Discussion Heats Up As 2010 Olympic Games Near

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver are 214 days away, and as the excitement for the Games is growing among Vancouverites, the opposition sentiments are on the rise as well. Olympics related headlines are starting to pop up more often in the Canadian press as the Olympics near.

In the recent weeks, a number of press clippings came out, discussing the controversial issues and opposition surrounding the 2010 Games:

--CTVOlympics reported about the growing citizen opposition in Whistler, a community northwest of Vancouver -- home to numerous competition venues to be used for the 2010 Games. Years ago, the few anti-Olympic activists were treated with ridicule and contempt in Whistler in anticipation for the Games; however, now "there is growing anti-Olympic sentiment created by double-digit tax hikes and new user fees that residents feel are being levied to help pay for what many see as a three-week-long party," CTVOlympics reports.

--Local newspaper Vancouver Sun reported that the Vancouver Police is working to establish "free-speech" zones, "giving Olympic protesters a safe and visible stage to be seen and well heard." Protesters will not be limited to "free-speech area," however.

--CBC reports that some of the city's homeless will have to be moved for the duration of the Olympics "in the interest of safety," because they reside in very close proximity to some of the Olympic venues.

--The student community on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) claims VANOC is limiting free speech, as CTV reports. VANOC has warned UBC students renting housing on campus against the improper use of sponsoring brands of the 2010 Olympic Games. UBC will host Ice Hockey events at its newly constructed Thunderbirds Arena during the Games. University's Alma Mater Society is calling the clause a 'threat to free speech.'

--Finally, Globe and Mail reports IOC and VANOC came under fire this past week for not fulfilling the request to include women's ski jumping as one of the 2010 Olympic events. The female jumpers alleged discrimination. Globe reports, "Madam Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon ruled that the women ski jumpers were indeed discriminated against by the International Olympic Committee's decision to keep them off the 2010 Olympic calendar, but added that the Switzerland-based IOC was beyond the reach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."  IOC disagreed with allegations of discrimination, saying “We strongly disagree with the court's analysis. … Our decision [not to include women ski jumping at the Games] was based on technical issues, without regard to gender.”  Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee has to abide by IOC's regulations and therefore can't intervene.