Tinkerblue

Own a Piece of the Podium

Just in time for today's one year anniversary of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, you can own your own very tiny piece of the podium.

 

5 of the podiums used during the Games have been cut into pieces and packaged up. There are 20,100 pieces in all.   Pieces have been taken from the Gold, Silver and Bronze section of each podium.  You can't choose which piece you want, it's all random. But you may end up with a piece from:

• Podium #4 - Vancouver Olympic Centre - Curling (Team)
• Podium #9 - Whistler Olympic Park - Ski Jump (Team)
• Podium #10 - BC Place - Victory Ceremony (Individual)
• Podium #12 - Richmond Olympic Oval - Speed Skating (Team)
• Podium #22 - Whistler Olympic Park - Cross Country Skiing / Biathlon / Nordic Combined (Team)

 

After you have purchased your piece of the podium you can register it's unique code on the piece of the podium page, and it will tell you which Victory Ceremonies the podium was used in and which atheletes stood on your piece of the podium.

 

$39.95 per piece. You can get yours from HBC Vancouver, HBC Toronto, HBC Online or from the Official Piece of the Podium Store on Ebay.

 

 

Whistlers Own Torch Cauldron

It was lit as part of the first Victory Ceremony at Whistler Medals Plaza earlier this evening.
 

All Things Victory Ceremony - medal trays, podiums, uniform, flowers

10 days to go.  10 very short days.  There's not much left to surprise us all with - who will be the final torch bearer, who will perform at the Opening and Closing ceremonies... Today Vancouver 2010 released the details of the podiums, medal trays, flowers and medal bearer uniforms.

© VANOC/COVAN 

The Podiums are inspired by the snow-capped mountains of Vancouver and Whistler. Each one is assembled from over 200 pieces of precision cut wood from BC Forests.  Built by new trained inner city workers at the Rona Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop. 23 podiums will be used in 86 Olympic and Paralympic Victory Ceremonies.

© VANOC/COVAN

Ergonomic wooden trays, matching the design of the podiums, have a non slip surface to protect the wavy medals. Both the podiums and the trays were designed by VANOC's late design director Leo Obstbaum and industrial designer James Lee. I really like them both. Beautiful in their simplicity. I'd like one of the trays please.

 © VANOC/COVAN

Athlete bouquets contain green hypercium berries, green spider mums, leatherleaf fern, monkey grass and aspidistra leaves. They're pretty but why aren't there any native BC plants or flowers in the bouquets.

 

Volunteers will carry the medals and flowers on those lovely trays and escort the athletes while wearing their Aritzia produced costumes.  The costumes are in shades of blue to represent the sea to sky palette.

The outdoor uniform is a cocoon parka in hues of blue inspired by the night sky.

The indoor uniform is a handmade coat, each one is unique and hand knit. A silk scarf is embroidered with complementary hues representing the flags of all nations competing at the Games.

The athlete escort uniform features a vintage ski coat in shades of blue, flocked with with the same Aboriginal artwork of an orca and raven found on the medals. 

I'm not really keen on the uniforms, and I assume all the medal volunteers are female, can't see too many men wearing these outfits.  If I had to pick one, it would be the athlete escort uniform.  

Our First Batch of Tickets

Look at this...

 

We have a batch of tickets in our hot little hands.  These are the tickets we bought in the Whistler Locals offer

The Victory Ceremony tickets that we received in exchange for our voucher from the 100 day countdown in Whistler.  We chose the night based on the date, rather than who is playing.  But in case you're interested it's K'naan.

 

The Paralympic Closing Ceremony tickets we purchased online

Oh and Morag, we bought you tickets to the Figure Skating Training, it's not the competition, but at least you'll get to see something

 
  

Whistler Victory Ceremonies

Today VANOC announced the performers for the Whistler Victory Ceremonies.

The Vancouver Victory Ceremonies will be held inside at BC Place, the Whistler Victory Ceremonies will be held outside at the Whistler Celebration Plaza, against the backdrop of the snow covered Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.  Chilly?  Yes.  But oh so pretty.

Here is the line up (taken directly from the press release):

Saturday, February 13 - All American Rejects (www.allamericanrejects.com)
Medal presentations in men’s downhill skiing, ski jumping and women’s biathlon                                  

Sunday, February 14 - Estelle (www.estellemusic.com)
Medal presentations in ladies’ alpine skiing, men’s Nordic combined (individual normal hill) and biathlon 

Monday, February 15 - Pierre Lapointe (www.pierrelapointe.com)
Medal presentations in men’s luge and cross-country skiing 

Tuesday, February 16 - Feist (www.listentofeist.com)
Medal presentations in men’s alpine skiing, women’s luge and biathlon 

Wednesday, February 17 - Our Lady Peace (www.ourladypeace.net)
Medal presentations in alpine skiing and cross-country skiing

Thursday, February 18 - Deadmau5 (www.deadmau5.com)
Medal presentations in men’s luge doubles and biathlon

Friday, February 19 - Hedley (www.hedleyonline.com)
Medal presentations in men’s alpine skiing and ladies’ cross-country skiing 

Saturday, February 20 - Stars (www.sadrobots.ca)
Medal presentations in men’s and women’s skeleton, ladies’ alpine skiing and men’s ski jumping 

Sunday, February 21 - OneRepublic (www.onerepublic.net)
Medal presentations in men’s cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and two-man bobsleigh, as well as biathlon 

Monday, February 22 - To be confirmed
Live medal presentations in cross-country skiing and men’s ski jumping 

Tuesday, February 23 - The Fray (www.thefray.net)
Live medal presentations in Nordic combined (men’s team relay) and women’s biathlon 

Wednesday, February 24 - Jet (www.jettheband.com)
Live medal presentations in ladies’ alpine skiing and men’s cross-country skiing

Thursday, February 25 -  The Roots (www.theroots.com)
Medal presentations in women’s bobsleigh, Nordic combined and ladies’ cross-country skiing 

Friday, February 26 - K’Naan (www.knaanmusic.ning.com)
Medal presentations in ladies’ alpine skiing and men’s biathlon 

Saturday, February 27 -Usher (www.usherworld.com)                                                                                                        Medal presentations in men’s alpine skiing and four-man bobsleigh, as well as ladies’ cross-country skiing 

I am particularly looking forward to Feist, Our Lady Peace and The Fray.

So how do you get tickets?

Whistler Victory Ceremony tickets will be distributed to the public in the Sea to Sky region through a contest operated in partnership with Tourism Whistler at www.whistler.com. 

The contest will operate for 11 days, starting on January 4, 2010 and is open to residents from Squamish to Mount Currie. Entries at www.whistler.com will be limited to one per e-mail address. 

The contest will close on January 15, 2010 and winners will be notified via e-mail by January 22, 2010. Tickets must be picked up by the winner (with ID and proof of address in the Sea to Sky region) at the Main Ticket Centre in Whistler, located next to Whistler Medals Plaza, by January 31, 2010.  

Remember there is no Olympic Bus Network Service to/from Whistler Celebration Plaza.  If you need to get to Vancouver after the Whistler Victory Ceremony you will need to book on a private charter.

Victory Ceremonies Update

VANOC finally announced the line up for the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies.  Each evening will run something like this:

• Ceremonies will start at 6.25pm (PST) each night
• Each night will be hosted by a province or territory and they will start the evening with a 30 minute show
• The medal presentations follow
• An hour long performance by the headline act will wrap up the evening
• Live feed from the Victory Ceremonies in Whistler

February 14th  - BC Night

• Nelly Furtado
• Men's 1500m short track speed skating
• Ladies moguls
• Mens 5000m and ladies 3000m speed skating

February 15th  - Quebec Night

• TBA
• Men's moguls

February 16th - Nova Scotia

• Barenaked Ladies
• Men's and ladies snowboard cross
• Men's 500m speed skating

February 17th - Alberta Night

• Paul Brandt
• Ladies 500m speed skating

February 18th - Prince Edward Island Night

• Hedley
• Ladies' 500m short track speed skating
• Men's snowboard halfpipe
• Men's and ladies 1000m speed skating

February 19th - Northwest Territories' Night

• Theory of a Deadman
• Ladies' snowboard halfpipe

February 20th - Yukon Night

• Stereophonics
• No medal ceremonies, concert only.

February 21st - Nunavut Night

• Trooper & Loverboy
• Ladies' 1500m and Men's 1000m short track speed skating
• Men's 1500m speed skating
• Men's ski cross

February 23rd  - Saskatchewan Night

• Billy Talent
• Ladies' ski cross
• Men's 10,000m speed skating

February 24th - Ontario Night

• INXS
• Ladies' 5000m speed skating

February 25th - Manitoba Night

• Burton Cummings
• Ladies' 3000m relay short track speed skating
• Ladies' aerials

February 26th - Newfoundland and Labrador night

• Great Big Sea
• Men's aerials
• Ladies' snowboarding parallel giant slalom

Mum and Dad have tickets to the 20th and 21st.

Dave wants tickets to the 16th and 26th.

I'm still waiting to see who will be in the lineup for the Whistler Victory Ceremonies.

Village Mayors, and Victory Ceremonies

Not much to say tonight as I'm in a crabby mood.

Honorary Mayors of the Olympic and Paralympic Villages were announced today.  Rick Hansen and Tricia Smith will be Mayors of the Vancouver Olympic Village, Anna Fraser Sproule and Alan Kristmanson of the Whistler Olympic Village.

During the Paralympics Dr Douglas Clement and his wife Diane Clement will take on the mayoral duties in Vancouver, while the Whistler honours go to Marni Abbott-Peter and Patrick Anderson.

Read the full details here.

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Keep an eye out tomorrow for an announcement regarding the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies.

                         image VANOC/COVAN

According to the VANOC website, "Check back December 8 for a full list of performers and to purchase new premium Vancouver Victory Cereomy tickets for $50*."  

The Whistler lineup will be announced December 15th.

Mum and Dad have tickets to the Victory Ceremonies on February 20th and 21st.  On the 20th there are no medal presentations just a concert.  There are still tickets available to the Vancouver Victory Ceremonies.  I'm quite interested to see who will be playing.

Tickets, Whistler Victory Ceremonies, Olympic Bus Network, Accommodation Updates

VANOC sent out a ticketing update yesterday.

 

Locals'  Ticket Offer part two:

• Remaining Whistler-based Olympic tickets will be available for sale exclusively at the Whistler Main Ticket Centre and only to residents from Squamish to Mount Currie. 
• This offer is open to people with a primary or secondary residence in the region and you must purchase available tickets in person at the Whistler Main Ticket Centre.
• Tickets cannot be used to access the Olympic bus network from Vancouver. Tickets will have "No Olympic bus network access" printed on them, however tickets will still provide access to local public transit from Squamish to Pemberton on the date of the event
• Tickets purchased through this program cannot be resold through the fan-to-fan marketplace.
• To purchase Whistler Olympic tickets at the Whistler Main Ticket Centre, customers must provide Government Issue photo ID and have an address in the Sea to Sky region or proof of accommodation in the area.
• •You are welcome to purchase tickets on behalf of friends and family but they will require transportation and/or accommodation in the Sea to Sky region in order to use the tickets. 

Whistler Main Ticket Centre:

Opens today (November 26th, 2009)

Location: Whistler Medals Plaza

Hours of operation: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00-18:00 (closed Mondays) 
Please note: In recognition of Visa's 2010 Winter Games sponsorship, we are proud to acknowledge Visa as the only payment card accepted. Cash will also be accepted.

Whistler Victory Ceremonies:

The entertainment schedule for the 15 nights of Whistler Olympic Victory Ceremonies will be announced on December 4. I am excited to find out.

Whistler Accommodation Still Available!

Contrary to the myth that Whistler accommodation is "sold out" or too expensive at Games time, there are many options available — from luxury hotels to apartment-style lodges — throughout the resort. I'm still trying to find a room for one night for Mum, Dad, Hubby and Morag for the 2 days of tickets they have in Whistler, so they don't have to go back and forth each day from Vancouver.

Olympic Bus Network:

If you have a ticket from Phase 1 or Phase 2 that allows travel on the Olympic Bus Network, bookings start on Monday November 30th. Book early as the fare goes up January 4th, 2010. 

Commercial Transport to Whistler:

Thinking of taking a day trip to Whistler, go skiing for the day,  or have local's tickets and need a way to get to Whistler.  There are several commercial companies that will be running services to Whistler.

Getting Around Whistler:

Your event ticket includes free public transport on the day of the event.  So how do you get from Whistler Village, or your Whistler area accommodation to say, Whistler Olympic Park?  On BC Transit.

Lots to take in, isn't it?

Hubby and I are off to Seattle on Friday for the weekend to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary (27th November 1999).  I hope you have a great weekend.