10 days 3.5 hours to go – Medals podium, uniforms and flowers
Just quick, as I have to run out the door but I got to see the unveiling of the Medals podium, the attendants uniforms, the Medals presentation tray, and the flowers at the unveiling today and they’re really wonderful! I can tell I don’t fit the traditional sense of ‘media’ as I think I was the only one in the room crying, but everything is so beautiful.
Podiums – are made of more than 200 pieces of wood and each podium’s wood comes from a specific location in British Columbia. There are 23 podiums in all. They are shaped to resemble Vancouver Island and they really are beautiful. For more information on the podiums and the sources of the wood visit the Ministry of Forests and Range. They were assembled at the Rona Fabrication Shop.
The uniforms for the Medal bearers and the athlete escorts were designed and made by Aritzia. They are simply stunning. I hope that I may be able to buy a piece or two from the collection though I doubt that they are likely to be available. For the Medal bearers there are both inside and outside uniforms. The details are fascinating.
They also unveiled the trays that the Medals and flowers will be presented on. I will try to talk about those more later but I’m running out of time now (volunteering very soon!). Plus today was my first chance to see the Olympic Medals in person. Wow! Oh, and I’d also like to compliment Premier Gordon Campbell and VANOC CEO John Furlong on their continued positivity. Some days it feels like I don’t hear a lot, but listening to both of them lifted my spirits. “Everybody (is) trying to make a contribution to something Grand.” – John Furlong. I couldn’t agree more!
RCMP, dignitaries and Medal presenters with the Medals Podium.
The Medals, flowers, presentation trays and bearers.
A detail image of the belt and sweater fabric on one of the Medal Bearer's uniforms.
The Medal, flowers and podium.
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Medals!
Why is EVERYTHING aboriginal? I was mistaken perhaps in thinking Vancouver and area taxpayers were hosting the 2010 Olympic Games. Please advise …. do the Aboriginal games have all caucasion artwork on everything from ribbons, to medals, to trays, to clothing, to podiums, to building material to arkwork – th at we get PAID for?
I hope and fervently pray that the opening and closing ceremonies are not as aboriginal in content as the rest of the games and all the ensuing paraphenalia and ceremonies are.
I myself wish that not everyone in Canada is an aboriginal – I too am proud of my heritage – I AM A WHITE CAUCASION CANADIAN … AND I AM PAYING FOR THESE GAMES … our BC Aboriginals are not – only they get paid for thier efforts … we, the caucasions, the ones paying for and hosting these games … have to volunteer everything!
There appears to be a misnomer of the 2010 Olympic Games. Should they not have been called the Canadian ABORIGINAL 2010 GAMES ?
Oh, relax. Haida art is aethestically pleasing and distinct. Caucasian/white/Canadian (and when I say Canadian, I mean European settlers that stole the land from the natives) art is what again?
I am glad to have BC associated with Haida and native culture. It’s better than decorating everything with beavers, bacon, and poutine. Or maybe we should have just gone all out Asian. That would have been nice too.
You sound like a Torontonian or an Albertan perhaps, with your references to ” I paid for this” and “tax dollars” that. Let’s pay homage to the first people that we “borrowed” this land from. And you should start taking some Native Studies classes and eat some of my mother’s humble berry pie.
And I am a whitey, by the way.
Your map is good, but is it not possible to number the pins and the designations so we have a key to what is where? Once I print this map up it won’t be interactive, you know.
I will do what I can, but I’m not really sure how to make Google Maps do that. You can also check out Jeff Lee’s map. He put it out a few days ago and has been getting more updates to it than I have, as well as using more symbols.
Hope that helps a bit,
Andrea
Thanks for all the efforts you put into this blog.
(Needless to say but but being a politician means showing an optimistic face even if they know it will cost them their seat at the next election.)
Since when do we (Vancouver) feed athletes broccoli after they win a medal. Hope your sense of humour is strong as I am totally kidding. I am sure they use real flowers for the presentations.
Hee hee! I agree on all accounts. But still want to say it was nice to hear positivity. It really made my day whether or not it’s there job to say it.
We’ll see about the flowers. They’re quite lovely in person
Thanks for commenting!
Andrea
Love it:)
Thanks so much for sharing! Everything looks really beautiful! Wonderful job by everyone who helped in the designs! Wow!
I agree Bob, they’re really lovely. There are so many wonderful fabrics, patterns and cuts. They really impressed me with the uniforms, and I love that the podium mimics the shape of Vancouver Island. So neat!
Is it just me? But the flowers look like brocolli? ; )
Still more native art on the uniforms? Enough already. Medals, mascots… all native. It’s getting very boring. When are those in charge of major events going to start recognizing that there are many talented artists in BC, and only a tiny minority are native. Yet they get ignored. And many very interesting designs that can be created instead of rehashing the same old thing over and over. Very one-sided.
So exciting!!!
I agree!
Wow – fantastic looking podium. Best ever.
Love the podium… I will use the facts provided for one of my trivia questions
I love getting the inside scoop from you, in addition to your daily personal observations of all the changes happening around the city.
The fact that you cried during the unveiling & that you out your heart into your blogs is what keeps your readers coming back.
Cheers,
Hardeep Gosal
Andrea, I love hearing about all of your adventures, and especially your emotional moments. I have been teary eyed several times during my Olympic adventures. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I’m loving the Aritzia outfits!
When will we see you on Toronto TV?
amazing stuff thanx
Must say, wasn’t overly impressed by the Flowers that were presented to the
Women’s Ski Mogul Medal Winners up at Cypress – Black Mountain this evening…
As a viewer the bouquet of flowers look like someone went up to the mountains
and picked some Green Box Wood Ferns and a Weed called Golden Rod…
Truly ghastly and the Outfits worn by the women bringing the Flowers ..
Yikes.. who designed them.. they’re a disappointment..
the flowers loook like broccoli, what are they
This is the description I found of them “The predominately green bouquets contain eye-catching green hypericum berries, delicate green spider mums and broad leaf greens. The foliage consists of leatherleaf fern, loops of monkey grass and aspidistra leaves. A simple royal blue ribbon is hand tied around each bouquet and the handles are also wrapped in recycled paper.” I like that they fit in with the ‘look of the Games’ sticking to a green colour scheme.
Thanks for commenting Vikki!
Happy Olympics!
Andrea
Ithink the bouqet of greenery is disappointing
The flowers for the 2010 games are a major let down I understand that they want to go with the green color but these flowers look like broccolli how very disapponting
Hope the Chiefs show up on time for the closing ceremonies.