101 Globes

Saturday, May 8th, 2010 :: 11:08 am

Origami Chandelier

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Origami Chandelier

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Acrobats

Sunday, April 11th, 2010 :: 5:36 pm

More activities on opening day of Olympics, yes, there were a lot of photos :-)
A group of performers from Westcoast Acrobatics were performing in the GE Plaza right beside the rink. Crowded as always. The weather that day was cloudy – almost raining, but they were lucky enough to perform without getting wet!

Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Little boy on the ice during free skating!

Boy on Rink

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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A bit of hula hoops too

Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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GE Plaza Crowd

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Talented young performers

Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Through the Olympic rings!

Acrobat through Olympic rings

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Finale

Westcoast Acrobatics - GE Plaza

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Remnants from the day.

Flying hight

Robson Square Zip Line

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Robson Square Zip Line

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What was then, 2 hours before the opening ceremonies

Olympic Countdown Clock

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The anti-Olympic protests starting up on Georgia.

Anti-Olympic Protest

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Anti-Olympic Protest

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Anti-Olympic Protest

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Anti-Olympic Protest

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Anti-Olympic Protest

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Olympic Mascots on Ice

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 :: 12:26 am

Shortly after viewing the torch passing through downtown Vancouver, the Olympic mascots were scheduled to perform their ice routine at 3pm. They perform 3 times a day at the GE Plaza daily at 1pm, 3pm, and 6pm for the entire duration of the Olympics – I can imagine how tired they would be! Since this was the first day though, the crowd was manageable and I was able to get a good spot earlier on – the second time I came to see this, I could only stand tip-toed behind 3 or 4 lines of children/adults!

This was definitely a must-go attraction for parents to take their children. All I heard when the mascots came onto the ice were kids screaming “MIIIGAAA!! QUAAATCHI!! SUUUUMI!”, and holding the matching keychain mascots. They would go crazy just to get a hug :-) Who can resist a big living furry mascot after all :-)

Hello Sumi… oh there you are!

Sumi on Ice

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Warming up

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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More performers

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Sumi steps onto the ice!

Sumi on Ice

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Quatchi!

Quatchi on Ice

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Hugs and high fives for the children

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Shy laugh! <3

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Miga the seabear starts the story!

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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One day… a sasquatch named Quatchi appears from the forest…

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Quatchi loves playing hockey

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Olympic Mascot on Ice

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Quatchi on Ice

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Awww :-)

Miga Hugging

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Big group hug from Quatchi!

Olympic Mascot on Ice

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More zipliners – actually looks fun!

Robson Square Zip Line

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Robson Square Zip Line

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Robson Square Zip Line

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Downtown – Feb 12

Monday, March 29th, 2010 :: 11:54 pm

Continuing from the same day of the torch relay, I toured downtown within a 2 block radius to absorb all the Olympic festivities atmosphere, after all, it’s the opening day of the Olympics!

I can still remember the day… there were people bustling everywhere.. it was the first time that I had seen downtown Vancouver come alive. People shouting “Go Canada Go!” and singing the anthem, and a sea of red clothes. I headed down to the GE plaza to see what was going on. Zip-liners, people watching performances, ice skaters, and many many people taking photos.

To be continued…

Canada Jerseys

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Olympic Superstore corner is packed

Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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First nations house in front of Art Gallery

First Nations House

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And the first wave of protests start

Poverty Olympics Protest

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Ahh… when the opening ceremonies were just 3 hours away

Olympics 2010 Countdown Clock

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Quite the sight

Downtown Vancouver 2010

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Vancouver 2010 Poster

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GE Plaza

GE Plaza

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Watching the zip-liners fly overhead

Ziplining GE Plaza

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Ziplining GE Plaza

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Ziplining GE Plaza

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Ziplining GE Plaza

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First Nations performance

First Nations performance

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First Nations performance

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First Nations performance

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First Nations performance

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First Nations performance

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This was pretty cool – send an e-postcard to yourself!

GE Plaza postcard

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GE Plaza

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Setting up for a special performance… to be continued

GE Plaza Ice Show

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Last Leg of Torch Relay

Sunday, March 28th, 2010 :: 8:39 pm

Going back to Feb. 12th, the first day of the Olympics, and that also means that the Olympic torch relay is passing through the heart of Vancouver, downtown!

I’ve seen the torch at UBC already, but since it was a nice day without rain, how could I miss this opportunity! I followed the torch that day on the online streaming webcam, and rushed into downtown when it was being carried across False Creek. I got there with about 10 minutes before the torch rolled through, and wedged myself right on the side of the street to actually see it pass right in front of me – quite the luck!

By the time the torch ended up in its final cauldron in front of QE Theatre, the entire street corner had been packed! See for yourself!

Passing of flame

Torch Relay handoff

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Instructions to the upcoming torch bearer

Torch bearer

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Crowd awaiting the torch rounding the corner

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Never short of cameras

Torch Relay cameras

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The torch is in sight, coming up on Robson

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Police getting some attention as well

Torch Relay Police

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Torch Relay Police

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The atmosphere is great

Torch Relay Crowd

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Some final instructions and turning on the torch

Torch bearer

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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The flame is in sight!

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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“Look ma! I have the Olympic flame!”

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Proud moment

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Olympic torch

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I was lucky enough to get a clean shot above the crowd!

Olympic flame exchange

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Passed on!

Olympic flame exchange

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Previous torch bearer looking on as the torch passes through Georgia

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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We’re never short on people

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Big crowd waiting at Georgia and Hamilton

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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I ran from my first torch exchange position to here… and the torch is in sight again! :-D

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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My failed attempt at capturing the flame passing by the crowd… because I forgot to switch from MF to AF, and had to hold it far above my head :-(

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Since the torch bearer was way too far from where I was.. this was the second best view of the lighting of the community cauldron!

Lighting of community cauldron

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Plenty of youngsters around

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Sea of red

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Georgia is Packed!

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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I see you too!

Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Torch Relay Downtown Vancouver

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Lady with cool glasses :-)

Canadian Glasses

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Canadian pride!

Canadian Glasses

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