Olympic Venues in Vancouver

As of today the locations of the events and other main facilities are in "lock-down" meaning they are not accessible to the general public. They are being "fitted out" with security, food services, ID checks and especially the tons of broadcast equipment and miles of cables. I don't start work til Feb. 1 so at the moment I can only enter the main media centres. The rest of the venues are visible only through chain fence that has been wrapped in the "look of the Games".

The only totally new building for actual competitions is the Richmond Oval for speedskating. Otherwise, all the venues are upgrades to structures that already existed.

For example hockey will take place where the Vancouver Canucks play in the NHL, and at the Thunderbird Arena at university of British Columbia. Figure skating is at the former Pacific National Exhibition. Snowboarding and aerial skiing is at Cypress Ski Hill. Curling is at the Vancouver Curling Club.

Of course, all of these locales will be glammed up as new kids on the block. But the real new kids on the block --- the athletes --- will be housed in gleaming new condo buildings in False Creek, a very trendy spot.