About 150 people held an evening rally in Victory Square and lit a Canadian Olympics flag on fire to mark their own countdown. They then marched in parts of the downtown core to protest and bring attention to issues such as homelessness, aboriginal rights and the hefty security cost of the Games.
There's also a report that the countdown clock in downtown Vancouver has been splashed with paint.
'I invite them to participate in the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver one year from now.'— Jacques Rogge, IOC president
About 1,100 guests packed the Richmond Oval, the site for speedskating events, to celebrate the official countdown to 2010. Among them were athletes, former Olympians, Olympic executives from around the world as well as politicians. Musical performances entertained the spectators, and cheers erupted in the 30-second countdown to 6 p.m. PT — the official one-year mark to the Games.
In a message broadcast across the globe, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge invited athletes from all nations to take part in the Vancouver Games.
"For athletes around the world, the chance to compete next year in Vancouver will be their goal, the culmination of a lifetime's ambition," Rogge told a jubilant crowd.
"I wish them all good luck, and on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, I invite them to participate in the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver one year from now."
Spectators at the Richmond Oval party celebrate the offcial one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics Games. Spectators at the Richmond Oval party celebrate the offcial one-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics Games. (CBC)
A morning celebration was held in Whistler and was open to the public. The evening party in Richmond was by invitation only, though the Richmond Oval has a capacity of 8,000 spectators.
Provincial Opposition Leader Carole James of the NDP criticized the Liberals' arrangement to exclude the public from rejoicing at the event.
"You certainly would think if taxpayers are funding something, that it would be open to the public, that they would have an opportunity to be able to participate, to be involved," James said.
"You don't build support for the Olympics by shutting the public out, by not being upfront with them about the real costs of the Olympics," she said.
The cost of the Richmond party was estimated at about half a million dollars. And Olympic organizers said the Richmond party was invitation-only for security reasons.
2010 winter olympics
2010 winter olympics
2010 winter olympics
2010 winter olympics
2010 winter olympics
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