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Damian Inwood 11 days ago
Eddie the Eagle is still in but Katarina Witt is out. Witt was supposed to run a leg in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland on Nov. 12. Fans of the skater will be disappointed by an announcement that she's out, along with Olympic tennis player Nicolas Kiefer. In their place will be and two new additions — Matthew Pinsent, a four-time Olympic gold-medal-winning rower and an as yet un-named anchor from NBC's Today Show. The show will be broadcasting from the top of Grouse Mountain, so the anchor won't have far to go to run with the torch in Burnaby. The good news is that Eddie the Eagle, the inept, the much-loved, bespectacled ski jumper from the UK, is still coming Eddie — a Cheltenham plasterer, real name Michael Edwards — made headlines at the Calgary 1988 Olympics, even though he finished last and caused some embarrassment in the ski jumping fraternity. Qualification rules were toughened and he failed to qualify for either Albertville or Lillehammer. Eddie the Eagle ...
Damian Inwood 11 days ago
At $450 a day, it's only the well-heeled few who'll be able to enjoy the lavish Molson Hockey House party lounge near GM Place during the 2010 Olympics.. But at least those who can afford to go will get some top-notch entertainment. Molson's had a press conference in Toronto to announce the line-up, which includes The Barenaked Ladies, Tom Cochrane, Colin James, Sam Roberts and Brent Butt. The house band will be Vancouver's the Odds. Comedian Sean Cullen will put on a show that will combine stand-up comedy and interviews with hockey players. "We just want people to have a good time," Cullen told The Canadian Press. "The Olympics is pretty buttoned-down in what you can and can't do, and everything's state-sanctioned and blah. Everything has to be sweet and the corners squared. We want ours to be rough and ready ... we just want it to be a party and a good time."
Damian Inwood 12 days ago
Olympic boss John Furlong is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to encouraging French language in B.C. Furlong has been a long-standing supporter of increasing the use of French at Vancouver's Winter Games. Olympic organizers have been criticized for not doing enough by Bilingualism czar Graham Fraser, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, amongst others. Today, the Conseil Scolaire Francophone of B.C. (CSF) announced that Furlong had personally donated $25,000 to set up a fund which will generate an annual, $750 scholarship. Called "the John Furlong Scholarship for Francophone Youth Engagement in British Columbia," the scholarship will be awarded to a graduate of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program offered in four local high schools. Through his scholarship, Furlong said he wants to "personally support the crucial role of the local Francophone community in fostering and preserving our rich national identity." ...
Damian Inwood 12 days ago
First it was Homer and Marge Simpson curling at the Olympics. Now, CBC TV is cashing in with an Olympic angle on it's series The Border. This weeks episode features the 2010 Winter Games games and Canadian figure skaters as part of its plot. It airs on Thursday, Nov.12th at 9pm, and the storyline surrounds a young Chinese figure skater, Yuan Dao, who wants to defect to Canada for fear of being prosecuted by the Chinese government. Dao claims to be a freedom activist who will face torture and execution if returned to China. The episode begins at a pre-Olympic figure skating exhibition in Toronto where the Chinese team is taking part. After Dao goes missing there's a hunt to get him back by the Chinese secret service and Canadian officials. Sounds like they're all skating on thin ice!
Damian Inwood 46 days ago
Vancouver city manager Penny Ballem scooped 2010 Olympic organizers by releasing details of the medal design "reveal" in a power point presentation to city council. Ballem was reporting on progress of the $1 billion athletes village complex and put up a slide showing planned events" at the village. It included a handover ceremony on Oct. 9 and the Oct. 15 "VANOC Olympic medal 'reveal ceremony at Civic Centre." Trouble is VANOC hadn't sent out a media advisory on that yet. An inquiry drew one of those "not sure what we can say" comments and later confirmation came through. It looks like being a busy week, as VANOC's detailed transportation plans are also expected to be released around that time.
