Vocal Olympics critic Chris Shaw declared victory over 2010 Games organizers and security forces with just over two weeks until the opening ceremonies.

“We’ve already won,” he told the Tyee Monday evening. “They’ve deployed a billion dollar security budget against protests…they’ve already created the conditions where people will see this around the entire world.”

Shaw’s comments came after almost a year of highly publicized security actions.

Intelligence officers visited the homes and workplaces of activists. American journalist Amy Goodman was grilled at the Canadian border. An undercover officer drove protesters to the torch relay kick-off in Victoria.

Huge controversy followed news that security forces visited Shaw's friend outside a college classroom.

“How can the media ignore it?” he said. “Those issues are now in the public domain for most of B.C.”

The security budget for the Games was originally $175 million, an estimate that’s since grown to nearly $1 billion.

The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit argues every potential Olympics threat needs to be investigated. Most observers agree a violent confrontation in February would be disastrous to Canada’s global image.

Last week, a U.S. travel advisory warned Americans to avoid Games-time demonstrations. The Canadian Press recently reported that downtown hotels, stores and several Olympic sponsors are hiring private security as protection against disruptions and protests.

Media attention from an estimated 14,000 reporters could amplify the slogans of activists across continents and oceans. Shaw hopes coverage will act as a global rallying cry.

“We are seeing around the world the rebirth of the anti-globalization movement,” he said. “On the streets of Vancouver in February we will be rekindling that movement.”

Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.