Vancouver View -- Terror Warning Denied; Sagging Dome; Bank Ambush

State Department Says No Terror Warning for Vancouver

A State Department spokesperson tells Around the Rings that no specific terrorism warning has been issued for U.S. citizens heading to the Vancouver Olympics.

A report by U.S. TV network ABC said a State Department warning had been issued mentioning al Qaeda as a threat to Americans visiting the Vancouver Olympics.

But Andy Lainey with the State Department Press Office said any travel warnings would be issued through his office and he “combed all of our emails and releases and nothing has gone out.

"I’ve not even seen this being discussed. Not saying that it couldn’t change in the next few weeks but we have not released anything.”

The State Department does have a Web site for American travelers to the Vancouver Games. Click here to go to the site.

Dome Troubles

Rainwater and the weight of trusses holding lights and speakers for Olympic ceremonies are adding up to a risky combination for B.C. Place Stadium’s aging 27-year-old fabric roof.

Disaster was averted Jan. 14 when a roof panel inverted because of a giant rainwater puddle. Water seeped through a drainage hole in the fabric roof and crashed down like a waterfall.

“That’s a minor problem, that’s one that’s expected when we get weather conditions such as we’ve just had,” said Kevin Krueger, the British Columbia government minister responsible for B.C. Place.

“There is pooling, they plan for it, it’s a matter of routine maintenance. They had people up there immediately to deal with it. There was a small leak but it hasn’t done any damage to the interior.”

The stadium’s air-supported roof ripped and collapsed Jan. 5, 2007 when heat was not employed to melt falling snow. The roof will be deflated in May and replaced with a half-billion-dollar retractable system.

Border Busters

Canadian border guards will report performance-enhancing drug importers to the IOC, but they won’t seize drugs that are not banned by Canadian law.

A Jan. 25 to March 25 agreement allows information to be shared between Canada Border Services Agency and the IOC because of a mandatory waiver signed by athletes competing at Vancouver 2010.

"The IOC has a zero-tolerance policy against doping and as for previous Olympic Games, will be working closely with the local authorities to ensure that the appropriate measures are taken to catch any potential cheater during the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver," said IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau.

Poverty Torch Relay

Advocates for the poor and homeless in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside ghetto launched the Poverty Olympics torch relay on Jan. 17. A series of events highlighting poverty in the Olympic province will be held in 18 communities, culminating with the Feb. 7 Poverty Olympics at the Japanese Hall in Vancouver.

“Our intent is not to disrespect the athletes or the essence of the Olympics, it’s just to say the governments need to shift their priorities,” said organizer Trish Garner.

“We follow the official torch relay route, we precede them by a few days,” Garner said. “No one’s traveling around the province, we’re on a small budget. The communities themselves are taking the initiative.”

VANOC Demands Withdrawal from Ambushing Bank

VANOC wants a Canadian bank to cancel an Olympic themed ad campaign.

Scotiabank’s Show Your Colours campaign, which launched Jan. 13, features retired women’s hockey gold medalist Cassie Campbell and encourages Canadians to send their patriotic photos to an online contest.

“The advertiser has no right to associate,” said VANOC commercial rights manager Bill Cooper in a prepared statement.

VANOC’s official bank is Royal Bank of Canada, which is also co-sponsor of the Olympic torch relay.

Ambassador/Senator

The Canadian female athlete ofthe 20th century was named Canada’s Olympic ambassador on Jan. 15.

Sen. Nancy Greene Raine, the Grenoble 1968 alpine skiing gold and silver medalist, will be based mostly in Whistler to meet and greet international dignitaries.

“The role I’m looking forward to the most is to connect with our athletes, to pass on the message that all Canadians are supporting them and we wish them well, and to be there and cheer when they put everything on the line,” Greene Raine said.

City Lights

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson launched the city’s Olympic public art program Jan. 18 by activating a German-designed light sculpture city hall.

Ice Light by Gunda Forster is a cascading display of LED bars on the edges of the art deco building. It’s one of the 20 main pieces in the $5.95 million program.

U.S. Loses Another Snowboarder

American snowboarder Danny Davis will miss the Vancouver Olympics after fracturing a vertebrae in an ATV accident.

Davis, 21, was a top medal prospect from the U.S.

“Doctors remain positive Danny will make a full recovery. His injury is the result of an ATV accident which took place Sunday morning in Utah. Due to the injuries sustained Danny will not be competing in the remaining snowboard events throughout 2010,” says a statement on Davis’s web page.

He underwent surgery on Monday in Utah to repair an L3 spine fracture.

Davis, is close friends with Kevin Pearce who was injured training for the Olympics earlier this month and will also miss the Games.

Media Watch

USA Today released its special edition for the Winter Olympics Tuesday. The 56-page edition has features on top U.S. athletes like Lindsey Vonn and Apollo Ohno.

The New York Times Sunday travel section for Jan. 17 spotlights 36 Hours in Whistler.

With reporting from Bob Mackin in Vancouver.