Olympic Parties – The Big Ending

All the medals have been given out and the athletes have gone home, but the memories will live on forever. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics were clearly one of the best star-studded parties this town will ever see and it was wonderful to have been part of it. O Canada – thank you for making us proud.

01 – West Vancouver’s Don DeCotiis and daughter Marianne come out to support the Face of Tomorrow Gala which featured Canadian rapper K’Naan.

02 – Gala sponsors (and West Vancouverites) Sofia Somani, left, and Alexis Palkowski pose with Face of Tomorrow’s socialite/founder Kasondra Cohen, daughter of famed Army and Navy heiress Jacqui Cohen.

03 – Robson Square was the place to be to meet athletes like North Vancouver’s gold medal snowboarding gal – Maelle Ricker.

04 – Beaming in the golden afterglow of her media interviews, Whistler’s Ashleigh McIvor shows off her first place prize.

05 – Former gold medal Olympic speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan, left, seen here with guest Patty Nees at the Commodore’s Manitoba Social night, got a chance to re-light the flame at the Closing Ceremony after that Opening Ceremony glitch.

06 – American skier Bode Miller, left, wanted a medal in each colour – and he got all three. Seen here with Olympic party impresario Craig Stowe, he and his entourage enjoy a night off at Canvas Lounge.

07 – After a disappointing start, the Canadian men’s short-track team came back with a vengeance and were more than happy to smile for the cameras at a special celebratory interview.

08 – Seen here at the Commodore’s Manitoba Social night, VANOC CEO John Furlong is undoubtedly ready for a long winter’s nap.

09 – Rock 101 FM’s Bro Jake “The Champ” Edwards, left, welcomes celebs, athletes and VIPs like Roy Nees, to the Commodore’s Manitoba Social night.

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By Catherine Barr – Feb 28, 2010

As seen in print in the North Shore Outlook on March 4, 2010

Celebrity Torch Bearers in Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

VANCOUVER, Feb. 8 /CNW/ – John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today announced additional well-known torchbearers who will join other notable individuals and every-day Canadians to carry the Olympic Flame throughout the final days of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

The 106-day torch relay – the longest domestic relay in Olympic history – is presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, and supported by the Government of Canada and has been an incredible journey across the country. More information on the relay is available at www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay.

Day 104 – 10-Feb-10:
——————–
JULIE PAYETTE, Canadian astronaut
Torchbearer 112 at 18h07
Running in North Vancouver

Day 105 – 11-Feb-10:
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JANN ARDEN, award winning singer/songwriter
Torchbearer 174 at 15h17
Running at BC Children’s Hospital

RICHARD BRODEUR, professional hockey player – Vancouver Canucks Alumni
Torchbearer 244 at 19h04
Running in Vancouver

MICHEAL BUBLE, award-winning singer/songwriter
Torchbearer 261 at 19h53
Running in Vancouver

Day 106 – 12-Feb-10:
——————–
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, actor, Governor, State of California
Torchbearer 018 at 07h03
Running in Stanley Park

SEB COE, Olympian, Chair London 2012 Organizing Committee
Torchbearer 019 at 07h08
Running in Stanley Park

ROLLY FOX, father of Canadian cancer hero Terry Fox
Torchbearer 034 at 08h00
Running near English Bay

WALTER GRETZKY, father of Canadian hockey star Wayne Gretzky
Torchbearer 041 at 08h20
Running in Vancouver

DMITRY CHERNYSHENKO, President, Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee
Torchbearer 044 at 08h34
Running in Vancouver

GARETH REES, professional rugby player
Torchbearer 105 at 11h51
Running in Vancouver

STAN SMYL, professional hockey player, Vancouver Canucks alumni
Torchbearer 106 at 11h53
Running in Vancouver

BOB LENARDUZZI, professional soccer player, Vancouver Whitecaps alumni
Torchbearer 117 at 12:23
Running in Vancouver

LUIS PASSAGLIA, professional football player, BC Lions alumni
Torchbearer 118 at 12h26
Running in Vancouver

VANOC apologizes to Vancouver Symphony for Discord

Vancouver’s Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) has issued a clarifying statement designed to quieten the chorus of public dissent that appears to be growing around Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s (VSO) apparent ceremonial snub.

The apology was issued in a press release on Saturday Dec 19, 2009 after the public had learned that VANOC had asked both Tovey and the VSO to record performance music for the Opening Ceremonies. This music would then be performed by stand-in musicians conducted by a stand-in conductor live for the cameras.

The statement reads, “VANOC apologizes to the VSO for putting the orchestra in an untenable position regarding the Opening Ceremonies.”

“VANOC regrets that the complex technical requirements of the Opening Ceremonies have put the VSO in a difficult position and both parties wish to move forward in the spirit of preparing for the great Games ahead.”

John Furlong, VANOC CEO, echoes the sentiment by saying, “Bramwell Tovey and the VSO have been with us throughout this remarkable journey, . . . and it has never been our intent to put them, or any of our partners in a compromised position.”

“We know that the VSO will be a celebrated partner in what promises to be an unforgettable experience.”

Tovey and the VSO, who won the 2008 GRAMMY Award for “Best Instrumental Soloist(s) with Orchestra”, received an outflowing of support from the public who applauded his refusal to play along.

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter showed even more support and echoed the sentiment. Many referenced the incident at the Beijing 2006 opening ceremonies where it was discovered that 9-year old Lin Miaoke had lip-synched her song because she was deemed to be “prettier” than the original singer.

Beijing 2006 Lip-synch girl

Looks aside, it looks as though these two parties have chosen to support each other and will now work towards promoting the games in perfect harmony. There is no word yet on what changed between the two parties or why Tovey wasn’t being considered as the conductor in the first place.

Some members of the VSO will be taking part in the Opening Ceremony and the VSO’s recorded renditions of the national anthems of all participating nations will be played at all the medal ceremonies.

By Cat Barr

Here is the press release issued in its entirety below:

Vancouver 2010/VSO clarify ceremonies participation; Highlight VSO’s important contribution to 2010 games

VANCOUVER, Dec. 19 /CNW/ – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) will play a prominent role at the 2010 Winter Games and will showcase its musicians’ talent to the world both through the Cultural Olympiad, and the playing of over 90 national anthems. VANOC regrets that the complex technical requirements of the Opening Ceremonies have put the VSO in a difficult position and both parties wish to move forward in the spirit of preparing for the great Games ahead.

Hundreds of musicians – many of whom are also members of the VSO – have joined with other musicians and artists from across Canada and around the world to contribute to the rich, diverse sound of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, some of which has been and is currently being recorded, and will also be played live. VANOC apologizes to the VSO for putting the orchestra in an untenable position regarding the Opening Ceremonies.

Under the direction of conductor Bramwell Tovey, the GRAMMY and Juno award winning Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will be showcased as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and – perhaps the greatest honor – has recorded the renditions of the national anthems of all participating nations to be played at the Games, including at Team Welcome Ceremonies in the Athlete Villages and medal presentation ceremonies both in the sport venues and at Victory Ceremonies at BC Place and Whistler Celebration Plaza.

“The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is proud to be an integral part of the 2010 Games and wish every success to VANOC,” said Tovey. “The VSO is making a significant contribution to the musical memories of the Games and our collaboration with VANOC is one of the most important in the orchestra’s long and distinguished history.”

“Bramwell Tovey and the VSO have been with us throughout this remarkable journey, from the bid phase on through, and it has never been our intent to put them, or any of our partners in a compromised position,” said John Furlong, VANOC CEO. “Whether through the Ceremonies, or the VSO recording of the anthems or the concerts of the Cultural Olympiad, the Games offer the opportunity for collaboration and a true showcase of the VSO members, who may perform or be heard individually on occasion or as a whole. We know that the VSO will be a celebrated partner in what promises to be an unforgettable experience.”

The Opening Ceremony takes place on February 12 and the Closing Ceremony takes place on February 28th. The VSO performs throughout the Cultural Olympiad 2010, including two feature performances of Mahler Symphony No. 8: Symphony of a Thousand January 30th and February 1st 2010.