Prince George Hosts the World at BC-Canada Place
By 250 News
Thursday, February 23, 2006 04:26 PM
-submitted by Rob Van Adrichem
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Prince George Mens freestyle skier, Chris Wong visits with Leisure Services Tom Madden
About 150 people - including many of the movers and shakers in the Canadian Olympic movement - attended a reception hosted by Prince George at BC-Canada Place. Attendees included Premier Gordon Campbell, VANOC President and CEO John Furlong, VANOC Chair Jack Poole, local freestyle skier Chris Wong, gold medallists Wolfgang and Andreas Linger of Austria, members of the Swiss National Olympic Committee, a former FIAT executive and current Torino Chamber of Commerce President, and media from around the world.
Mayor Colin Kinsley on the left, visits with John Furlong of VANOC, Premier Gordon Campbell, and Jack Poole of VANOC
The number of attendees exceeded expectations and represented an A-list of sport and government officials from around the world. Mayor Colin Kinsley welcomed the attendees with a spirited presentation about the city and an introduction of the delegation members, followed by a new video of northern BC that was played to a soundtrack written and performed by Jenny Lester of Smithers.
Prince George's leadership among BC communities was confirmed by Premier Gordon Campbell who applauded the Mayor's long-time commitment to extend the benefits of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games around the entire Province. He also identifed the new Northern Sport Centre as a facility that will help to attract athletes to train in advance of 2010.
In addition to Canada and Italy, attendees included representatives of the Olympic committees from Slovakia, Croatia, and Ireland. The sports represented included curling, speedskating, biathlon, hockey, luge, and skeleton.
Mayor Colin Kinsley looks like a gold medal sandwich as he settles in between Andreas and Wolfgang Linger of Austria, the gold medalists for the two man luge
Prince George has also attracted the interest of the provincial, national, and international media:
Television Suisse
SBS6 Netherlands
HRT Croatia
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
NBC
The Province
Vancouver Sun
CBC
CTV
Global National
In addition, the newspaper in BC-Canada Place is featuring a large story on BC universities, particularly highlighting UNBC. And Vicki Gabereau, of CBC and CTV fame, wrote an article on Prince George's activity for the Olympic Secretariat's own promotional activities. A story on Prince George is also featured on the Government's website among the "BC Stories" that it has been pitching to the international media.
Current and former residents of Prince George were impressed with the turn-out and the City's initiative. Freestyle skier Chris Wong, who competed in the moguls only a few days earlier, commented on how he and the city will both benefit from their Torino experiences when Vancouver-Whistler hosts in four years.
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Rob Van Adrichem is the Communications rep on the tour
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Posted by: diplomat on February 23 2006 8:15 PM
One particualr training schedule has some potential, we could call it the "gauntlet" it could feature trying to run down our pothole filled roads trying not to break an anke and be finished off with a trip downtown to see if the homeless won't rob you blind.
later.............