Vancouver View -- VANOC Launches Countdown; Security Exercise Continue

IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in Whistler to kick off 24 hours of celebrations for the one-year countdown to Vancouver 2010. (ATR)IOC President Jacques Rogge and other officials will gather in Whistler today to mark the one-year countdown to Vancouver 2010.

Rogge, IOC Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli, Vancouver 2010 coordination commission chairman Rene Fasel and VANOC CEO John Furlong will hold a 30 minute news conference this afternoon at the Westin Whistler Hotel. The group will then head to the Omega Countdown Clock to celebrate the change from 366 to 365 days until the Games.

Thursday, the official one-year mark, officials will unveil the Bombardier-designed Olympic torch and HBC-designed torchbearers' uniforms in Whistler. The torch is expected to be aboriginal-themed and could be shaped like a Coast Salish canoe paddle. Torchbearers chosen by Coca-Cola and RBC, sponsors of the torch relay, will also be in attendance.

Later that afternoon, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell will make his annual appearance at the Vancouver Board of Trade countdown lunch. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.

Campbell welcomes Rogge to the Richmond Olympic Oval that evening for an hour-long, invitation-only ceremony. There, they will formally invite NOCs to Vancouver 2010 in one year. The event will be telecast on CTV, the Canadian rights holder.

The day concludes with the official countdown concert, headlined by Sarah McLachlan. For those unable to attend, telecommunications and technology sponsor Bell will make the event available via webcast at a later date.

It's 6 p.m. Somewhere Anti-Olympics protestors plan to gather near the Downtown Eastside ghetto for a march against the Games. (ATR)

At 6 p.m. (local time) Thursday, VANOC is encouraging all Canadians to join the celebration and make some noise. From Newfoundland to the Yukon Territories, organizers want all Canadians to share the excitement, wherever they may be.

"Whether you’re a sports fan, an Olympic booster or a proud Canadian, making some noise is about using whatever you have to get the job done," VANOC explained in a release. "Whether with bells, whistles, boats, vehicles, clocks or voices, get out and make some noise! Invite friends, family, co-workers and volunteers to participate with you and make an event out of it."

The "Let's Make Some Noise" effort is an initiative by 2010 organizers to show support and excitement for Canadian athletes in the build-up to the Vancouver Games.

At 6 p.m. PST, Vancouver anti-Olympics protesters will gather at Victory Square, near the Downtown Eastside ghetto, for a torchlight march against the Games.

Security Exercises Continue

Exercise Silver, the five-day security rehearsal for the Games, continued Tuesday with marine training in Coal Harbor.

Simulating an unauthorized vessel entry, An RCMP boat moored at Canada Place with the Vancouver Convention Centre in the background during Tuesday's Coal Harbour portion of Exercise Silver. (ATR)Canadian Forces and RCMP boats and divers turned the waters surrounding Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre into a no-go zone.

Regular port operations continued during the exercise, though the SeaBus commuter ferry, seaplanes and freighters had to change course.

“There will be various marine security perimeters in place during the Games," said Cpl. Jen Allan. “We will ensure that we have a clearly marked marine area so vessels are aware of the security perimeters. There will be significant information to the marine community before the Games.”

The Games' other waterfront venues include the Vancouver Olympic Village, Richmond Olympic Oval and the Westin Bayshore, the Olympic family hotel.

Security Budget Remains a Mystery

The Games' security budget, believed to be as high as $800 million, still has not been announced. That figure would put the final tally at five times the original estimate.

The B.C. government is expected to pass an amendment to its balanced budget law to allow for a recessionary deficit. The new budget, to be delivered on Feb. 17, could include more security funds.

Olympic spending continued to be a point of contention in the Legislature on Monday and Tuesday.

"We know that the Leader of the Opposition did not support the Olympics from day one," said Olympics minister Colin Hansen.

NDP leader Carole James shot back: "I'll tell the minister what I support. I support accountability for taxpayers."

With reporting from Bob Mackin in Vancouver.