The spirit of the Olympics is in jeopardy because surveillance, security and secrecy threaten to overshadow the 2010 Winter Games, say 20 academics from five countries. Read more…

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Ambulance workers in British Columbia are asking their colleagues across North America not to come volunteer at the Olympics until their labour dispute with the province is resolved, a request the union acknowledges could jeopardize service levels at the big event. Read more…

Many critics fear the 2010 Games will smother free speech. But a rapid proliferation of cell-phone cameras and open-source websites could make potential restrictions hard to enforce, a UBC journalism professor said Thursday evening.

“We’ve had this weird thing happen where the eyes of big brother are sort of turned around,” Daniel W. Burnett said. Read more…

Weather could be the biggest risk to the 2010 Winter Olympics, says the International Olympic Committee's Games boss. Read more…

Ticket talk dominated a news conference after VANOC's Wednesday closed-door board meeting because the 2010 Winter Olympics are far from sold out. Read more…

Vancouver Olympics organizers dismissed claims raised in a U.S. newspaper that ordinary Americans have trouble buying or affording event tickets. A recent Seattle Times series suggested the 2010 Winter Games is becoming a playground for the rich and well connected.

“Frankly, we’re not concerned at all about the article,” VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb told reporters today. Read more…

VANOC's last annual general meeting before the 2010 Winter Olympics is Wednesday, but it's behind closed doors. Read more…

The Vancouver Police Department is adding a sound cannon to its armoury on the eve of the Olympics, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association doesn't like the sound of it. Read more…

The economic impact of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games so far is positive, a report released today says, but short of the optimistic scenario finance minister Colin Hansen has quoted. Read more…

Apparently the good folks who write and edit Sports Illustrated magazine have a less than full grasp of Canadian politics – or a wicked sense of humour. Read more…

Finance minister Colin Hansen said today the economic impact from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be “billions and billions” but declined to give a firm figure.

Yesterday the Tyee reported that the government had quietly downgraded its estimate of economic activity around the games from $10 billion to $4 billion. Read more…

A strongly worded VANOC memo could be behind the provincial government’s decision to force striking paramedics back to work, a union leader representing the workers said today.

“We always suspected that [the Olympics] had something to do with it,” CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill told the Tyee. Read more…

Olympics organizers hope Games spectators will pay money to offset their travel emissions. But the company in charge of the program admitted today it’s going to be tough.

“It’s a big challenge getting people to sign up,” said James Tansey, CEO and President of Offsetters Clean Technology Inc. “We can’t force people to offset their emissions.” Read more…

Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon says the H1N1 flu, not the 2010 Winter Olympics, is why the government is ordering B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics back to work. Read more…

When most Canadians envision the Olympic torch making its way through their community leading up to the 2010 Winter Games, it's safe to suggest they don't usually think "surf's up!" Read more…

For US$2,500 you could own a 2010 Olympic torch. At least, that’s the going rate so far on eBay. Read more…

A large group of anti-Games protesters successfully rerouted the Olympic torch relay near downtown Victoria Friday evening.

“The Integrated Security Team implemented a rerouting contingency plan to ensure the safety of all participants,” read a statement issued by VANOC. Read more…

Olympics organizers held several technical briefings before Victoria’s torch relay kick-off to optimize media coverage of the event. Anti-Games activists also courted reporters Friday afternoon. Read more…

The creation of special areas where anti-Olympics protesters can gather safely has been one of the most the contentious security issues of the Games.

But at Friday’s torch relay kick-off in Victoria, RCMP officers on the scene appeared confused about the location, marking or even existence of the zones. Read more…

Media coverage of the Olympic torch relay will follow a strict minute to minute timeline, Games organizers said Thursday evening.

“Help us make this a great event by following our directions,” VANOC spokesperson Sebastian Theberge told dozens of reporters – some from as far as Japan and the Czech Republic – under a light drizzle. Read more…