Vancouver Olympics Update

Paralympics Events on the Move from Whistler?

Plans to hold the 2010 Winter Paralympics entirely in Whistler could be unraveling.

Whistler mayor Ken Melamed said this week that city council is having second thoughts about the construction of a 2,750-seat arena for sledge hockey.

VANOC has agreed to pay about half the cost of the $35 million project. The municipality of Whistler is responsible for the remainder.

Along with the cost, there is concern about the need to clear a small forest to provide the building site for the arena.

With VANOC still waiting on the federal government for a $50 million cash infusion to cover cost overruns, axing the Whistler rink might be a convenient move.

Alternatives include venues in Vancouver, as well as a new arena in the town of Squamish, located about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

If the sledge hockey moves to Vancouver, there's speculation opening and closing ceremonies, as well as curling and perhaps the Paralympic Village may also make the move.

Diplomacy Rules in China Disputes

Whistler city council has backed off a plan to send a pro-human rights letter to the mayor of Beijing mayor.

The council wants to ask Mayor Wang Qishan to urge the central government to respect international human rights accords.

But the Whistler politicians bowed to VANOC and Tourism Whistler pressure, reports the Whistler Question newspaper, instead sending the letter to Canadian foreign minister Peter MacKay.

In Vancouver, Mayor Sam Sullivan has unleashed city hall lawyers against Falun Gong members who have meditated in protest outside the Chinese consulate since 2001. Lawyers for the city seek an injunction to have the protesters removed.

Falun Gong is regarded under Chinese law as a banned cult that is trying to destabilize the country. Protestors around the world say Chinese officials are repressing the group in violation of human rights standards. Falun Gong supporters say thousands of practitioners have been jailed, tortured and executed.

Logo Coming for Paralympics

A logo for the 2010 Paralympics will be featured at a September 16 outdoor concert in Whistler.

Entertainment will come from BC and Canadian musicians.

MC for the event is Brian Williams, the TV presenter who made news earlier this year for jumping ship from CBC to CTV, the rights holder for the 2010 Olympics.

Reported by Bob Mackin in Vancouver.