As the Olympic torch nears

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Olympic Torch Celebration, Calgary

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sourced by Jessica Tucker

As the Olympic torch nears closer and closer to Whistler, BC, a region prepares for the 2010 Winter Games.  A nation is abuzz with anticipation and wonderment of this historical event with extremely mixed views and some caution. 

At a time of general unrest in the world, some wonder about the safety of an event of such magnitude.  Others stand firmly by the sanctity of the Olympic spirit and a game that has gone on regardless throughout most of history.  Then, there is the political stand point of it all that has been clashing with the opinions and feelings of local groups and tax payers since preparations for the games began.  Finally, we have the media and a world of billions of viewers that will watch daily to see who will win the gold. 

2010 will be a new day for the Olympic Games as accredited news provider, citizen journalists and pretty much anyone with a cell phone will flock to Whistler to try and snap a shot and publish posts or images to an online world of viewers in a matter of seconds.  Already, stipulations are being set by Olympic committees about media coverage of the event limiting primarily all video usage.  Any use with the intent to profit by unauthorized use of video footage is being threatened with legal action. 

With the torch winding westward though the final leg of its lengthy trek and the bounds of a Canadian winter, the finishing touches are being completed and Olympians, media and viewers begin to arrive by air and ground in Vancouver.  In respect to the historical aspects of these games, let us hope as a nation that the 2010 Winter Olympics are left out of any political and planetary unrest that our world may be experiencing.