Comments on: Welcome to Whistler

Welcome to Whistler

timeistight — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 08:50:17 -0800

Vancouver gets the games. 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, BC. Maybe now we can get a Mefi meetup.

By: lupus_yonderboy

lupus_yonderboy — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 08:57:53 -0800

Congrats, Vangroovy-ites; it's a wonderful decision and y'all deserve it. Now just don't cock it up with stupidity and greed like we did in Montreal.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:00:47 -0800

Let the profiteering begin... [/cynicism]

By: stonerose

stonerose — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:00:57 -0800

Better get some MeFi umbrellas made up so you can recognize each other - for those of you unfamiliar with Canadian weather, winter in Vancouver means rain. Ironically, it's The city with fewest days below freezing ... with an average of 51 days per year with freezing temperatures. Of course, Whistler is a different story!

By: myopicman

myopicman — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:10:01 -0800

vancouver's 2010 win effectively kiboshes toronto's 2012 summer olympics plans. as a former torontonian, this is good, although tieing infrastructure upgrades such as a cleaned up waterfront and a buried gardiner highway to a successful olympic bid would have been sweet. my only beef is the fact that both vancouver and calgary will now have olympic grade facilities, which ties up a bit of money to possibly underused places (calgary's olympic park is mostly used for canadian training rather than sporting events - can't find any links supporting this right now though). but hey. vancouver is hip and happening.

By: four panels

four panels — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:11:00 -0800

With the Olympics, I wonder if Vancouver will be presured more from other nations to enforce their marijuana laws.

By: billsaysthis

billsaysthis — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:17:55 -0800

myopicman, one would think this also puts paid to the NYC2012 bid--one more thing for which we can "blame Canada"! And, oh yeah, Happy 136, you don't look a day over 69!

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:21:11 -0800

As a native British Columbian, and a current Torontonian, I was torn between wanting the 2008 games here, and wanting the 2010 games there (knowing both games would not go to the same country). I shed a tear or two when Toronto lost the 2008 bid, but am more than pleased that Vancouver has come out of this with the 2010 games. Summer games, can be held in pretty much any city North of Antartica that is willing to build a stadium or two. Winter games, on the other hand, demand a much more specific climate and environment, and I've long thought Vancouver-Whistler was an ideal location. While waiting for the webcast of the announcement this morning, I read this fascinating document (PDF) that went into detail about the decision model used to determine whether cities should even be considered as candidates. It underscores the amount of work that goes into a bid upfront, successful or unsuccessful.

By: Yogurt

Yogurt — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:25:35 -0800

CNN sure doesn't seem interested. They have this story higher on their sidebar: "Giant sea creature baffles Chilean scientists."

By: Holden

Holden — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:29:12 -0800

I'm excited. Whistler in the day, Vancouver at night. I've been to neither place, but from what I understand, both places are wonderful. Whistler has a one-mile drop! I've never been to an Olympics, but I want to go to this one. Vancouver ain't Salt Lake City, if you know what I mean.

By: DrJohnEvans

DrJohnEvans — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:35:06 -0800

According to the SI.com piece (which is the first I've seen that's published actual numbers), we won on the second ballot by only three votes. Ridiculously close to a major upset. Sometimes I wish the IOC would stop trying to win a Nobel Peace Prize. The Olympics sure as hell wouldn't have united Korea, and they won't do a whole lot of good for Beijing. But I'm just a bitter Torontonian. :) Still, good job, west coast kiddies.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:36:53 -0800

The only downside: isn't getting around Vancouver pretty hellish just in the normal course of things? I was there during a transit strike, maybe that made it worse, but I remember a whole lot of sitting in traffic to get anywhere beyond walking distance. I can just imagine what a nightmare it'll be with the city full of Olympic spectators. Still, this is the first time I've ever heard an Olympic location and actually thought of going.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:36:58 -0800

Holden, just be careful on the drive in between, which is notorious for its accident rate. Even with the planned upgrades, it's still going to be a difficult road. I hope lots of people in the local arts community get jobs, but otherwise I have mixed feelings about it all. Except for figure skating. I love to watch that there figure skating.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:37:58 -0800

Meh. [shrug] My primary beef with us having the Olympics is that it means pouring a bijillion dollars into infrastructure that supports only the wealthy. We're going to have to replace a highway that's currently one of the most dangerous in the province (and one of the best motorcycle rides, damn!). And at the same time, we're having to make serious, harmful cutbacks to healthcare, schools, and poverty programs. Frankly, I'd rather have happy, healthy seniors, well-educated kids, and work-program support than more asphalt.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:39:47 -0800

Oh, and if all goes according to plan and my son eventually moves out and becomes self-supporting, I will have a guest room, which I can make available at properly exploitative rates just for my friends on mefi... heh. *starts calculating what the market will bear*

By: myopicman

myopicman — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:47:42 -0800

bill: if NBC wants NYC in 2012, they'll apply the appropriate pressure enough. i bet europe will end up with those games, though. the NYC2012 bid always struck me as overkill. then again, as a brooklynite, thoughts of even more tourist insanity and the possibility of raised rents puts fear into my soul. then again, everything here is world class and the prospect of more subway lines and a cleaned up queens riverfront makes it shine more. but considering what help this city needs first, which is employment, the olympics won't help in the short term.

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:52:49 -0800

Winter Olympics in the Rockies. How unique

By: GeekAnimator

GeekAnimator — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:54:26 -0800

Seriously, what is it with Vancouver? It can't be as cool as I've been lead to believe. One of my favorite singers lives there. One of my favorite authors lives there. He even wrote a book about it. My friend loves the town so much he went there to get married. (we live in ohio!). Is it something in the water?

By: btwillig

btwillig — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:06:37 -0800

Bah. All I hear are the pigs running to the trough.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:08:34 -0800

And stbalbach demonstrates that deep knowledge of geography that Americans are so famous for.

By: Kafkaesque

Kafkaesque — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:13:58 -0800

My god! Think of the home-ice Curling advantage! It makes my blood run cold!

By: DrJohnEvans

DrJohnEvans — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:18:24 -0800

My god! Think of the home-ice Curling advantage! All those curling fans screaming in the stands with their rally rags flying. Yep, you know the type.

By: Salmonberry

Salmonberry — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:26:47 -0800

I like the fact that we're getting the Olympics, but I have to agree the money could be spent elsewhere on social services, which are getting cut back heavily. And timeistight - are your fingers broken? Call for a MeFiVan in MeTa, babe!

By: bonehead

bonehead — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:31:34 -0800

As a sometime Vancouverite: good show! Traffic is going to be murder. Maybe they can find a real use for the skytrain. As long as it doesn't snow the public transport (electric buses) should be ok.

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:33:15 -0800

I wish I lived in Vancouver. Not because of the olympics...I just want to move to British Columbia.

By: timeistight

timeistight — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:38:54 -0800

Call for a MeFiVan in MeTa, babe! You know Salmonberry, that's so crazy it just might work.

By: silusGROK

silusGROK — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 10:40:39 -0800

Congratulations! I worked the 2002 games with CBC... what a blast! Word at that time was that the IOC was looking at some form of rotation for future winter games, as appropriate sites were quickly becoming scarce... it would be nice to have the games again in 2042. *sighs wistfully* As for transportation, the Oly shuttles they used here worked perfectly (aside from the first day)... so I wouldn't be surprised if they just didn't require shuttle use to reach the venues.

By: schmedeman

schmedeman — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:29:13 -0800

Congrats to Vancouver! On my only visit there my rental car was broken into and my camera was stolen but I still left feeling like I had a great time. Very cool place.

By: timeistight

timeistight — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 13:45:01 -0800

Er... I'd meant to link to MetaTalk up there. Got my copied shortcuts crossed.

By: wendell

wendell — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 14:21:49 -0800

You're not the only one, timer. I'm still trying to figure out which thread this belongs to...

By: eurasian

eurasian — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 15:24:04 -0800

yay! now my wife and i will never be able to afford housing!!!

By: birdherder

birdherder — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 15:25:17 -0800

congrats vancouver! i was there last month again and i am trying to figure out how to move there.

By: jammer

jammer — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 16:20:33 -0800

Aw, man. I have to cancel my trip to Smiggin Holes now.

By: NorthernLite

NorthernLite — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 16:31:44 -0800

jokeefe - dibs on your guest room the nights of the ladies figure skating event. ;)

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 17:37:06 -0800

jokeefe - dibs on your guest room the nights of the ladies figure skating event. ;) *takes note, ponders whether payment should be in cash or simple gold bullion*

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 19:28:14 -0800

jacquilynne -- that's right .. any mountain west of New Jersey is the "rockies" and I'm sticking to it.

By: Razzle Bathbone

Razzle Bathbone — Wed, 02 Jul 2003 21:16:12 -0800

The only thing I look forward too are the funny signs at the strip clubs. I expect to see "4 Women Boobsled Team" on a marquee very soon.