I am a huge critic of the Olympics. I feel it is an elitist party that enables fascist policies.

However I do not think people should protest directly in a disruptive way the goings on around the Olympics. I don't think it is appropriate and here is why.

Like a lot of old people in this province my grandparents will be going to the Olympics to enjoy the coming of age of a province they spent their lifetimes building. For the seniors who built this province often doing jobs our generation couldn't image the difficulties they overcame and the dangers they faced.. for them this means a lot and its a big deal. The Olympic celebrations IMO are for that generation and not a party for the future generations... its a sunk cost now that we can not take back as a province, and so must make the best of what will happen regardless to whether or not we agree with the Olympics or not.

What I would hope on the part of the Olympic committee is that they give free of charge any unsold venue tickets to the less well off elderly, so they too can enjoy this as recognition to their contributions in building this province.

What I would hope of the protesters is that they show the world the merits of a passive protest... hang a sign over their chest with a real issue highlighted and then just mingle with the crowds and walk around and act as if the sign isn't even there... nothing about the Olympics, because the argument is irrelevant at this point, but yes the schools issue, tax issues, HST issue, forestry issues... the list is endless of issues we could build awareness for, so why waste the energy on the Olympics at this point that will only incite the police with no good outcome for everyone.

The world will be watching, but they don't care if you want to be a spoiler. The BC liberals on the other hand will care if you embarrass them with shame on legitimate issues in a way that they can't demonize you and shut down your voice.

I agree our schools are going to pay a price for the Olympics and the Olympics are robbing future generations of equal opportunity, but I think being spoilers will now only hurt people that no one intends to hurt.

I look forward to seeing a guy like Jimmy Pattison running with the torch as a highlight in his life and a well deserved highlight. I hope Terry Fox’s mom will be the final torch bearer.

Thank you, Eagleone. Well, worded.

Our future is for us to mold. Sure it would be great if every Health region and school board get more money than they need, but that will only throw us deeper in the hole.

some say that the Olympics will cost us 5 billion dollars. My thoughts are quite simple, if the government spent 5 billion in infrastructure, the private business invested 10 billion in their operation to capitalize. Thus the excuse to have a three week party generated 15 billion dollars worth of new business. Basically employment for over 25,000 people for four years. We live in a society where 45% of our income is consumed in one form of taxes or another. Thus, I am quite confident that the 5 billion spent on the seed money has been recaptured and reinvested already. So what does all this mean. The governments really spend no money, since most of the money has been returned by taxes. The excuse to have the olympics provided over 25,000 people with decent jobs, and we end up with a three week party.... Yahooo.

I have to agree with Eagleone. We are going to pay for this party. But lets show the world that we can protest passively. Let's show the world what a beautiful province the NORTH is.
Each community that the torch comes thru is highlighted. Some more than others but the world is watching.
Lets show the world that we can respect some of the people who have built this province... Yup, it scares me at how much its going to cost to keep the smile. but I will not disrespect the people who have contributed to society to make the north and the rest of this province awsome.
Each community will suffer because of this party. Keep the violence down it only hurts and we have enough problems just trying to stay warm. Remember our hospitals have waiting lists, don't add to it.

This is my feelings....I to do not like the money that has been spent on this party for the ELITE. We did not even get to vote on it which is wrong. All the money spent does not help anyone outside of Vancouver. We will owe for this party for years to come.

Aside from all the crap above I believe that the athletes need our support now. They have trained long and hard for this moment and they need us. None of the above is their fault if anything they have had to struggle to make ends meet in order to compete. It is time for ALL OF CANADA to stand behind our young amazing athletes. We can all get back to kicking arses after it is over.

I believe that the extra tickets will not be given to poor old people unfortunately but that was the nicest thought I have seen in a very long time. :} Protests should not happen, that time is now over.

Bull. If everyone had been given a vote at the bid stage, most who cast a ballot probably would have voted 'yes'.

And 60% of the people probably wouldn't have voted at all, just like any other time.

The only way some of us can support the Athletes, is to watch the torch runners as they go by. We can cheer from our living rooms, maybe we can go to the local pub and watch with a beer(support the local ecomomy) No, I cannot go and watch live. wish I could. I will watch some of the games. Might as well see the show that we all paid for.

To all the Athletes I wish you well, you have trained long and hard for this. Stay safe and Healthy.

TO THE GOVERNMENT What a waste of money.

I wonder how long a wait there will to be for a ride back to the malls after the event is over. I can imagine waiting for a couple of hours with small kids freezing. I am a supporter of the Olymics and agree that most people were all in favor when the first ballots where cast.( Under NPD rule) I remeber expo 86 and all the nay sayer then.. After the huge success they were all heros and it was hard to find the anti segment. IF you recall that event was what put BC on the map and the province recorded huge growth. Where are all the anti expo experts now.

"IF you recall that event was what put BC on the map and the province recorded huge growth."
Really? So, Expo 86 was responsible for all of the growth in B.C. for the last 24 years eh? I'll bet a lot of people did not realize that, I sure didn't. Here I thought it was exploitation of our natural resources to fuel world demand.
metalman.

Metalman Glad we could enlighten you

Truth of the matter is most people have no recollection of Expo 86, and the balance only have a dim memory of it.

Here in Prince George I look around, and try to see how many people are here as a result of Ex;po 86, and I come up with ZERO.

BC has been **on the map** for many many years prior to Expo 86.

The Province recorded huge growth in the last 20 years because of Immigration, mostly from South East Asia, China, India. I doubt if any of the Immigrants were even aware of Expo 86.

Most of the Industry that was here is 86 is still here to-day, and there has been very little added to it. In fact in the Interior, Industry has actually declined.

The Olympics are a big **To Do** about nothing. Mainly letting contracts to build buildings, so that money can be made. The IOC is the big beneficiary in the end. The Goverment of the day, tries to get as much mileage out of it as possible, and the Athletes are used as pawns in the game of making money.

How often in the last year have you thought about the Olympics, in Turin, or China. Probably not at all, and guess what. Once these Olympics are over, nobody anwhere in the world will be thinking to any great degree about British Columbia.

In 1988 I sold a house to a couple from Hong Kong that had come over to Vancouver for Expo. He worked at PG pulp and his wife worked in the hospital. In 1991 his two brothers moved their families to Canada. Both stayed in Vancouver. That was a direct result of Expo. Any world wide exposure is good. The olympic are even more exposure because they are televised far more than a worlds fair. When we were in Utah we went to park city . Why, because we had heard of it when the Olypics were in Salt Lake.