Well, here's one fail for the Vancouver Olympics: Why is the Flame, the cauldron that represents the Games, fenced off to the public? And behind a chain link fence with a "No Trespassing" sign?

The Vancouver Organizing Committee has responded to the controversy -- not by removing the fence, but by opening an elevated viewing platform that appears to be a hit. Good save.

You can run up those pillars and stick your hands in the flames and burn yourself. VANOC could be sued if somebody did that. So, shoot all the lawyers or put up a fence. The fence takes less time.

I don't know if they were anticipating the Olympic protesters or not, but it may have been a good thing to have made sure people couldn't get too close.

I'm glad that they've added the platform, but that should have been set up from the beginning. If they were afraid of people getting near the cauldron there are plenty of things they could have done: a fountain or water feature around the flame; a dry moat (like what they use in zoos to keep the animals and people apart without a fence); the cauldron could have been higher or isolated on a platform in the water; a viewing platform, which they ultimately built. To have people from all over the world take pictures of the flame behind a chain link fence (with "No trespassing" signs) is just embarrassing. Now that they have the platform, has the fence been removed?

Toronto Star: Olympic cauldron improvements ‘a joke’

They've basically cut out a slit in the chain link fence for people to stick their cameras through, while people announce on bullhorns where to line up for the viewing platform. See video.

OK - so yes a chain link fence making for bad photos was a poor choice - but credit organizers for at least having the good intention of bringing the flame to the people - which was the whole idea behind the biggest torch relay ever before these games.

And lets put the whining about having to lineup for the viewing platform in perspective here. The crowds are SO HUGE out on the streets of Vancouver that Brian Williams (our Bob Costas - host of all summer and winter Olympics for something like 20 years) was saying last night that the size of the crowds was unprecedented in his memory of all Olympics he has covered. Now he is not talking about attendance in the arenas or stadiums but about the crowds out on the streets, in the public squares and attending all the various cultural exhibits surrounding these games. He was saying the line up for the Sochi 2014 House was over 3 city blocks long at 8:30AM the other morning and the lineup at the same time for a special exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery stetched even longer - at 8:30AM!

And the size of the crowds out on the streets they were showing on CTV last night - from Yaletown to Robson Square to Robson Street - and then the just fantastic scenes up on the streets of Whistler celebrating our Skeleton Gold medla up there - just awesome! I haven't noticed any coverage on NBC capturing the street scenes the way CTV is doing such a marvelous job of doing - all in such contrast to the deserted street scenes which is all I ever remember of outdoor shots from Beijing outside the Birds Nest and other venues there. Police estimate over 150,000 people were out on the streets of Vancouver last night and they expect even more tonight and perhaps many more tomorrow night with the USA - Canada hockey game on tap.

The sheer size of the crowds has even caught Vancouver police by surprise and they are calling in reinforcenments for tonight to better handle the overwhelming size of the crowds out on the streets celebrating everything Olympics.
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C...BritishColumbia
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/

So lets quit the whining about having to lineup for the best view of the flame. And besides here's an update - everybody happy now?
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/news...ldron?cid=sbctv

I think the mild weather has definitely helped keep people out in the streets, lining up to visit or view various public venues like Canada House, or attending public concerts and events. The outdoor taping of the Stephen Colbert show was popular--innumerable people posted their videos on YouTube. I saw a bit of the MuchMusic coverage where they were interviewing young people at bars and asking them about their pickup lines. One Swedish guy offered his (Swedish) pick up line. When asked if it was successful his eyes lit up and he admitted that he "got laid last night." And given the photo of the young woman biting the medal of bronze medalist Scotty Lago (which caused him to be sent home), it's clear people are having a good time. Crowds on Robson Street:



Alas, with people having too much fun, authorities have asked liquor stores to close early.

Brian Burke is defending the Vancouver Games which, apparently, is being savaged by the British press (who should be careful what the say, as the next summer games is in London and who knows what problems they'll have).

Chain-link fence or not, I wouldn't say the Olympic Cauldron earns many points for 'artistic merit' in my opinion. There are far more photo-worthy places in and around Vancouver than THAT thing. To name a few: English Bay, anywhere in Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada Place, the historic Gastown area, and of course Wreck Beach (although it's still a little early in the season for its most famous activity )

For comparison, here are pictures of cauldrons from some other recent Winter Olympic Games. To me, the most impressive one is Salt Lake City's.


Torino 2006


Salt Lake City 2002

Lillehammer 1994


Calgary 1988