Basically [November 27, 2008] was a one on one interview then a 4 hour orientation.  At the beginning they brought out one of the official Olympic torches from the Torino games and you had to hold it while you introduced yourself.  Seems I’ll be helping in one of the skiing sports but I have to wait till they send me an offer which can be as late as summer ’09 but apparently will be much sooner as they want me to help with the Freestyle World Cup in February ’09, but nothing is official.

The orientation was info on the expectations of a volunteer and a lot of team building exercises but no training. We did get a cool looking information binder that explains a lot more. We also got a sticker and a pin.

I sent you a picture of the binder, sticker and pin as well as the welcome letter and periodically I’ll send you scans of key pages from the binder.

I’ll let you know if and/or when I get an offer from them.

I am very happy to have a connection on the inside of the Olympics, but I really do wish that it was me.  If the 2016 Olympics make it to Chicago, I’ll be one of the first to volunteer.

John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), today congratulated the mayors and municipal council members elected across British Columbia over the past weekend.

“On behalf of the whole VANOC team, congratulations to all of the mayors and council members elected. It is indeed an exciting time to be leading as we all prepare to celebrate the 2010 Games with all British Columbians. In particular, we look forward to working closely with the elected officials in our 2010 Games venue and facility communities: Vancouver, Whistler, Richmond, West Vancouver, Squamish and Surrey,” Furlong said.

Read the rest of the article here.

It sounds as if it was an ugly campaign (aren’t they all?), but Gregor Robertson is now the man that will run Vancouver during the Olympics.  I don’t envy that job.  Being a mayor of a city would be a hard enough job, but doing it during a time when the whole world is watching would be an enormous pressure.

One of the hottest issues of the campaign revolved around a $100 million loan from the city to the company building the Olympic Village where most of the athletes will stay during the games.

Other articles:

Gregor Robertson to be Vancouver host mayor for 2010 Winter Olympics

Gregor Robertson Wins Vision Vancouver Nod

Countdown clock located in downtown Vancouver

I was just contacted by a friend of mine, who just so happens to live in Vancouver, and he just so happens to be in the middle of the application process to become a volunteer at the Olympics.  And if that wasn’t cool enough, he offered to be an inside contact man for me!  As he goes through the interview process and hopefully getts selected to work at the Games, he is going to give me step by step updates so I can report them back to you!  We should be able to get lots of good inside information from him, with pictures!

Here is what he’s told me so far about how the application process works:
The first step I did was register here.  That was about four months ago. Two weeks ago they contacted me and did a short phone interview and two days ago I was emailed to register for the orientation meeting.  It’ll be six hours where I’ll undergo a face to face interview that lasts an hour to find out where they will place me and then they go over all the stuff.  That’s on the 27th (of November).

I’m pretty sure volunteers get a lot of cool stuff including uniforms so I’ll send pics of all the loot I get.

Sounds to me like our guy is a shoo-in.  I’m excited for him, and look forward to getting another update from him.

Lotteries expected as Olympic ticket deadline approaches

Time is nearly up for Canadians to get their orders in for the first round of ticket sales for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The deadline for residents of Canada to place their orders is midnight PT on Friday.

Caley Denton, vice-president of ticketing with the Vancouver Organizing Committee, said demand is already exceeding official sales targets and there’s no doubt they’ll need to hold a lottery for medal round hockey events.

Denton is also expecting demand will exceed supply in many other high-profile events, including figure skating and the opening and closing ceremonies. Officials have not been specific about which event tickets beyond hockey will be distributed by lottery.

You can read the rest of the article here.

The first round of ticketing ends tonight at midnight (PST).  People are allowed to make multiple ticket requests, so if they don’t get their first request, they are not completely left out in the cold.  After the deadline has passed, a computerized lottery will start picking who gets what seat.  Lotteries will definitely be held for the Gold Medal Hockey event, and probably for other hockey events, figure skating, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Tickets can be purchased at Vancouver 2010 ticketing information.

Cost of families to see Games covered by Petro-Canada

Johanne and Jean-Pierre Monette of Montreal have never seen their speed-skating sons Marc-Andre and Jean-Francois compete at any major competition.
They weren’t there when Jean-Francois skated in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, or when their sons traveled to Europe for short-track speed skating championships.
Instead, they put all their money into making sure the two boys could compete, knowing that they could always watch them on television or see a video later.
“When we are not there with them, it is always heartbreaking, but they do call home,” Johanne Monette said.
All of that will change for the Monettes and the immediate families of all Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes who compete at the 2010 Games.

Read the rest of the article here.

This program will cost $3 million for Petro-Canada, but I think it’s a great move.  Petro-Canada is one of the corporate sponsors of the Vancouver Games, so the company will be receiving free tickets anyway.  They will simply pass on these tickets to the family members of the Olympic athletes.  Meals and 4 days in a Vancouver hotel will be provided for two family members of each Canadian athlete.

I’m always thrilled by the passions of the spectators and the skill of the athletes at the games. I can just imagine what it would mean to each athlete to be at the Olympic games. They dedicate their lives to their sport, so to be recognized world wide as being one of the best in your sport would be an amazing thing indeed. And then the patriotism involved in winning a gold metal for your country would be overwhelming.

I wish I was an Olympic athelete.