Checking in from Robson Square
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I am blogging today from Vancouver where I’m volunteering at the BC International Media Centre at Robson Square until February 20. This is the headquarters for the national and international unaccredited media, which means basically media who don’t have official access to the events and athletes the way that the accredited outlets do (like NBC and CTV, for example). This media centre caters specifically to those media looking for stories that have links to the Olympics or athletes – like where teams trained, vignettes on cities that medal-winning athletes come from, and so on.
Being right in Robson Square is just incredible. Today crowds and media came out to meet the torch as it came through Robson Square and the atmostphere was electric. This picture was taken from my cellphone, so it’s a little fuzzy, but you can see how many people were gathered to greet the torch.
This is a bustling spot with miked-up reporters setting the scene for cameras, print journalists jotting down facts in notebooks, and still others engaged in interviews with recorders. Journalists are also “podcasting”, “blogging”, “tweeting”, and “posting” – testimony to the vital nature of the internet and social media as an outlet to report on the Games. With press conferences happening daily and Robson Square positively jammed with media outlets like ESPN, Global, CTV, CBC, Radio-Canada, USA Today, ABC, Fox News, Associated Press and others, this is definitely a “Type A” location!
Even Tourism Kelowna has become an outlet of sorts, with our blog at KelownasJuicyTips.com playing the role of journal while I’m volunteering at the Media Centre. Tourism Kelowna is keen to have me share my Olympic experience with you – it is behind-the-scenes and off-limits to the public, but that’s also the intrigue of it all.
Given that this is the setting I’m writing from, I’m thinking about the Olympic experience that our visitors and residents may be having in Kelowna. From the Delta Grand Okanagan to Summerhill Pyramid Winery, many of our touristy hot-spots are getting into the spirit with Opening Ceremonies celebrations of their own. Cabana Grille in Kelowna’s Mission neighbourhoodwill be setting up televisions tuned in to the Olympics until the end of the Games, and Chef Ned Bell is featuring an Olympic-themed menu. Also throughout the Games, Big White Ski Resort is embracing the occasion with daily “events” featuring what they call “Everyday Champions”, complete with a torch lighting ceremony on February 12, medals, and closing ceremonies.
Today’s event at Big White was the Ice Hockey event with target shoot on the rink from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and medals at Happy Valley. Valentine’s Day will feature a Family Fun Race on Lower Speculation from 12:30 to 3:30, with medals to follow. On February 15th, Big White will host a Human Curling event on the rink at 4:00 pm which promises to be unlike anything you’ve done before. Other events you can expect to take part in at Big White over the next few weeks include Luge, Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Speed Skating, Freestyle Skiing, and Figure Skating. All events have medal ceremonies, and all are open to everyday Champions, like you and me.
Whether you enjoy the Games from the comfort of your armchair, or whether you strap on some speed skates and whip around the rink at Big White for a medal of your own, there’s no doubt that the Games have officially begun and swept up B.C. with them. Go Canada Go!
