In case you have been living in a small cave for the past few years, the 2010 Winter Olympics, hosted in Vancouver, British Columbia (that’s in Canada!) begin Friday, February 12. Though I don’t follow professional sports, I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics in general, and the Winter Olympics in particular. I even took figure skating lessons when I was young, though being a 5’8”, 135 pound 12 year old effectively ended any dreams I had of Olympic glory.
With Portland’s proximity to Vancouver, BC, it is only natural that Olympics fever should begin to infect the city. At Portland International Airport, Alaska Airlines employees sported stick-on soul patches, in honor of local Olympian Apollo Anton Ohno’s signature facial hair.
To celebrate the Opening Ceremonies, Oregon Sports Authority and KGW are hosting a free public viewing event at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday, February 12. There will be two giant LCD screens, and they will show local Olympic programming beginning at 5pm. The official NBC broadcast of the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremony begins at 9pm. The event also includes interviews with Oregon Olympians, warm drinks and a hockey goal-scoring challenge. What a perfect way to celebrate the Opening Ceremonies with fellow Olympics-loving Portlanders.
In conjunction with this event, you can also visit Winter Celebration at the Square for your chance to win a trip for two to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, including men’s cross-country skiing and the Closing Ceremonies! Entries must be submitted by February 11, 2010, so enter soon!
(Editor’s Note: Travel Geek is another brand-new author here at OurPDX. Please welcome her!)
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I hear the people of Vancouver are not so thrilled by the Winter Olympics, what with billions of dollars in cost overruns that the city will have to pick up and much lower than projected revenues. Plus the arrogance and brutality of the IOCC, which threatened a trademark infringement suit against a venerable restaurant, the Olympic Cafe. Compared to these headaches, Portland’s soccer stadium fiasco seems almost like a good idea.
Welcome to OurPDX, Travel Geek! I look forward to more posts.