Vancouver preparations for 2010 Winter Olympics

Vancouver’s preparations for 2010 Olympics

As Vancouver, its citizens and world the gear up for the 2010 Olympics, many factors and preparations need to be accounted for before the festivities actually begin. Although one could make an extensive list of preparations, this blog will focus on four: hotels, transportation, homelessness and protests.

A number of new hotels are joining Vancouver’s skyline in preparation for the 2010 Winter Games. These include the Loden Vancouver (2008), the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver (2009) and the Fairmont Pacific Rim (2009). Vancouver’s famed Hotel Georgia, a 1928 landmark, is undergoing a complete renovation and is set to reopen soon as well.

Two major additions to Vancouver’s transportation system are sure to have lasting positive impacts. The Sea to Sky Highway, the section of Highway 99 connecting West Vancouver and Whistler, is being upgraded in a massive project. The new highway, one of the most scenic in Canada, will reduce driving time between the two communities. The Canada Line is the newest extension to Vancouver’s SkyTrain rapid transit system and is set to be complete and operational by November 2009. The train will take visitors from Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver’s Waterfront Station in about 25 minutes. 

If you want to get a feel for how important the issue of homelessness is to the city of Vancouver, just take a look at Mayor Gregor Robertson’s twitter posts. Every fourth post is an update on what he has done to look into and solve this public irritation. Panhandlers have long been a less than reputable aspect of the northwest city.

When an economical force such as the Olympics come to town, some groups of people will always exist who disapprove of the mega event. One such group, 2010Watch.com, does not simply disapprove the presence of the Olympics, but asks for accountability. On the site, they clarify exactly who they are and what they demand: “Who are we ? We are the same people who opposed the games in the first place. We are also the people who wanted the games but are now shocked at the lack of public accountability for the games. We are the people who believe such large amounts tax dollars should be spent in consultation with the tax paying public. We are people from all over the political spectrum, ethnic backgrounds, income levels and education.”