Today, in Vancouver, shortly after noon, the Olympic countdown clock was revealed to the public in an event attended by supporters and surrounded by the chaos of protesters chanting and protesting the coming of the Olympics.
Here's VANOC official Press Release regarding today’s presentation:
“What’s six metres high, three metres wide, weighs 1,170 kilograms and is wrapped in a 15 metre by 12 metre gift box from Omega on the Vancouver Art Gallery’s northwest corner in downtown Vancouver?
It’s the new Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock, presented by Omega, Official Timekeeper. Preparations are underway to unveil it to the citizens of Vancouver, rain or shine, in a fast-paced noon hour celebration on Monday, February 12 – the three-year anniversary to the start of the 2010 Winter Games.”
Over the last year, I have had the pleasure to travel a fair deal; Kris and I attended the 2006 Olympics in Torino, an Amazing experience which helped us prepare for the 2010 events. We also traveled to China twice in preperation of the 2008 Olympics.
This morning as part of my first assignment for Urban Vancouver, I attend Vancouver Mayor, Sam Sullivan and Vancouver 2010 CEO, John Furlong's announcement at the Vancouver City Hall.
In just one month, Sam Sullivan is to accept the Olympic Flag at the closing of the Torino Olympics, making him the first quadriplegic to have such honor.
I managed to video the announcement on my PDA2K while Kris Krug took some great pictures of Sam and John.
The flag ceremony protocol begins with Torino Mayor Sergio Chiamparino returning the Olympic flag to Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Dr. Rogge will then present Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, the only elected Canadian official in the Closing Ceremony, with the flag, symbolizing the official beginning of Vancouver's responsibility to host the world in 2010.
