Snowballing problems hurting Vancouver Games

Snowballing problems hurting Vancouver Games
Feb 17 03:38 PM US/Eastern

A snowballing list of problems is starting to hurt Vancouver's reputation as Winter Olympic organisers desperately try to put a positive spin on a Games they have been planning for seven years.

Several of the glitches have been unavoidable, with the heavy snowfall at Whistler that forced disruptions to the alpine skiing unforeseeable.

But there have been plenty more that should never have happened with billions of dollars and huge amounts of time ploughed into preparations.

Even the domestic press is starting to get restless.

"No point in circling the wagons and pretending otherwise, of pointing to every bus that arrives on time, every security checkpoint that works flawlessly, every smiling, polite volunteer," the Globe and Mail said in a comment piece.

"The locals tried that in Atlanta in 1996, and it only made things worse.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.31b20cd995550e68afb2d061a2fce29a.561&show_article=1

to boost patriotic fervour, and give him a majority this spring.

Maybe it's the other way around...

Media expert: Canadian journalists first to ask VANOC tough questions

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Olympics are receiving harsh criticism from some members of the international media--especially the British contingent. But one media expert we spoke with says Canada's "Debbie-downers" may be the ones focusing international attention on Winter Games glitches and screw-ups.

Philip Savage, professor of Communication Studies & Multimedia at McMaster University, has been observing Canadian coverage of the Games and he says Canadian journalists have been first to really take Olympic organizers to task. He says journalists from all over the world have had a whiff of this critical stance, and may be picking up on it.

...

http://www.news1130.com/news/national/article/27819--media-expert-canadian-journalists-first-to-ask-vanoc-tough-questions

Savage notwithstanding.