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More than a thousand Inuit hand carvers have been commissioned to create inukshuks and other aboriginal handmade art work for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee on Wednesday signed a licensing agreement giving the Four Host First Nations and Nunavut Development Corp. rights to market merchandise with aboriginal themes under the Olympic brand.

Four kinds of products - aboriginal art, products featuring the logo of the Four Host First Nations, British Columbia’s Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh bands who cooperated in the Olympic bid; the integration of aboriginal graphics into Olympic merchandise,and a range of other items featuring aboriginal themes and icons are included in the licensing agreement.

Among the top products in the line up is 2101 Games logo - the Ilanaaq - a colorful, stylized version of an inukshuk, an Inuit rock marker.

Indigenous artists from Nunavut have agreed to deliver 3,000 hand-carved inukshuks. The unique pieces of Inuit art will be sold for $65 to $400, and the aborigines are sure to get a fair price.

Vanoc CEO John Furlong says the deal presents aboriginal artists with a market keen for their work, and could help protect them from cheap knockoffs made overseas, as the products will be identified as official Vancouver 2010 merchandise.

He added that a third of the royalties will fund cultural, educational and sporting opportunities for native youth.

The 2010 Olympics are in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., from Feb. 12-28, 2010, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12-21.

From http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010250233

VANCOUVER — While 40 riot police stood outside in a solid line to guard against a handful of quiet protesters, International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge yesterday praised Vancouver organizers as the first to use the Games as a catalyst for social change.“You are a role model and we at the IOC are grateful for that,” Mr. Rogge told a packed ballroom at the city’s trade and convention centre.

The head of the IOC referred specifically to Olympic venues meeting “the highest environmental standards,” the establishment of legacies for native communities, the creation of new opportunities for the disabled and the institution of a procurement policy that enshrines sustainability.

Vancouver’s successful bid for the Games set an Olympic precedent by promising to include not just the environment but the social and economic impact of the Games as part of its commitment to sustainability.

Vancouver police, meanwhile, defended their show of force outside the convention centre despite the meagre number of protesters.

From http://www.theglobeandmail.com

On February 18, 2008, members of the Native 2010 Resistance disrupted an Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Four Host First Nations (FHFN) photo op at the Sutton Hotel, located on Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver).

Indigenous women From the Native 2010 Resistance poured bags of apples onto the podium where National Chief Phil Fontaine was announcing “First Nations participation and volunteer opportunities with the 2010 Olympics”. Like apples, Phil Fontaine and the Four Host First Nations sell-out chiefs are red skinned but white on the inside, bargaining off Indigenous lands for profit. Fontaine tried to keep his composure, his podium filled with apples as Native women yelled in front of his face “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land!” and told the small crowd “You should all be ashamed of yourselves for contributing to the rape and destruction of Mother Earth!.”

Indigenous resistance against the games has been snowballing as more are learning about Olympic industrial development and destruction taking place on Skwxwú7mesh-ulh (Squamish), Lil’wat, St’at’imc, Stölo, Nlaka’Pamux, and Secwepemc Native Lands.

While the Four Host First Nations claim to have avid support, the room that the media event took place in was nearly empty for the first 20 minutes and filled to a measly 15 people with only one media personnel to take advantage of the ‘photo op’. There was also no security at the event or around the hotel during the affair.

The AFN, which is the so called “national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada”, will assist the Four Host First Nations and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) in distributing a series of newsletters that will provide information on how to volunteer at the Winter Games. The AFN will also make available other opportunities for First Nations peoples to participate in the Games including the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay, Cultural Olympiad, and employment and procurement opportunities.

According to conversations at the event today, Four Host First Nation’s reps expect over 350 First Nations volunteers for the 2010 Olympics. However, the prospect seems daunting given the mounting resistance against and knowledge of the negative impacts on Indigenous lands, and related Indigenous homelessness and poverty. Native youth, Elders, women, and men are growing more skeptical about participating in the 2010 Games and are fighting back.

The Native Resistance vows to continue to disrupt events that support the 2010 Olympic Games and contribute to the theft of Indigenous lands, to homelessness and poverty.

From http://harrietspirit.blogspot.com 

Photo from http://flickr.com/photos/dr_television/1583090216/
Anyone hoping to volunteer at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver had better get to work polishing up their resume.

The online search for 25,000 volunteers began Tuesday, exactly two years from the opening of the Games, and applicants now have only six weeks to get their applications in.

The applications are already rolling in — from across Canada and around the world, including Australia, Russia, and Europe — Vancouver Organizing Committee CEO John Furlong told CBC News Tuesday morning.

Would-be volunteers have until the end of March to apply online, and the number of applications is expected to greatly exceed the available spaces.

That means competition for the volunteer positions will be steep despite the onerous commitment required, according to VANOC’s vice president of human resources, Donna Wilson.

“Starting in the spring of this year, we’ll get in touch with well over 30,000, probably closer to 40,000, to confirm that the information … in the application is accurate and to talk about your level of commitment,” said Wilson.

Foreign languages and medical training are some of the most sought after skills, said Wilson.

Volunteers also needed for Paralympic Winter Games

Successful applicants will be required to be available for a minimum of 17 days during the Olympic Games, scheduled for Feb. 12-28, 2010, and can expect to work at least 8 shifts of eight to 10 hours during that time.

That is just the minimum commitment, said VANOC spokesperson Margaret Nevin. Many of the volunteer positions will run for several weeks or even months, meaning those who have more time to volunteer may have a greater chance of landing a spot.

The committee is also seeking volunteers for the Paralympic Winter Games, set for March 12-21.

Meanwhile, Furlong said he knows not everyone is a fan of the Games.

On Monday, around 100 protesters gathered outside a downtown Vancouver hotel where Premier Gordon Campbell was marking the two-year countdown to the Olympics with a speech and a slick multi-media presentation to about 1,000 members of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

Furlong told CBC News he hopes those opposed to the Games will reserve judgment until the preparation is complete.

“I would ask that the people who are looking on … who are skeptical about it, that they cut us some slack and give us the opportunity to complete the work we do. We’re on time today, and we’re on budget, and we’re doing the best we can to include everybody,” said Furlong.

From http://www.cbc.ca/canada

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouvergo/2147304218/

The threat of a mass boycott of Vancouver 2010 by female athletes is the only way to convince the International Olympic Committee to allow women ski jumpers to compete, says a Canadian expert.

“That would be one of the most effective ways to attain their goal,” said Kevin Wamsley, former head of the University of Western Ontario’s International Centre for Olympic Studies. “I don’t think a host government would have much opportunity to overthrow an IOC decision. It takes a mass movement to shake this organization.”

Wamsley was responding to the IOC decision yesterday to refuse to bend to federal and B.C. government calls to include women’s ski jumping at Whistler in 2010. He said there are historical precedents for such a boycott. A threat by U.S. women athletes to boycott the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics forced the IOC to climb down from its plan to ban women from track and field events, he said.

The IOC said a 2006 decision to exclude women’s ski jumping from the 2010 Games stands.

It said the decision was made “purely on technical merit” and claims of gender discrimination were “totally inappropriate and misleading.”

Read more - http://www.canada.com

As we wait for snow to fall across metro Vancouver this afternoon, BC’s housing minister is promising a plan to keep homeless shelters open 24-7 will not be cancelled after the 2010 Olympics.”This is permanent. This is a permanent commitment we’ve made in our budget.”

Rich Coleman says a 41-million dollar investment announced last month will see more than half of the region’s 900 shelter beds remain available overnight… For at least four years.

“That money’s committed in the budget cycle and this cycle will be (2008) 08/09, 09/10 and 10/11 and you’ll be able to see that the money’s in there to continue that program.”

This week, Coquitlam city councillors are slated to vote on a controversial plan allowing the homeless to seek shelter at local churches.

From http://www.cknw.com/news

Mascot Update

VANOC is now in the final stages of intense planning and preparation for the launch of the mascots on November 27. The launch itself will consist of a 35-minute live show that incorporates animated video, dance, song, special effects and, of course, the live characters themselves. More than 800 schoolchildren will be the first to meet the mascots, while the rest of Canada and the world will meet them simultaneously through www.vancouver2010.com.

Venue Construction Update

Construction of the Whistler Nordic Venue, the Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Creekside will be completed in less than a month. The Whistler Sliding Centre reached a significant milestone on October 27 when the refrigeration plant and track pipe work passed all tests and, subsequently, the ammonia refrigerant was loaded into the system. The ski jump at the Whistler Nordic Venue passed the preliminary homologation inspection (a technical inspection by the International Federation). Both the alpine venue, at Whistler Creekside, and the snowboard and freestyle venues, at Cypress Mountain, are ready for snowmaking this month.

All city venues have progressed well throughout the reporting period. The final roof arch was erected at the Richmond Oval, and the main arena at the UBC Winter Sports Centre has been “closed in.” Erection of the steel structure at Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park has begun.

Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad’s first public program, the Cultural Olympiad 2008 Celebration, will be announced on November 29. More than 600 members of the arts community, major arts and entertainment media and key government partners, sponsors and stakeholders will attend the event. Details on the call for proposals for events in 2009 and 2010 will also be made public.

Ceremonies Update

VANOC’s plans for the Olympic Games Opening, Closing and BC Place Stadium Victory Ceremonies continue to progress well. Throughout the month of October, David Atkins Enterprises (DAE) and VANOC Ceremonies staff held a series of productive working sessions to define the structure, roles, inter-functional support and overall working relationship between the parties.

Sport Update

VANOC will present the 2010 Winter Games “day-by-day” competition schedule to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive board for approval in early December. Also, pre-Games operations will officially begin in early December at the Whistler Nordic Venue, and in January at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Operational staff has begun working at the venues under the direction of the Nordic and Sliding sport directors.

UN Relations

In late October, VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong travelled to New York City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between VANOC and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). As the voice for the environment within the United Nations system, UNEP has global reach. More information about how VANOC and UNEP will work together is available at www.vancouver2010.com.

Volunteer Program Update

VANOC is now in a full planning mode for the Call for Volunteers “Launch Event,” taking place in February 2008, locally, with high national reach to all provinces and territories. A pre-call awareness strategy is underway. The strategy includes discussions with volunteer organizations, multicultural groups, Aboriginal groups, educational institutions, seniors, the business community and more, with the goal to inspire Canadians to apply for a volunteer position, beginning in February 2008. VANOC is also designing an exclusive volunteer web portal that includes news and information about the 2010 Winter Games.

Education

On September 25, VANOC’s online education program for teachers and students, /EDU, was officially launched in conjunction with a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. Only one month after the launch, subscriptions had increased greatly, from 150 to over 1,700. The BC Sports Hall of Fame reported that it also saw a significant jump in the number of teachers accessing its online resources following the launch of /EDU, and that these teachers were coming to the BC Hall of Fame website directly after visiting /EDU.

Two-Year Countdown Activities

Planning is underway for one of VANOC’s first key milestones of 2008 – the two-year countdown celebration. VANOC is working with partners, sponsors and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to extend the celebration period around February 12, the date the Winter Games will begin in 2010, through existing local, regional and national events and activities.

VANOC will also be intensifying its national presence for the two-year countdown by capitalizing on its website (at www.vancouver2010.com) and key stakeholder events in Ottawa and Quebec City in order to realize VANOC’s Canada’s Games objectives. The two-year countdown celebration period will provide the platform for VANOC to launch: its Call for Volunteers program; the 2008 Cultural Olympiad; and further the 2010 Winter Games’ ticketing and mascot programs, giving Games enthusiasts, both in Canada and around the world, tangible opportunities to participate in the Vancouver 2010 experience.

Read more http://www.webwire.com

he Board of Directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) met today in Richmond, BC to review and receive updates on a series of key 2010 Winter Games topics. The meeting agenda included a management update from the CEO’s office, Board authorization of a number of contracts that will continue to support the planning and staging of the 2010 Winter Games, a venue construction update and a tour of the Richmond Oval.

The final roof arch was recently erected on the Oval, scheduled to open in late summer 2008. Home to long track speed skating during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Oval will host up to 12 medal events, with 36 medals to be awarded. Beyond the 2010 Winter Games, the Oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness. The Oval’s flexible design will allow it to be used for a wide variety of sport and community uses.
Immediately following the Board meeting today, the 2007 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Members of VANOC was held. The meeting included the re-appointment of Jack Poole as Board Chairman through to the next AGM, in 2008, in addition to confirming the officers of the Corporation: John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer; Ken Bagshaw, Chief Legal Officer; Dorothy Byrne, Vice President & Corporate Secretary; Ward Chapin, Chief Information Officer; Dave Cobb, Executive Vice President; Dan Doyle, Executive Vice President; David Guscott, Executive Vice President; John McLaughlin, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President; Cathy Priestner Allinger, Executive Vice President; Donna Wilson, Executive Vice President; and Terry Wright, Executive Vice President.

The audited financial statements of the corporation for the period ending July 31, 2007 were received by the Members at the AGM. Ernst & Young, LLP, Chartered Accountants were re-appointed as auditors of VANOC for the ensuing year.

Read more http://www.webwire.com

The conversion of another Vancouver rooming house into higher-rent suites is being blamed on the arrival of the 2010 Olympics.

A small group of protesters have rallied outside the Dominion Hotel in Gastown where more than a dozen tenants were recently issued eviction notices.

Brian Robinson has been living there five years and he’s already found a new home, but he doesn’t want to move.

“I like the area. It’s a beautiful area to live in and the rest of it. And how much rent are you paying now? 650 for about 500 square feet.”

At least four Vancouver police officers were nearby during the rally, but the protest organized by people who’ve been arrested during previous demonstrations was peaceful.

From http://www.cknw.com/news 

The rainy day construction fund for 2010 Olympic venues has grown by a quarter million dollars.Vanoc construction boss Dan Doyle says the savings are linked to the Hastings Park venue.

“We have come to an arrangement with great Canadian casinos to share in the cost of bringing new electrical facilities to the park and that was one of the savings for sure. They’ll be paying 50 per cent of the total cost. It’s around 1.2million.”

Doyle adds those savings balance off a draw from the fund to cover rising costs at the Hillcrest Curling venue.

“When we got all the bid prices in, everything just generally went up and so it’s across the board. We think we have the costs under control in the sense that we’re at the very high level in terms of procurement and we have lots of contingency for construction.”

Doyle was speaking after the Vanoc board held its monthly meeting in Richmond.

Today marked the return of chair Jack Poole who’s battling prostate cancer and recently spent six weeks in Seattle undergoing treatment unavailable in Canada.

From http://www.cknw.com/news