Johnny Weir Says Vancouver Green And Clean

Vancouver is a great host city for the Olympics, said Johnny Weir at a press conference this afternoon. "Vancouver is so green and clean. Everyone is in love with this city and the fact that the games are here."

The Olympic contender for Men's Figure Skating called the press conference in response to the media frenzy fomenting around the derogatory comments a couple of on-air reporters made about Johnny regarding his sexual orientation while he was in the middle of his competitions.

"I grew my beard out today to show that I am a man, at the end of the day," said the 25 year old USA competitor. He told the assembled press that he's still in Vancouver preparing for the World Championships and training with his coaches who are all still up in Vancouver, B.C.

"I look forward to performing all around the world this year. I hope I can skate to Lady Gaga very soon," said Weir, referring to the song, "Poker Face."

"Out of ugly, the most important thing in life is to make something beautiful," said Weir. "The only thing I ever wanted from this figure skating craziness was to perform, to perform my art."

Weir opened the press conference by thanking his fans for their outpouring of love and support. He also said that when he heard the derogatory comments made by the two reporters, he felt "pissed off" and defiant. He admitted to feeling that way because the criticisms were directed at him personally and not at him as an athlete and Olympic contender.

He said he chose to speak out about this issue not because he wants an apology, he believes, he said, in freedom of speech and that people have the right to voice their opinions, but he said that he felt it was important to set a strong example for the boys and girls who will follow.

"No one should be made to feel like a freak or a weirdo," he said.  "I just hope that more boys and girls have parents like me who allow their children to be an individual.  It's definitely the time for freedom. Time to be unique and to believe in themselves," he said expressing that this is the message he feels is most important to impart to the younger generations.

As for his thoughts on the quad?  He said that he is "so excited that Evan won [Olympic Gold Medal] without doing a quad."  Weir conceded that the judging in figure skating has always been suspect. "And when you're on the receiving end of it, it can be not nice, to lose to people who fall down, who make glaring mistakes, he said.

At attending member of the press from Canada's Quebec Province asked Johnny Weir if he was aware of the tremendous outpouring of support for him that has come from that province, where two radio announcers originally made the offensive comments. Weir said that a good friend of his from Montreal has already told him as such.

"Out of ugly, the most important thing in life is to make something beautiful," said Weir. "The only thing I ever wanted from this figure skating craziness was to perform, to perform my art."

He said he has plans to pursue a career in fashion design at some point.

 

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Johnny Weir Says Vancouver Green And Clean

Ferrari Design At Coal Harbour Green

A Vancouverite recently described Coal Harbour as the "Park Avenue of Vancouver." The concentrated downtown core neighborhood overlooks the city's main harbor, Stanley Park and the city's new - green-roofed - Convention Center which is currently called the Olympic Broadcast Center. Right now, it also boasts exceptional views of the Olympic Cauldron, lit by Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky on Opening night of Winter Olympics 2010.

The talk of the town these days is that now that the up-and-coming city, which likes to describe itself as the "world's most livable city," (and many, including The Economist magazine, concur with this) will finally enter the ranks of world-class cities having enjoyed a month in the sun of Olympic spotlight and action.

Another interesting murmur coming up from the crowd is that there is hope that Vancouver will now attract more European investment, to complement the overflowing Asian, predominantly Chinese, investment the town has enjoyed in recent years. Locals' nickname for the city is Van Hong, which puts into perspective the amount of overseas Asian investment that has been lavished on Vancouver in recent years.

View from a Coal Harbour Green Suite

Enter Harbour Green Place.  It is a stunning $1 billion, three-tower development that seeks to attract the world's rich and famous. It will offer a communal Ferrari for residents of Coal Harbour Green to drive, among other super-luxe amenities.  The $200,000 kitchens are designed by Paolo Pininfarina, the Ferrari designer. Since August 12, 2008, he has been the acting Chairman of Pininfarina S.p.A.

Kitchen designed by Ferrari designer, Paolo Pininfarina

Green Blog Network asked Mr. Pininfarina what his thoughts were on sustainable design, and found that the designer had a lot to say on the subject:

Paolo Pininfarina: Sustainability is the heart of design in 2010. It's a must.

GBN: Where do you see sustainable design going in the future?

PP: In the future sustainability will drive the creation of new products. It's a big part of the work of designers in the next 20 years.

GBN: Ferrari is symbolic of copious consumption.  Can this continue?

PP: We absolutely need to reduce consumption. In a city such as Vancouver, you don't feel it so much. But other parts of the world, you really notice the over demand on resources. Even the Chairman of Ferrari said we have to do something to reduce consumption. I am fortunate to be able to design in such a technological laboratory. We are orienting towards observing environmental cautiousness.

GBN: Can a quality product such as Ferrari also be designed to be sustainable?

PP: Designers are, by definition, creative people. Beautiful products are not enough. They must be beautiful and sustainable. There is an aesthetic to sustainability. For example, an ugly product is disturbing from an aesthetic point of view. There is a sustainable aesthetic to beauty.

GBN: What do you think of the Tesla?

PP: A  person who drives a Tesla is saying "I have the money to be sensible." We are looking for a more affordable approach. We'd like to design a zero emission vehicle that is affordable to more people.

Electric cars make good company cars. Companies who buy electric vehicles for their employees' use can be trendsetters. An EV is ideal for commuting between home and office. Then, if necessary, you have another vehicle, or a hybrid, for longer weekend journeys.

I see it evolving along the lines of the cell phone. The first breakthrough was when the company managers were provided cell phones. They used their mobiles in the car. Once that was established, then it was just a matter of time before everyone had a cell phone.

GBN: Can the populace at large, then, be conditioned to want to buy an EV or a hybrid?

PP: Certainly. It's a question of building out the infrastructure. There are models developing now where you can purchase the automobile and then rent the batteries.

GBN: And at Ferrari?

PP: Ferrari is a dream. At Ferrari we are selling dreams.

For more information about Paolo Pininfarina's kitchens designed for Coal Harbour Green, go to: Three Harbour Green  or ASPAC Developments.

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Ferrari Design At Coal Harbour Green

Olympic Medalist Makes History

For the first time in Olympic history the games partnered with a luxury jewelry company as one of the sponsors of the world competitions. Birks & Mayors, Canada's iconic jewelry company, nearly as old as the country it has sprung from, has proved itself a Golden choice for this partnership.

Birks & Mayors,  along with Tiffany's, has been rated #1 by the internationally recognized Earthworks organization for their adherence to the Golden Rules, a set of social, environmental, and human rights principles that are part of the No Dirty Gold campaign which guides more responsible and ethically sourced gold production. "Responsible is beautiful" is their motto and the reasoning behind their multiple programs to give back to the environment and the community.

Birks & Mayors, a "world-class brand with heart," has done more than simply gift 42,000 pieces of fine jewelry to the Olympic family, they have also stepped forward with designs commemorating the games, from charm bracelets fashioned with 3D replicas of the Olympic mascots, to pendants inspired by the Four Host First Nations artistic symbols, to a complete line of earrings, pendants and bracelets designed by Brand Ambassador and Olympic Silver Medalist, Canadian Jenn Heil.

Heil was asked by Birks & Mayors to not only be the brand ambassador for the Olympic games but also to design a line of jewelry. She chose to use the five rings of the Olympics as her design motif. Five percent of the proceeds from these pieces are donated to the Canadian Olympic Committee to benefit the Olympics and Paralympics.

"Everyone at Birks & Mayors have been so behind me. Thanks to Birks for trusting me and giving me carte blanche when it came to designing the Olympic-inspired jewelry designs."

She explained that the five rings, each with a distinctive demarcation imprinted on the silver rings, symbolize:

1. Dream  - "It's important that we dream big and that we go after our dreams."
2. Focus - the design motif is like "a target."
3. Team - to symbolize that a great achievement such as the Olympics are a "team effort"
4. Courage - "It takes a lot of courage to go after our own dreams, carrying with us our own values."
5. Joy - "I constantly have this bubbling up feeling of joy with everything I do. That feeling of joy needs to come with me everywhere I go and with everything I do."

Heil spoke to an assembled crowd of journalists and dignitaries recently on a bright Vancouver morning.

Mr. Thomas Andruskevich, President and CEO of Birks & Mayors, said to Heil, "You not only won the Medal, you won the hearts of all Canadians."

The Honorable Gary Lunn, Minister of State Sport & 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, said, "The relationship we've had with Birks is amazing. They've been very involved in the torch celebration. Fifteen million Canadians came out at some point along the torch relay to welcome it here in Canada. Birks made the commemorative plaques that now mark the route all across our country." He also had nothing but great esteem for Heil, of whom he said, "A more genuine human being as you'd ever like to meet."

Heil's values match those of the iconic Birk's: playful, stylish, fluid fun. And ethical. In 2003 Birks subscribed to the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, a commitment to the long-term sustainability of Canada's Boreal region. In addition, their Mammoth Tusk Gold program, "includes partnering with the local mining community and respecting their right to engage, with self determination, in every aspect of the mining operation.  This initiative is not only a pledge but a certified operational business practice unique to Birks."

For More Information About the Green Gold Standard, Read Here.

In addition, Canada's North West Territories are the world's third largest producer of rough-cut diamonds. They are clean diamonds, as opposed to much of Africa's "blood diamonds." In 2008 over $2 billion diamonds were produced from the region.  Read More Here about North West Territory Diamonds.

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Olympic Medalist Makes History

Canada Owns The - Gold - Podium

 

 

 Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada's Olympic Gold Medalist, First to Win Gold on Home Soil, Ever

Marking Olympic History, Alexandre Bilodeau is the first Canadian in history to win Olympic Gold on Canada's home soil.

"It will be a special moment tonite," says the Olympic Gold Medalist at a COC press conference today, referring to the Medal ceremonies. "Obviously I have goosebumps inside to touch an Olympic Gold Medal. I looked at Jenn's [Heil] medal  but I didn't touch it."

The humble and self-reflective Bilodeau credits his older brother, who suffers from cerebral palsy, with inspiring him. He says his brother wakes up with a big smile and goes to bed with a big smile. "Whenever I feel like complaining I just shut up and get on with it. My brother is such an example of perserverence and happiness," said Bilodeau. That perserverence has paid off...now the young 23 year old has won Olympic Gold for Canada, on home soil, in downhill Mogul skiing. "This medal is for my brother," said Bilodeau.

 

 Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada's Olympic Gold Medalist

"The first Olympic Gold Medal for Canada is not worth more than the second or the third..."

In conjunction with the Canada Olympic Committee's Own The Podium program, a group of Canadian businessmen got together after Salt Lake City and formed B2Ten.  This B2Ten project is one of  private business mentoring and supporting a select group of elite athletes with the goal of winning Olympic and other world-class sports feats and medals.

 

B2ten supports athletes by providing access to training resources, support services and technology that  meet the specific needs of each athlete.

Since it’s inception in 2005, B2ten-supported athletes have delivered a long-list of World Cup, World Championship and Olympic medals for Canada.

 Bilodeau is quick to acknowledge the incredible support as an athlete he has received from both the B2Ten and Own The Podium programs, working in conjunction with the COC. Support came in the form of extra physio, massage, training, mentoring, and even bio-mechanic expertise.  And the business leaders who fund the B2Ten ask for nothing in return - no logos displayed on the athlete's uniforms, no formal or public recognition. They just ask that the athletes do their best. "I've been having cocktails with the biggest business leaders in Canada; people who themselves have thousands of people who work for them, who they are responsible for." He says this helped him prepare for the pressure of competing in the Olympics on behalf of his country. "I thought of that in preparing for my run down the mountain."  A run that won Bilodeau, and Canada, the first-ever Olympic Gold Medal on home ground.

Tonight, at B.C. Place when he is awarded his medal, he will be standing on a wooden podium harvested through sustainable forest management. The Province of British Columbia is a leader, worldwide, in sustainable forest management.  Each podium was assembled from more than 200 pieces and built from one of 18 different wood types donated by communities from all over the Province, including companies, individuals and First Nations. Twenty-three podiums will be at 11 venues.  There will be nightly ceremonies at B.C. Place to award the victors their Olympic Medals.

"It's just the beginning of a big party for me right now," acknowledges Bilodeau, who admitted to getting a whole 3 hours of sleep in the 24 hours following his historic run.  Even Premier Campbell was on hand to congratulate the Olympian.  "All of us in Vancouver were up until 3 a.m. celebrating with you," rasped the Premier of B.C. whose voice had gone slightly hoarse over the celebrations. "You make us all proud. And give my best to your brother."

Peter Judge of the COC remarked that, "I've seen many extraordinary accomplishments but what I saw last night will live in my memory forever." Judge has been a strong advocate of both the Own The Podium and B2Ten programs for the Canadian athletes. He pointed out that the technical expertise lent to the teams resulted in the downhiill mogul skiing, as a sport, being measured also by optical timers, a refinement that has had impactful results on the sport.

Today, February 15th, also marked B.C. Clean Energy Day.  Premier Campbell and Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Blair Lekstrom, resident of Dawson's Creek, were on hand to announce several clean energy programs for the Province today. British Columbia operates on 90% renewable energy.

British Columbia the world’s largest exporter of softwood lumber, paper and bio-energy products that help mitigate climate change and provide innovative solutions to green building and energy needs.

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Canada Owns The - Gold - Podium

Olympics 2010 Technology Takes Gold

Olympics 2010 Winter Games  - Today's Gold Medal went to Technology.
From Ontario House to B.C. Place to Bell, technology is what's going to deliver the games to the world and make real the amazing Olympic feats of these world-class athletes.  What's the old adage?...


You gotta see it to believe it!
From the fun to the sophisticated, Olympics 2010 is the wired place to be.  Bell, VANOC and Avaya partnered up and have delivered not just tried-and-true technology for these Olympic games but also the first all IP Olympic Games - meaning all voice, data and internet is carried over a single network.  Justin Webb, V.P. for Bell, Olympic Services, admits that "technology is a silent partner of the games"...usually. During these games viewers will experience "flawless games"; We will watch events unfold because the images are carried at the speed of light over the network.  "Photographs will traverse the network and possibly post on the internet even before the skiier, for example, arrives at the finish line."
VANOC expects 60 million unique visitors to Vancouver2010 in 17 days, says Ward Chapin, VANOC's Technology guy.


Let The Fun Begin!
If you're a total Geek - like me - two things you've got to do, unequivocally, is watch the 4D movie at Ontario House and try out the Interaxon brain-wave controlled light real-life-game also at The Ontario House. That Ontario House is right next door to the Molson Canadian Hockey House, makes it another good reason to go.  But I digress...
Just when everyone's talking about 3D here comes 4D.  What's 4D?  Ever been to California Adventureland at Disneyland in SoCal?  This 4D theatre and movie at Olympics 2010 Ontario House is like that. You smell the hot chocolate as you see it on the screen; you're sprayed with snow as you watch the hockey players; you smell the pine needles as you soar across the landscape. It's like a little piece of Disneyland next to B.C. Place.
Thoughts. Matter.
The other Must Do, and this one is super trippy, is a real-life game developed by a young guy named Chris for his company Interaxon, "thought controlled computing."  Up on the three large screens are pictures of Niagara Falls, the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, and Toronto's CN Tower.  You are seated in a pretty comfy leather chair and a pair of earphones are placed on your head with a sensor touching your Third Eye.  This sensor measures your brainwaves.  When you focus on the image, the intensity of your brainwaves lights up the landmark.  For real.
Your brain ACTUALLY lights up the Parliament buildings in Ottawa in real time. It's not just an image on a screen.  Someone standing in Ottawa will see the building light up, thanks to your brain activity there in B.C.  Chris, the developer, admitted it took a bit of getting through some red tape to get permission to pull this off! For Niagara Falls, you can change the color reflected against the Falls.  You've got to try this. It's like playing God.
More fun stuff at Ontario House are the great eats and the beer, wine, and ice wine! Culinary staff and chef are borrowed from Opus, the Yaletown hotel favored by the entertainment folk.
Also, more techie games - a first-ever no-glasses 3D screen game that you power from your Blackberry. It was developed by a Sheridan student, the Ontario Technology advanced training school that has seen two Academy Award winners from its alumni.
Also, the whole House is paperless.  From the art installation, "Waterfall," that graces the far wall, made from discarded plastic water bottles, to the touch-screen digital image tables that showcase the upcoming concerts during the Winter Games at Ontario House, to the compostable cups. On Twitter @EventsOntario
In fact, sustainability is a thread that's woven throughout the entire technology infrastructure of the Games. Bell was able to reduce their copper footprint by a third because of the converged networks. "And the way we deployed the nodes, there's a 40% reduction in overall power consumption, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint in terms of energy consumption," explains Dave Johnson of Avaya, Bell's technology infrastructure partner.  And with partner Samsung, Bell is coordinating repurposing of the thousands of handsets being given out to staff and volunteers during the games.

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Olympics 2010 Technology Takes Gold