Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics are just a month away. The city lies in wait, apprehensive about the impending invasion of athletes, media and other visitors. Vancouver is quite accustomed to large conventions. They rarely are noted in the media, but the Olympics is a test that no city can be perfectly prepared for. No one really knows how much chaos it will cause.

Last October a German fellow, Robert Golling, put a note on couchsurfing.com asking if anyone had space for a visitor. His partner, Misha, had a chance to qualify as a member of the German national ski team, and he decided to look for accommodation. The prices were astronomical but worse, there were no rooms available in Vancouver by that date.

I offered to share my bed with him as a last resort, my couch being occupied by Fred and Eric who had to be out of their rented apartment for the duration of the Games, a condition of their lease. In lieu of any other offer, he said yes. In December Micha won a World Cup and they are definitely coming to Vancouver. In the meantime I have secured accommodation for Robert with my friend Yves for the duration of the Games. Yves lives at the foot of the Cambie Bridge, a ten minute walk from the athletes' village on the SE corner of False Creek.

It's a much better situation for everyone involved, even Yves. I am relieved not to have to deal with the overcrowding. I also felt awkward sharing my bed with a stranger, especially such a handsome one. I am sure he is relieved too. But he is very excited about the coming visit and his excitement is infectious. Both Yves and I now feel we have a small role to play, which will compensate for the congestion and inconveniences caused by the security measures. We have reason no to hide indoors for the duration of the Games.

Robert will rent a car for part of his time here, but he cannot drive up to Whistler as there is no parking there. I am hoping for clear weather where we can play tour guide around the Vancouver environs. Misha is anxious to see as many events as he can, but perhaps he has access to cheap tickets as a competing athlete. An afternoon of skating, for example, originally cost $450 but, after initially condemning scalping, VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee) has set up an on-line scalping site for 10% of the proceeds and many of the tickets are going for more than $1,000 for an afternoon's entertainment. The Games are designed for the rich, disgustingly sautéed in sleazy, money-grubbing lust at every turn. It is unavoidable. All we can do at this point is to be good, generous hosts and find the fun and the beauty wherever we can.

Worse than all that though, is that the weather is so mild now that all the snow on the mountains is melting. Cypress Mountain, one of the Olympic facilities, has already closed for lack of snow and Whistler, the main facility, is not much better.
For the next week, the coldest day will be +8C and the coldest night +6C. It's looking pretty bleak--VANOC's worst nightmare. Gawd does have a sense of humour!!

More later.....