for security that we're incurring. Every Olympic Games gala gets more and more expensive, with each country trying to outdo the previous host. It's not necessary, and certainly not what the ancient Greeks had in mind.
We're told we have to 'support our athletes'. Well, I sincerely (really) wish them all the best, and I hope they have a great time, Canadian and foreign. Hopefully the fans won't feel too diminished as Canadians if we don't win enough medals, or get too pumped up with jingoistic fever if we do. With all the Olympic pomp and circumstance, it's easy to forget that a ski race is just a ski race.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 26, 2009 18:02:43 GMT -8
Seems to be a bit of snorting on this forum in recent days. Should get out of the doldrums. We're between ferry builds, and will be for awhile, lads. Might was well watch Canada win the Hockey Final at the Olympics. Well... the 'snorting' seems to have prompted you to offer a number of opinions. Before you lamented the snorting, of course. Nothing wrong with that. Doldrums are when no one talks about anything. There's been a dearth of point-counterpoint discussion on this forum of late, and since this is the non-ferry area, and someone invited discussion on the Olympics, it seemed appropriate to snort a little. Even if the thread-initiator was hoping for something a little tamer. If people just want to chart the torch, then I guess the snorting will die a natural death.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 26, 2009 19:28:50 GMT -8
I admit that seeing a torch go by for a few seconds in itself is not a big whoop. However, participating in a larger scale event that is shared by a big cross section of the country, plus likely not to repeat for quite a period of time, kind of puts that not so big a whoop in a different context. I will make time if I am able, to see the torch pass through when it comes near. I doubt I will make it to the Olympics so this will be my small connection.
I have told before my thoughts about being in Calgary just before and after the Olympics and the very positive things I saw it did for the city. I could sense the palpable excitement the week before.
I also visited Montreal before and a bazillion times after the Olympics. It was a very different feel and outcome there. The buildings were monoliths and quite cold appearing. Almost Soviet in style. However, they have for the most part contributed to the city with the exception of the still controversial big O.
I attended a good part of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton and thoroughly enjoyed what I saw. Much more human in scale than Montreal and it felt more approachable and friendly. Commonwealth Stadium is still a good asset for the city if only they would dome the thing so you didn't freeze your nether regions right off watching football.
I hope Toronto gets the Pan American Games because it will give to the city a few more venues, that probably would not get built unless something big comes on the scene. The training and sports outlets it would give to young people would be the biggest outcome during this period of the errosion of phys-ed in the schools.
I am fiscally pretty conservative and not a fan of big bucks spending unless it is for long term infrastructure like transit. I prefer to see the funds go to social uses. However, the balance always has to be to keep kids off the streets and in positive programs so they stay in school. A few more soccer clubs, more pools to swim in, and the training offsets that large events bring, cannot be discounted in their role for mental health and social impact. Too little prevention is ignored while money goes for the bandaid programs.
To this day I regret not being able to stay for some of the Calgary games. You won't see the Olympics again in BC in our lifetimes. So get out and do and see what you can. You might as well because we all have helped pay for it.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 26, 2009 22:18:15 GMT -8
I am fiscally pretty conservative and not a fan of big bucks spending unless it is for long term infrastructure like transit. I prefer to see the funds go to social uses. However, the balance always has to be to keep kids off the streets and in positive programs so they stay in school. A few more soccer clubs, more pools to swim in, and the training offsets that large events bring, cannot be discounted in their role for mental health and social impact. Too little prevention is ignored while money goes for the bandaid programs. To this day I regret not being able to stay for some of the Calgary games. You won't see the Olympics again in BC in our lifetimes. So get out and do and see what you can. You might as well because we all have helped pay for it. I certainly hope we wouldn't see another Olympic Games here in our lifetimes. To have found the resources for the current edition in a time of unsolved social problems and cutbacks to important government social programs is remarkable enough. To do it twice would be utterly unconscionable. I guess I have a natural aversion to this sort of thing. My wife and I lived a fifteen minute skytrain ride away from Expo 86, and we never went. I've never once felt my life to be any poorer for having avoided it. If people are interested in the Olympic events, they should go, but there's no reason that the rest of us need to go anywhere near it, unless, unfortunately, we work in the area. It's doubtful the Olympics would keep any kids off the street. The venues that will be left- the ones the public will actually regularly use- could have been built anyway, as an investment in society and in our future. The only venue that is anywhere near our poorest neighborhoods is the ice rink near Trout Lake. I don't think Expo 86 contributed much to the lower income people on the downtown eastside of Vancouver, despite being built on it's periphery, other than beginning the gentrification of the area and forcing up property values, and rents for the people who lived there. One of the most positive improvements in that area has been the province's buying up and conversion of residential hotels for the homeless and hard to house, and that had nothing to do with Expo, or the Olympics. There has been such a massive propaganda push for these Games that one would think that every piece of infrastructure that is going to be left could not have been accomplished without them. The very expensive hotel purchase and conversion shows otherwise. Government makes choices on spending priorities all the time, and the Olympics are part of that. I don't happen to think it was the best choice, by the NDP that started it, or the Liberals who carried it on.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 26, 2009 22:31:20 GMT -8
I don't think Expo 86 contributed much to the lower income people on the downtown eastside of Vancouver, despite being built on it's periphery, other than beginning the gentrification of the area and forcing up property values, and rents for the people who lived there. Funny you should mention that aspect Neil because that is exactly what the so called Olympic village is already doing. Promoted as future social housing, it now seems clear that they will almost all be sold off as high-end, high-priced condos, just to fill in that ugly gap along the shoreline between Science World and Granville Island.
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 29, 2009 9:51:39 GMT -8
To begin, I have found that the torch will be going over to Crofton from Salt Spring Island on day two. I believe this will be the first ride on a ferry for the 2010 OT. Lucky Howe Sound Queen.
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Post by Mike C on Oct 29, 2009 12:59:22 GMT -8
I'm going up to Comox to see it go through this weekend, with my mom. Should be an interesting experience... I guess?
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 29, 2009 14:07:14 GMT -8
A friend of mine is running with the torch in View Royal tomorrow. Total length of carrying the torch will be a whopping 300 metres!
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 29, 2009 17:01:07 GMT -8
Six students in my old high school (One friend I know) are going to carry the torch. Including a family member in Calgary who works on the radio there.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 29, 2009 22:02:16 GMT -8
It says the torch is revisiting the island Feb 2nd and 3rd on it's way south from Prince Rupert arriving in Port Hardy! Is it taking the ferry??? Anyone know?? Dosent say anything about the ferry! But according to the schedule the ferry leaves Rupert on the 2nd so I dont know if it would be going by ferry.
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Post by Scott on Oct 29, 2009 22:30:36 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Oct 29, 2009 22:42:41 GMT -8
The interactive map is actually good for showing the mode of transportation for the torch (although I quickly notice it's not accurate).
They are flying it around a lot. For instance, from Lake Cowichan to Saltspring Island (it will return to the Island via ferry), and then it must be flying from Port Alberni to Ucluelet then from Tofino to Qualicum Beach. - What a waste (of money and materials) flying this little "sacred" stick all over the country. I can't see how it's worth it in any sense.
Late edit: I just realized that they must be driving to Long Beach, not flying. But they're also driving most of the distances between cities.. stopping for a few blocks in the small towns and for longer stretches in larger centers. I believe I read somewhere that it will be escorted by a 6-vehicle caravan - what excess!
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Oct 29, 2009 23:27:45 GMT -8
I was talking with a few friends the yesterday, and we were thinking it would be fun to calculate the carbon footprint of this "sacred stick", as John so eloquently put it.
I completely agree. What they're doing with this torch is a total waste of money, and it's completely unnecessary. The ecological footprint of this little stick is insane.
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 30, 2009 7:17:28 GMT -8
Day one, The journey begins today. Starting at 9:30AM in Victoria and around the Peninsula, then back to Victoria for Celebrations.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 30, 2009 8:14:42 GMT -8
How is it getting to the Charlottes??? By plane?? The plane arrived like an hour and half late around 8:45am this morning at YYJ. They are just doing the speeches right now.
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 30, 2009 9:22:19 GMT -8
They must have boatloads of torches. Each torch runner has the option to purchase a torch for $300. I guess that's their way to recoup some dough.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 30, 2009 11:06:44 GMT -8
The Torch was made by Bombardier and many more have been produced than have been publically admitted. Many are prepositioned in strategic locations "just in case." School kids across Canada are very much a key focus of the relay. Key to the run for the kids, is that it is one of the few things that we can experience together coast to coast. Now if we could get two Canadian hockey teams in the Stanley Cup then that would also do it. But the way things are looking, we may get another Olympics before then .
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 30, 2009 12:18:56 GMT -8
So with that, best wishes to the Torch Bearers as the Torch makes its way across the Great White North, if you like or hate the Games that's your choice. It is a democracy, but let those who want to enjoy the festivities do so without interference or interruption. People have the right to organize and make their voices heard. As long as they don't actually stop the event or make anyone concerned for their safety, they're not doing anything wrong. The anti-Olympic forces have a teeny fraction of the financial and media resources VANOC, the IOC, and various governments have, so they have to get their message out somehow, and polls do show that the public is not at all unanimous about getting on their party hats for this Olympics, so that message has a certain audience. Personally, I wouldn't be in favor of demonstrating at the torch relay. Too many kids involved, along with people who honestly see this as a good thing. The fact though that it is such a warm and fuzzy event around a controversial expenditure of public funds does make it something of a lightning rod for dissent.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2009 19:20:21 GMT -8
I was in walking distance, so I went to see the Torch relay tonight. The Torch bearer that I was talking to was from Calgary. One of my friends is running in Langford tomorrow. 300 meters seems to be the maximum run.
Which brings me to another point. One of my other friends had to decline being a Torchbearer, as he lives in Victoria and his segment of the run was somewhere else in the BC in the middle of winter. He would have had to take off at least 6 days of work in order to travel to and from the place. (It was just to costly for him.) He really wanted to do his segment here in Victoria.
So when you see the torchbearers, remember that they may not be residents of the community that they are running in.
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 31, 2009 17:44:47 GMT -8
Day 2- Up Island to Cowichan bay and across to Salt Spring Island, than cross to Crofton on the ferry for the end.
Any photos of the day?
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 1, 2009 12:16:49 GMT -8
Here's some photos of the relay running through my town yesterday evening. They arrived 20 mins late, but the whole thing probably lasted 20 mins. So here's how it went down... People started lining the streets around 5:00pm for the anticipated 5:20pm arrival. Upon arriving, I was instantly given an RBC tamborine, with all the Olympic logos and whatnot on the back. Reading the smallprint revealed that the tamborine was made in China. Talk about Canadian Patriotism. The First Nations were all ready to go with their Canoe, for the Mayor to ride along near the torch. The trolley rolled past, chiming its little trolley bell. This one's for the bus geeks. There's Mayor Hutchins greeting the crowds. Ladysmith is a small enough town, that he was once an Elementary school teacher of mine a number of years ago, who also runs for MP but can't make up his mind on being Liberal or NDP. The Simpsons even made a special appearance.... All of the sudden we hear the sirens from all of the police cars and motor bikes. The torch arrives from one of the Olympics vehicles, but still needs to be lit because this is the starting point for the Ladysmith section. A parade rolls through playing loud music, with dancers dancing to the beat on the back of the trucks. Cameras are then focused on the runner once the get the flame lit. And off he goes Paddy Wagon in case a riot breaks out. At this point, the parade rolls through the back roads of town to make its way to the town center. So I jumped in the car to see it roll through Downtown.....We have nothing better to do in this small town during the weekend.... Alot of the Ladysmith Light up lights were turned on early for the event. Volunteers are still setting up the various Christmas lights in preparation for the Ladysmith Lightup annual event on the last thursday of November that usually brings thousands of people to see thousands of Christmas lights brighten up the town. The parade ended at the little roundabout at the end of the main drag. An Inukshuk was setup specially for the occasion. It was later taken down though. Parade is over, and now everyone heads home, leaving the town like nothing had ever happened.
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