|
Welcome to the Vancouver Olympics
A Look at the 2010 Games in BC, Canada
With local mountains in the background, the Olympic rings sit in the harbor.
There is a term common to the Olympic Games, be it winter or summer and regardless of the location.
It's called Olympic Fever and it means that the host city, organizers, participants, athletes and fans are all united with the common goal of sportsmanship, togetherness and camaraderie.
The Canadian Olympic spirit is evident throughout downtown Vancouver.
As Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., get ready to host the XXI Winter Olympic Games this Feb. 12-28, it is apparent that Olympic Fever has covered the area like a blanket of fresh snow on a downhill run.
In Vancouver, tents and stages are popping up like toast, locals are talking about closed roads and anticipation is at, well, a fever pitch.
The countdown clock is in front of the Art Gallery on Georgia St.
The city is prepared. About the only hitch is a lack of snow at nearby Cypress Mountain, which is hosting the snowboard and ski cross events. Brainpower, manpower and technology have all combined to (literally) cover this issue and it's ready for the likes of Shawn White.
Here is what to expect and what is happening in Vancouver for the Games, aside from the actual Olympic competition.
LiveCity Yaletown (just to the right) is on False Creek.
• LIVECITY YALETOWN & LIVECITY DOWNTOWN
Each day and night, Vancouver has two places for public gatherings, LiveCity Yaletown (at the edge Yaletown on the banks of False Creek, Pacific and Drake streets) and a more adult party atmosphere near the library (LiveCity Downtown, Georgia and Beatty).
Both have big screens showing the Games, live music and other entertainment. And both are open and free to the public. LiveCity Downtown is just steps from Canada Hockey Place and is THE hangout before and after hockey games (especially ones involving Team Canada).
Friendly Canadians fill the pubs and bars of Vancouver.
• A PARTY. Vancouver also is quite a spirited city when it comes to spirits. The prime place to find the party is Yaletown. This is the part of Vancouver where nice restaurants are packed with wallet-loaded locals, mainly mid-30s successful singles where there is an unofficial requirement of one dog to every three residents. For the games, the restaurants and bars have DJs on patios lined up on the parallel streets of Homer
and Hamilton.
Around midnight, Granville Street becomes the center of the party scene.
Around midnight, the focus shifts to Granville Street with its lineup of bars and clubs.The area is blocked off to traffic for the Games and just taking a stroll down this street is entertaining. Sprinkled between the two areas are several lounges, dance clubs, bars, pubs, a cool sports bar, and even strip clubs. All of downtown Vancouver is easily walkable; getting from Yaletown to Granville takes only about five minutes on foot.
Okay, now for a few rules. The drinking age in Vancouver is 19; many of the bars and clubs will have cover charges at night. This is typical anywhere in downtown on a regular basis – $7-8 is common for pubs and $15 for clubs – and it's higher during the Olympics. Restaurant/bars have no such cover. Once in a bar or club, the establishment's regular prices ($6-7 for a Canadian brew) remain steady. Scroll down for links to more information on Vancouver's best pubs, clubs and bars.
Beer and liquor can be purchased from government-run liquor stores; you can't get a six-pack from a convenience store. It is not legal to drink from open containers in downtown Vancouver.
The best deals on Olympic souvenirs are in Gastown.
• SHOPPING, OLYMPIC SOUVENIERS, THE ROOTS STORE
Diverse as its is dynamic, Vancouver has a number of different places where people are congregating during the Games. Touristy-type people seem to gravitate toward the original part of the city called Gastown. It is here, along Water Street leading to Canada Place (the place with the big sail-like structure at the Pan Pacific Hotel), where the best shopping for reasonably-priced Olympic souvenirs can be found.
For those looking for a beer to escape the bargain hunters combing the cobblestone streets, the Steamworks Brewing Company is the place to drink it. It will be happening during the entire duration of the Games.
For a more upscale shopping experience, Vancouver presents Robson Street. This is home to city's the high-end fashion shops. It's easy to locate because the main corner at Burrard will be jammed with mostly Canadians rummaging through the Roots store. This is one sure way to spot a true Canadian at the Games. Here's another.
Robson Square has a public ice skating rink and cool murals on steps.
• PUBLIC ICE SKATING RINK. For those who get Olympic fever to participate (in their minds at least) after watching the figure skating, speed skating and hockey events, Vancouver has a place for them to show off their talents, a public ice rink. It's located at Robson Square, just behind the Art Gallery with its Olympic countdown clock (the Art Gallery is at Georgia and Howe streets).
• THE WEATHER. Vancouver is having an unusually "warm" winter. The average February temperature is 7C (44F). Rain is common this time of the year.
• CANADIAN CURRENCY. The monetary system is based on the Canadian dollar and its value is pretty much equal to that of the US dollar. Canada has distinctive bills (compared to the more mundane-looking currency of its neighbor to the south) starting with $5 bills. For $1 and $2, Canada uses coins, known as Loonies and Toonies. Loonies are gold and Toonies are silver with a gold center.
• WATCH FOR PICKPOCKETS. Officials are alerting people that, along with all the visitors, athletes and officials in town, there are likely to be many petty thiefs going for their own version of gold. Be aware of your possession at all times and keep a keen eye out for any potential pickpockets.
– VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC LINKS –
• Winter Olympics Fans & Party Guide.
• Lindsey Vonn, America's Next Olympic Star,
• Tips on Ways to Identify Canadians at the Games
• Second Olympics Venue: Whistler.
• Official Vancouver Olympics Site. www.Vancouver2010.com•Vancouver Visitor's Guide,
Get orientated so you can cruise the streets like a local.
• For information on Vancouver's bars, restaurant/bars and pubs, click here
• For information on Vancouver's clubs and live music venues click here
• Explore the city and its beautiful surroundings in this
Sightseeing & Activities Guide
 PubClub.com Home Page
|