Throne Posted May 27, 2015 Report Posted May 27, 2015 An aesthetic report or rather - judgement - shall be submitted shortly with regards to the overall appeal of this "new look". Quote
Throne Posted May 27, 2015 Report Posted May 27, 2015 Trying to ascertain precisely where the difference is.....just slight modifications, remaining substantially faithful to the previous "look" which was, most certainly an aesthetic highpoint. Of course the foregrounding of the "paint masks" is appropriate. Whatever changes have occurred have not impacted - either negatively or positively - what was there before. Quote
intoronto Posted May 28, 2015 Report Posted May 28, 2015 Official song and the medal podium were unveiled today. Quote
Throne Posted May 28, 2015 Report Posted May 28, 2015 One emerging trajectory of debate appears to be the French talent in what appears will be a skydiving segment from the CN Tower fro the OC. Though quite thrilling to look at, an quite a unexpected publicity ace in my opinion, I hope that this does not index that the Toronto people will be trying something "Londonish". Moreover, why wasn't Canadian talent used? Quote
ofan Posted May 28, 2015 Report Posted May 28, 2015 One emerging trajectory of debate appears to be the French talent in what appears will be a skydiving segment from the CN Tower fro the OC. Though quite thrilling to look at, an quite a unexpected publicity ace in my opinion, I hope that this does not index that the Toronto people will be trying something "Londonish". Moreover, why wasn't Canadian talent used? The ceremony is being produced by Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian entertainment company. Quote
Throne Posted May 29, 2015 Report Posted May 29, 2015 Thank you so much Ofan. Although, all things considered, it doesn't really answer the question. Nevertheless, it seems there have been some aces worthy of note so far, and some epic misses with regards to what is happening in the lead up to these games. I shall relentlessly maintain that your city, with all its "dazzle" has all the right ingredients to make 2015 a true turning point of interest in these games across the Americas and the rest of the world. What does it say about your commitment to sport as a hemisphere if your biggest hemispheric sporting event is virtually deceased? That being established, I shall submit what I perceive - from my experience - are the strong points so far in the "image projection" of these games. Sometimes, the perspective of an outsider is the best reference point. Aces Without doubt - The medals.....they are superlative in design and conceptualization and are undoubtedly, masterfully exquisite The Logo - A new and exciting trajectory of branding from Canada given its compulsion with the Maple leaf motif ( but we all love maple leaves so....) The website - Perhaps one of the few obvious promotional aces. Though, I am not sure if the current updates will harm or hurt visitor perceptions. It seems a bit more edgy/urban and may be a risk but.....at least you haven't done the typical. The Village: Magnificently situated. The architectural aesthetics and the urban planning at work here are particularly noteworthy. Though the project appears a bit underdone. The parachute jump which I imagine, should prod people's interest that something exciting is about to happen in their city this summer. Smashes and Crashes The underwhelming promotion of the event. Which should NOT be IF significant events (lighting ceremony) were strategically aligned to public event and exploited. People should SEEE the excitement from now.... NOT two weeks just before like the Olympics. You are dealing with a sporting event that does not have Olympic prestige and the one of the ULTIMATE legacies of Toronto should be to change that. You will know you are on your way to creating that legacy IF you have healthy ticket sales at this stage. I would be concerned if I were any of the Toronto people. Someone, after tearing open and licking the insides, dropped an enormous brown chocolate wrapper on the ground in a picturesque setting and called it an athletics stadium. The first PVC tubing to be utilized as a torch. Dear God, the handing over segment and running athlete, facepalm, facepalm, double facepalm ( after such an impressive ancient Aztec Ceremony) As the we approach the date of the opening, we will see where the compass will swing next. Throne Quote
Quaker2001 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Posted May 29, 2015 Thank you so much Ofan. Although, all things considered, it doesn't really answer the question. Nevertheless, it seems there have been some aces worthy of note so far, and some epic misses with regards to what is happening in the lead up to these games. I shall relentlessly maintain that your city, with all its "dazzle" has all the right ingredients to make 2015 a true turning point of interest in these games across the Americas and the rest of the world. What does it say about your commitment to sport as a hemisphere if your biggest hemispheric sporting event is virtually deceased? That being established, I shall submit what I perceive - from my experience - are the strong points so far in the "image projection" of these games. Sometimes, the perspective of an outsider is the best reference point. Virtually deceased? I think that's a matter of perspective. If you expect the Pan Am Games to be a continental version of the Olympics in the Americas, then perhaps you're putting too much pressure on Toronto to be the turning point in the history of the event, let alone something that attracts the attention of the rest of the world. More than that.. if you're talking about commitment to sport, look at what we have here in Canada and the United States. 2 prominent football leagues (NFL and CFL), baseball, basketball, and hockey. A golf tour with events every weekend through most of the year. 2 auto racing years, including 1 that has run in several different Canadian series, including a long-running race in Toronto. And don't forget the wealth of college athletics here in the United States. So when a once-every-4-years event comes along, it's difficult for said event to gain a lot of traction where there are already other events on the calendar and, in this age of social media, it's easier to get invested in events and athletes we see on a regular basis. Quote
Throne Posted May 29, 2015 Report Posted May 29, 2015 If you would be so kind, do correct me if I seem to be on the wrong trajectory of thinking. However, I don't recall football (either NFL or CFL type) being on the Olympic list. Neither auto racing (I don't think they are on the Pan Am list either) Golf only just being scheduled for next year. The point is, hosting the games is as much about lifting the standard of those sports with a broad HEMISPHERIC appeal moreso than those other sports that are definitive of a particular country - to stress the importance of country specific/identity sports would be very selfish and would not resonate well with the rest of the hemispheric 'family'. As the song says (I think) "we stand together" don't you? Quote
Quaker2001 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Posted May 29, 2015 If you would be so kind, do correct me if I seem to be on the wrong trajectory of thinking. However, I don't recall football (either NFL or CFL type) being on the Olympic list. Neither auto racing (I don't think they are on the Pan Am list either) Golf only just being scheduled for next year. The point is, hosting the games is as much about lifting the standard of those sports with a broad HEMISPHERIC appeal moreso than those other sports that are definitive of a particular country - to stress the importance of country specific/identity sports would be very selfish and would not resonate well with the rest of the hemispheric 'family'. As the song says (I think) "we stand together" don't you? You're not necessarily wrong in your thinking, but you need to put this event in some context. Consider.. You have the women's World Cup going on throughout the country in the month leading up to the Pan Ams. So Toronto is obviously not a part of that event, one which does include the entire world and will probably be more visible throughout the Canada than the Pan Ams which is confined to 1 city. The FINA World Championships actually begin before the Pan Ams end and as a result, the aquatics events at the Pan Ams had to be adjusted accordingly. Similarly, the IAAF World Championships are later this summer, so it's hard to shine a spotlight on that competition in Toronto. You can't isolate this event apart from everything else going on around it. You keep saying that folks should start getting exciting now about the Pan Ams even though we're several weeks away. Well, what about the IndyCar race there in June? What about the Blue Jays and Argonauts who still have games, albeit mostly outside of Toronto, while the Pan Ams are going on? That's what I was referring to when I brought up those other sports. These events - that tend to have a fairly regular calendar to them year to year - don't shut down because the Pan Ams are coming to town. That's why they tend to be bigger in Latin American countries where they don't have the wealth of other sports going on. And that's not to say Toronto is a bad host city as a result, but it needs to be put in perspective. That said, for many sports, this is a premiere competition for them, especially those that serve as qualifiers for the Olympics. They deserve that spotlight, but if they don't get it, that's not necessarily the fault of the Toronto organizers for not doing their jobs. There's only so much you can ask of the host city to promote those sports, particularly if you're talking about a more global audience that you would like to see the Pan Ams attract. Your initial question was "What does it say about your commitment to sport as a hemisphere if your biggest hemispheric sporting event is virtually deceased?" Canada's (and the United States) commitment to sport as a hemisphere is not in question. Never has been. As it pertains to these particular sports, you have a point, but maybe it's just not the nature of these 2 countries to generate interest in these types of events when it's not the Olympics. It's why the IAAF World Championship rarely come to North America (and when they do again in 2021, it's in a relatively minor city. Ditto the FINA Worlds. I know you keep looking at this year's Pan Ams and Toronto and hope that it will be some massive turning point. I doubt we'll see that though, and again, if it doesn't happen, I don't place blame at the feet of the Toronto organizers for not making it happen. Quote
Ikarus360 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Possible leak of part of the opening ceremonies? http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/panamgames/2015/05/27/base-jumpers-make-historic-leap-from-cn-tower-for-pan-am-games.html BASE jumpers make historic leap from CN Tower for Pan Am Games "Top secret" stunt by French BASE jumpers ruffles feathers in the local BASE jumping community.It was meant to be “top secret,” but when you’re jumping off the CN Tower, you can’t exactly keep things hush-hush. As a helicopter circled around crowds gathered at Roundhouse Park early Wednesday morning, two BASE jumpers took the plunge, falling separately from the top of the tower, their parachutes billowing in the wind. The pair — identified as French BASE jumpers Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet —each landed with a Pan Am Games emblazoned torch in their hands, sparking speculation that the stunts were part of the sports competition’s July 10 opening ceremony. When the Star asked film crews what they were doing at the site, cameramen rushed to shield the torch, claiming their presence was “top secret.” They gave the same response when questioned about a man clad in a Games tracksuit who was spotted across the street from the parachute landing pad, running with a lit torch. All Pan Am spokesperson Teddy Katz would say is that “this is for a promotional video we are filming.” A rare stunt A sanctioned BASE jump from the top of the CN Tower isn’t something you see every day. That it’s being done by two professional French jumpers, instead of Canadians, has angered some in the tight-knit local community of jumpers. “It’s shocking and unacceptable,” said Anthony White, an Ottawa BASE jumper, who added that his team has “pitched numerous proposals to the CN tower over the years, outlining as well the importance of using Canadian talent if and when the jumps occurred.” “Our red and white coloured parachutes were made for just such an event and would look wonderful displaying the Canadian colours,” he said. Prior to Fugen and Reffet, Dar Robinson was the only person to make a sanctioned jump from the tower, when he played Christopher Plummer’s stunt double for a heist-gone-awry movie in 1979. The only other person known to have BASE jumped off the tower was steelworker William Eustance, who leapt in 1974 — as he was still building it – and was fired for his trouble. With files from Kerry Gillespie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K3f2TIpUFg Quote
Throne Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 You're not necessarily wrong in your thinking, but you need to put this event in some context. Consider.. You have the women's World Cup going on throughout the country in the month leading up to the Pan Ams. So Toronto is obviously not a part of that event, one which does include the entire world and will probably be more visible throughout the Canada than the Pan Ams which is confined to 1 city. The FINA World Championships actually begin before the Pan Ams end and as a result, the aquatics events at the Pan Ams had to be adjusted accordingly. Similarly, the IAAF World Championships are later this summer, so it's hard to shine a spotlight on that competition in Toronto. You can't isolate this event apart from everything else going on around it. You keep saying that folks should start getting exciting now about the Pan Ams even though we're several weeks away. Well, what about the IndyCar race there in June? What about the Blue Jays and Argonauts who still have games, albeit mostly outside of Toronto, while the Pan Ams are going on? That's what I was referring to when I brought up those other sports. These events - that tend to have a fairly regular calendar to them year to year - don't shut down because the Pan Ams are coming to town. That's why they tend to be bigger in Latin American countries where they don't have the wealth of other sports going on. And that's not to say Toronto is a bad host city as a result, but it needs to be put in perspective. That said, for many sports, this is a premiere competition for them, especially those that serve as qualifiers for the Olympics. They deserve that spotlight, but if they don't get it, that's not necessarily the fault of the Toronto organizers for not doing their jobs. There's only so much you can ask of the host city to promote those sports, particularly if you're talking about a more global audience that you would like to see the Pan Ams attract. Your initial question was "What does it say about your commitment to sport as a hemisphere if your biggest hemispheric sporting event is virtually deceased?" Canada's (and the United States) commitment to sport as a hemisphere is not in question. Never has been. As it pertains to these particular sports, you have a point, but maybe it's just not the nature of these 2 countries to generate interest in these types of events when it's not the Olympics. It's why the IAAF World Championship rarely come to North America (and when they do again in 2021, it's in a relatively minor city. Ditto the FINA Worlds. I know you keep looking at this year's Pan Ams and Toronto and hope that it will be some massive turning point. I doubt we'll see that though, and again, if it doesn't happen, I don't place blame at the feet of the Toronto organizers for not making it happen. Very well balanced submission. I shall consider the perspective in which is was submitted. Thank you very much. Quote
intoronto Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 The torch has landed on Canadian soil! 3 Quote
ofan Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Live coverage of the start of the relay on CBC.com. Rain has pushed the opening activities indoors. I see Rosie MacLennan in the background wearing a torch relay track suit. Maybe she will be the first torchbearer? Quote
Ikarus360 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Rosie McLennan, olympic gold medalist, is the first torchbearer Quote
Throne Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 I will try, for the sake of this city, NOT to be negative but......again......a promotional tragedy. Surely, someone must have been within orbit of the thought of a Plan B at least. I must be honest and say that this was such a let down of a start. Everything appeared rather ship-shod and this represents an awful organisational faux pas on the account of your city. Granted, the weather cannot be controlled. But what is more Toronto than the Eaton Centre? Had the organisers held the ceremony in a globally known Torontonian space such as that from the getgo, considering the skylighting and the weather, it would have been a brilliant stroke of bringing the excitement of the event right into the faces of so many ordinary people as they do what so many people do on as Saturday - go to the mall! It is amazing that strategy was not maximized. I do believe this constitutes what you North Americans would term a MAJOR FACEPALM event. Quote
Throne Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Moreover, after watching official video from the CTV channel, I conclude that it was a tad bid too informal. There was virtually nothing to suggest that these games should be seen an important and that was brilliantly conveyed. Frankly, should you not seek to convey an image and tone of formality (at least in how you dress), and your media defuses that to the population, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand what, therefore, is helping to sustain the apathy among the population. I simply won't believe what I have seen. It seems the Toronto people are of the conviction that formality and dignity are expensive..... and this simply is not true. Quote
intoronto Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 I will try, for the sake of this city, NOT to be negative but......again......a promotional tragedy. Surely, someone must have been within orbit of the thought of a Plan B at least. I must be honest and say that this was such a let down of a start. Everything appeared rather ship-shod and this represents an awful organisational faux pas on the account of your city. Granted, the weather cannot be controlled. But what is more Toronto than the Eaton Centre? Had the organisers held the ceremony in a globally known Torontonian space such as that from the getgo, considering the skylighting and the weather, it would have been a brilliant stroke of bringing the excitement of the event right into the faces of so many ordinary people as they do what so many people do on as Saturday - go to the mall! It is amazing that strategy was not maximized. I do believe this constitutes what you North Americans would term a MAJOR FACEPALM event. Yea canoeing in the Eaton Center is totally possible. Quote
BTHarner Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Everyone of Throne's posts constitutes a MAJOR FACEPALM event. Sorry, couldn't help myself. BTW, the official Games app is now available for download. It's a work in progress, as is Triplinks.com the site that is supposed to help you plan your way around the games. The site doesn't seem to want to give me any direction on how to get from my hotel to Centennial Park for BMX. 3 Quote
intoronto Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 Everyone of Throne's posts constitutes a MAJOR FACEPALM event. Sorry, couldn't help myself. BTW, the official Games app is now available for download. It's a work in progress, as is Triplinks.com the site that is supposed to help you plan your way around the games. The site doesn't seem to want to give me any direction on how to get from my hotel to Centennial Park for BMX. You need to get to Kipling Station (the furthest west on the green line). From there you take a shuttle that will bring you right to the venue. Quote
Throne Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 I do understand, most sympathetically, your willingness to do some sort of damage control. You would, naturally, want your city to shine and when it "plunges into darkness", as was the case with this welcome ceremony, you will hope, rather desperately that people won't notice. I am very, very fond of Toronto and would also prefer people not notice but, most unfortunately, whether we like it or not, people do. Surely, you would think that a billion dollar event is important enough to AT LEAST be treated importantly at this stage. The mere fact that this significant juncture (the arrival of the flame) was punctuated more by what looked like either gross under-preparation or an excellent circus act, in a way justifies (and might very well intensify) the poor apathy among the city's population. It must rank among the one of the most unusual things I have ever seen. And just for a giggle, doesn't it seem interesting that almost all the major sporting events Canada has hosted, Montreal 1976, Vancouver 2010 and NOW Toronto 2015, has had some jinx with the flame? If there isn't a malfunction of some thing, the rain comes down and puts it out! But returning to a serious note. We now have solid proof that the flame wasn't lit in Mexico. The impressive tongue of fire from the "actually lit" torch, has shown this to be true. I'm afraid the Toronto people haven't paid attention to the details. Incidentally, details are everything in places like London, Dubai or Beijing. There must be a damage control strategy implemented as soon as possible to neutralize the effect of this very strange welcoming ceremony. If you cannot demonstrate adequate competence at the micro stage, one certainly won't be able to ace anything at the macro stage. Anyone outsider following this would start to wonder if Toronto's exquisitely sleek CN Tower isn't anything more than just one gigantic cardboard cutout! I certainly pray not. Quote
Quaker2001 Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 I do understand, most sympathetically, your willingness to do some sort of damage control. You would, naturally, want your city to shine and when it "plunges into darkness", as was the case with this welcome ceremony, you will hope, rather desperately that people won't notice. I am very, very fond of Toronto and would also prefer people not notice but, most unfortunately, whether we like it or not, people do. Surely, you would think that a billion dollar event is important enough to AT LEAST be treated importantly at this stage. The mere fact that this significant juncture (the arrival of the flame) was punctuated more by what looked like either gross under-preparation or an excellent circus act, in a way justifies (and might very well intensify) the poor apathy among the city's population. It must rank among the one of the most unusual things I have ever seen. And just for a giggle, doesn't it seem interesting that almost all the major sporting events Canada has hosted, Montreal 1976, Vancouver 2010 and NOW Toronto 2015, has had some jinx with the flame? If there isn't a malfunction of some thing, the rain comes down and puts it out! But returning to a serious note. We now have solid proof that the flame wasn't lit in Mexico. The impressive tongue of fire from the "actually lit" torch, has shown this to be true. I'm afraid the Toronto people haven't paid attention to the details. Incidentally, details are everything in places like London, Dubai or Beijing. There must be a damage control strategy implemented as soon as possible to neutralize the effect of this very strange welcoming ceremony. If you cannot demonstrate adequate competence at the micro stage, one certainly won't be able to ace anything at the macro stage. Anyone outsider following this would start to wonder if Toronto's exquisitely sleek CN Tower isn't anything more than just one gigantic cardboard cutout! I certainly pray not. Do you think there's a chance that this post is just a little bit over the top? Plunges into darkness? The CN tower is a gigantic cardboard cutout? Would it be too much to ask to tone down the hyperbole just a tad? You continue to make a really really big deal out of the minutia here. The jinx with the flame at the 2010 Olympics was seen live by millions upon millions of people throughout the world and tens of thousands of people inside the stadium. That malfunction happened at THE most critical moment. And that was the OLYMPIC flame. This is the Pan Am flame. It's not nearly as symbolic, much in the same way that the 5 interlocking rings are an internationally recognized symbol. The logo of PASO, not so much. Here's the disconnect though. You keep talking about "people" as if you are speaking for them. I'm fairly confident that most people, even if they were paying close attention to the ceremony (as many here were) are not having an "OMG, that was the worst thing ever, MAJOR FACEPALM" moment as you are having. I know that's your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it, but it's hard to take that opinion seriously when you trying to project that opinion onto others. The success or failure of the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games will not be determined by the organizational expertise of the flame lighting. If, 2 months from now, the event has been a flop, then you can tell us all 'I told you so.' Until then, give these organizers a little latitude that they're not actually a bunch of incompetent bozos who are incapable of making this work when it really counts. And right now, it doesn't really count that much. Keep that in context if you're making comparisons to Vancouver 2010 when this even has yet to play out. Most people will not know (nor will they care) that the flame wasn't lit in Mexico. That's something this community here will be aware of, because that's what we do. It's not something where a potential Pan Am games attendee will say "wait, the flame wasn't lit in Mexico?.. shoot, I can't go to this even now, it's not authentic!" You're darn right the Toronto people haven't paid attention to the details. So what? Does that make this event different from others like it? You keep mentioning Dubai.. how many multi-sport events like this have they hosted? No damage control is needed here. This is not something that is going to have some lasting effect on the event as you seem to think it will. Once again, I suggest - nay, urge you to put these elements in context and realize there are more important battles for the Toronto organizers to fight. And even if they, in your mind, are failing at these, it is not a pre-cursor of their success or failure when things really start to count - July 7, 2015 Quote
Throne Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 ^^ There is something in the world called plastic surgery should this be the best you can do. Do you think there's a chance that this post is just a little bit over the top? Plunges into darkness? The CN tower is a gigantic cardboard cutout? Would it be too much to ask to tone down the hyperbole just a tad? You continue to make a really really big deal out of the minutia here. The jinx with the flame at the 2010 Olympics was seen live by millions upon millions of people throughout the world and tens of thousands of people inside the stadium. That malfunction happened at THE most critical moment. And that was the OLYMPIC flame. This is the Pan Am flame. It's not nearly as symbolic, much in the same way that the 5 interlocking rings are an internationally recognized symbol. The logo of PASO, not so much. Here's the disconnect though. You keep talking about "people" as if you are speaking for them. I'm fairly confident that most people, even if they were paying close attention to the ceremony (as many here were) are not having an "OMG, that was the worst thing ever, MAJOR FACEPALM" moment as you are having. I know that's your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it, but it's hard to take that opinion seriously when you trying to project that opinion onto others. The success or failure of the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games will not be determined by the organizational expertise of the flame lighting. If, 2 months from now, the event has been a flop, then you can tell us all 'I told you so.' Until then, give these organizers a little latitude that they're not actually a bunch of incompetent bozos who are incapable of making this work when it really counts. And right now, it doesn't really count that much. Keep that in context if you're making comparisons to Vancouver 2010 when this even has yet to play out. Most people will not know (nor will they care) that the flame wasn't lit in Mexico. That's something this community here will be aware of, because that's what we do. It's not something where a potential Pan Am games attendee will say "wait, the flame wasn't lit in Mexico?.. shoot, I can't go to this even now, it's not authentic!" You're darn right the Toronto people haven't paid attention to the details. So what? Does that make this event different from others like it? You keep mentioning Dubai.. how many multi-sport events like this have they hosted? No damage control is needed here. This is not something that is going to have some lasting effect on the event as you seem to think it will. Once again, I suggest - nay, urge you to put these elements in context and realize there are more important battles for the Toronto organizers to fight. And even if they, in your mind, are failing at these, it is not a pre-cursor of their success or failure when things really start to count - July 7, 2015 We hereby assure you that we are not impressed. Quote
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