It's rather overwhelming. There's a lot going on - Cultural Olympiad, LiveCity Yaletown, LiveCity Downtown, Whistler Live, Richmond O Zone, Surrey Celebration Site, Place de la Francophonie, Sponsor Houses, National Houses, Four Host First Nations Pavilion, GE Plaza, Heineken House, GE Plaza, Molson Canada Hockey House etc etc etc. Not to mention the actual Olympics.
So what is the Cultural Olympiad? It's a celebration of arts and popular culture, lasting 60 days, January 22nd to March 21st. It's comedy, circus and street arts, dance, music, theatre, visual art, literary arts, film, video and digital. Some are ticketed, lots are free. And some are even interactive. So even if you're not into sports there's bound to be something up your alley.
A 2010 Cultural Olympiad Program Guide is available. You can pick one up from the Cultural Olympiad Information Centre in the lobby of the CTV Building, 750 Burrard Street. (and at Cultural Olympiad venues, public libraries, Bell stores, Tourism BC Visitor Centres, Tickets.com outlets and community centres).
Quite a few things caught my/our eye. Not that we will have time to do all or even any of them.
Feist with special guest Gonzales "Piano Talk Show"
Alberta Ballet: Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and The Drum
Majumder/Cullen/Payne: Laugh It Out! (hosted by Tyler Stewart and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies)
Hal Willner's Neil Young Project
There is a National Touring Program, so if you're not in Vancouver you can still take part. It's not as extensive obviously, but you'll find the details at Vancouver2010.com
Right now on CODE (Cultural Olympiad Online Edition) you can sign up for an Opening Ceremony digital souvenir on February 12th.
Become a fan of the Cultural Olympiad on Facebook.