You wouldn't believe all the free art, music, cultural and sporting events going on down there right now, particularly if you were British media.
I’m just going to come right out and say it. I was one of the many who originally opposed the bid, but now that the games are here I’ve made the most of it, in fact I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve had enough of the Olympics bashing from British media and self professed “anarchists“. It’s NOT raining constantly, plenty of local people I know have gone to events, there are free concerts and art showings everywhere in the city and in my opinion traffic has been better than usual! Yet the wailing and caterwauling continues about how the 2010 Olympics are a failure, a disaster, a calamity, maybe the worst games ever according to some in the British media. Of course, Britain is up next and their newsmakers seem eager to pave the way for a negative narrative that can continue on through 2012, or perhaps set the bar extremely low for themselves. By tearing our games to shreds London is either set up to look like a spectacular success by comparison or a continuation of the disasterous Olympics that I and everyone else in Vancouver seem to be enjoying. Those charming and ever so polite English. They would never be so petty and insecure would they? And don’t get me started on the “anarchists” smashing windows on Georgia street. I suppose they were hoping to revive some of the leftover glory from the battle in Seattle, or the 1994 Stanley Cup. Hey guys in black, if you want to know what a real anarchist is go here. Anarchism isn’t about smashing windows, it’s about smashing perceptions.
These games have been accessible to everyone in the city, including the financially and physically challenged. Celebrate 2010 is an initiative that has ensured that families, residents of Vancouver’s inner-city, members of the urban aboriginal community and youths have been able to attend events. It’s part of an overall Olympic equity program to distribute 100,000 tickets for $25 or less. Tickets distributed through Celebrate 2010 were given to families and individuals free of charge, in fact nearly 20,000 have been given away so far.
Myself, I prefer the pub. And trust me, the pubs in Vancouver have rarely been livelier.
Tens of thousands recently enjoyed concerts by Sam Roberts, Sloan, and Wilco. These three shows and about a hundred and fifty others going on during the Games were free. Instead of smashing windows on Georgia, any self respecting anarchist could have been enjoying an awesome concert for zero dollars and zero-zero cents.
The Cultural Olympiad has hundreds of cultural and artistic events scattered throughout the lower mainland, most of which are once again FREE.And the crazy-coolest one of all is here at the BOB Gallery on 163 E. Pender Street.
And let’s not forget the frenzy of social media driven independent journalism, the opening of W2 Culture and Media House, the social activism and energy in the air. Vancouver is an extremely interesting and fun place to be right now.
Maybe instead of berrating our city with vitriolic hyperbole some of these naysayers could go for a sunny walk on the seawall, have a glass of wine on a patio and then attend any number of these free events like I and my friends have been doing. It would be a shame for them to go through these entire games scowling through their own pessimistic tunnel vision.
Doesn't that look nice? A lot of people are having a great time down there right now, myself included. Actually I'm more on Main street to the right of the frame, but I get downtown fairly regularly.
