Kenadian

But I thought the idea was that cities wouldn't spend large amounts on new facilities? This is the risk if they go to "new frontiers".

Guy cracked a joke. So what. Get over yourself. No one named Vinnie is gonna knock on your door because you said something or quoted a newspaper on Gamesbids.

So what. Its an Internet Forum.

Just have them in Athens - like the Intercalated Games.

Maybe I'm alone here, but I have a personal philosophy...anything I read, hear, write or say that is followed up with "I'm joking by the way" is generally not taken seriously.

I've been visiting and contributing to this forum since September 2001. You've been here for 12 days. You don't understand the forum as well as you think. Topics like logos, pins, coins, torches and ceremonies have views in the thousands. Hell, I bet even Maxiu's crushed Toronto sandwich thread got more visits. This is just getting some ratings because it is looking like just another Gamesbids drama.

Don't put a lot of emphasis on the number of "viewers" to this thread. Every time someone views this thread, the number goes up - even if you've read it 9 or 10 times. I'm sure about 70% of the views are from the 7 or 8 people who have replied in the thread. The rest are the regular gamesbids crew just taking a peek.

I'll give you one thing, you sparked up the Vancouver discussion forum for the first time in a long while. But I think your audience is off. This whole forum is populated by people who are passionate about the Olympics - discussing, analyzing, predicting and pondering the whole thing. If you are looking to get some attention to your cause, you might want to try some place like www.discovervancouver.com - it offers a public forum. The Olympics are never devoid of controversy and scandal, but when you think of the Israeli murders in Munich, the SLC bribery scandal, Ben Johnson, the Athens construction delays, the Montreal finances, the Moscow boycott, and the dozens of way more interesting things out there, this story you have brought to the forum is kinda weak and really just a problem for a few people that are involved in the suit. And it is just one group of developers attacking another group of developers. Rather boring stuff, really. But as much as this group loves the Olympics, we also do love a scandal and a good scoop. As long as it is interesting. So if you find any dirt on Jack Poole or know what the mascots look like, do tell!

Welcome to the boards, Nan & Dianne!

I'd like to know more about who the Hartwicks are. They've been investigating, lamenting and sueing over this deal for over 20 years: CBC story from 1999 It seems as if they have lost this case numerous times. They must have money to keep putting up a stink like this and paying the legal fees to lose. I can't help but feel they are opportunists. Hard to feel they have been done a great injustice when they keep refusing to let go of something they didn't seem to have in the first place.

A quick Google search of the Hartwicks show that Dianne was once well connected to the Social Credit government in the 1970's - having previously ran (and lost) as a candidate for the provincial legislature and then immediately worked for some of the members of the ruling Social Credit government in that era. Sounds to me like one well to do and well connected group pointing fingers at another well to do and well connected group.

My beef with it is that I believe that the oval at SFU would have had a sporting legacy whereas the oval in Richmond will likely end up with a commercial legacy.

Guess I could copy and paste something that I saw in a news article and call myself the eyes and ears of the world. But if you have a real scandal to discuss - perhaps some shakey dealings in the Olympic Village area? - then let me know. And yeah, I do have a few bones to pick about VANOC. The Richmond Oval deal was a bad decision - should have been at SFU. Many of their managers are kids who hire their friends - half of Orca Bay works there. They messed up the branding of the games - contest was a bad idea and the inukshuk was the wrong choice. They are way behind on the Cultural Olympiad - its two years to go and I don't feel like any culture has been Olympiad-ed. They want people to drive around with $30/year plates, yet John Furlong doesn't even have them on his car. And I do wonder what kind of bad deal could be brewing at the Olympic Village. But this Callaghan Valley thing is minor stuff.

All I read here is the Hartwicks are trying to get a piece of the Olympic action. The Callaghan Valley had been a proposed venue since 2002. Why all of sudden did they realize this only 2.5 years away from the Olympics? Because the closer to the big deadline, the more attention is focused on the area and the more the opportunists will come out. I love juicy gossip about VANOC, but please, come back when you find a real scandal. And again, Business in Vancouver is not as prestigious as you make it out to be. It is just a local business newspaper and sometimes they make mistakes but mostly they are just trying to find stuff to fill the pages and sell ad space.

I'm sure Mr. Ladner can handle the heat. And it was his late father that was the lawyer...the Ladner in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as in the firm that is one of the lead legal counsel to VANOC who's former lead partner is now head of VANOC's legal department. I don't see the scandal here or what this is all about. A deal in the 1980's got quashed. OK. That happens a lot. The Hartwicks lost out. So what? There are many many people involved in VANOC but they would and could not have known back in 1987 that the city was going to win the Olympics.

Thinking doesn't always mean agreeing with what you say. And Business in Vancouver is not prestigious. Its just a local business rag. They are a business like everything else and are trying to make a profit. They've often made mistakes. And this is just the way the world works.

The Games have support, this is just people eyeing money and opportunity.

Word around town is a November launch. And the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere start with: Spring Equinox - March 21 Summer Solstice - June 21 Fall Equinox - September 21 Winter Solstice - December 21 ...give or take a day.

Depends on the length of the City-Union contract. The norm is about 3-4 years. The city had wanted a 5 year contract. As it stands now, even a 3 year contract would mean the union would have no reason to go on strike during the 2010 Games.

But that's part of the problem...the city is trying to negotiate a contract so that there won't be another strike around the time of 2010 and the union is trying to use 2010 as a bargaining chip for their next round of contracts.

I'd rather not find out.

Yes. Make sure you have lots of snacks. I’m sure the IOC has contingency plans with LA, Seoul or another previous host with an array of facilities and easy access to a large supply of university dorms. And if something gravely serious of global consequence happened there is also the possibility of the out and out cancellation of the Games. Wouldn’t mean the end of the world…well, may be it would. But this is likely not going to happen.

They will host at your house.

LOL...yeah, let's feature the oddities of Canadian culture, not our history! OK, I want a ceremony that features these gems: Stompin' Tom Conners, Rusty & Jerome from the Friendly Giant, the Tickle Trunk, Casey and Finnegan from Mr. Dress-up, Erica Ehm and Ziggy from old school MuchMusic, plackard carriers during the Athletes Parade that wear Don Cherry inspired patterns, Bob and Doug McKenzie to carry in the Olympic flag, and the Olympic flame should be carried in to the tune of "Hockey Night in Canada" where a flaming puck shot in by that special kid from the Gretzky ad from years ago.

It is the same thing (except I added an 's' by mistake - schooner - pronounced "Skooner"). The most famous in Canada is the Bluenose, built in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia (a town originally settled by Germans). It set world speed records for the time, but sank in the Carribean in the 1940's. Bluenose II can be seen at the Lunenberg and Halifax waterfronts and the boat is featured on the Canadian 10 cent piece and Nova Scotia car plates.