First day of Olympics marred by violence

[Molly]

Conflict coloured the first day of Olympic competition on Saturday after a protest rally erupted into violence in downtown Vancouver, spurring a lengthy showdown between participants and police.

More than 100 protesters, many believed to be anarchists clad in all-black attire with bandanas over their faces, spray painted cars and threw newspaper boxes into windows near the intersection of Granville and Georgia Streets shortly before 10 a.m.

Another 200 protesters remained peaceful, police said later.
The violent faction then marched west, walking backwards in formation holding a ladder as a barricade. Protesters beat drums and chanted slogans such as "Homes not games," and "No Olympics on stolen native land."

LINK TO ARTICLE........read more (http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100213/bc_violenet_protest_100213/20100213/?hub=OttawaHome)

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[Franx]

CTV had a "protester" on early in the day andsaid they weren't goiing to get out of hand.....guess that didn't happen.

[bikerboy]

it does seem like a huge cost to host olympics, but does it pay for itself? like i mean from all the money coming in which helps the economy?

I will not be watching any of it, so i would not miss it if it did not exist.

[1-800-bigtruck]

What was the reason for the protest? They mad because they weren't good enough to be part of the Olympics?

[Franx]

What was the reason for the protest? They mad because they weren't good enough to be part of the Olympics?

The chick that I saw was talking about the tax dollars going to help people that need housing, etc. instead of the Olympics.

[ralph]

The impoverished student protestors stayed home and protested.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/670402

[maan]

What was the reason for the protest? They mad because they weren't good enough to be part of the Olympics?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism

[Pipeman]

Expo '67 in Montreal lost their ***.

Olympics in '76 in Montreal lost their ***.

Winter Olympics in Calgary in '88 broke even.

Expo '86 in Vancouver that was managed by Jimmy Pattison made a profit.

I recall that the GM for Expo '86 went out and leased a Mercedes to drive around in.

Jimmy Pattison was ****** off big time so he fired the guy and piad for the Mercedes out of his own pocket. (and they are deep) and he took over running the show just like he runs his own companies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Pattison
Background
Up until the late 1970s, the 173 acre (0.7 km²) site on False Creek, where Expo was staged, was a former CPR rail yard and an industrial wasteland. In 1978, Sam Bawlf (then BC Minister of Recreation and Conservation) proposed an exposition to celebrate Vancouver's Centennial year (1986). The proposal was submitted in June, 1979, for a fair that was to be called "Transpo 86." In 1980, the British Columbia Legislature passed the Transpo 86 Corporation Act, paving the way for the fair. The transportation theme reflected the city's role in connecting Canada by rail, its status as a major port and transportation hub, and the role of transportation in communications.

The fair was awarded to Vancouver by the Bureau of International Expositions in November, 1980. However, once it became clear that the event would be a world exposition, the name was officially changed to "Expo 86" by Ambassador and Commissioner General Patrick Reid in October, 1981, and, by the end of the year, Expo 86 Corporation was established as a nonprofit agency responsible in the planning and operation of the fair. Local business tycoon, Jim Pattison was appointed as CEO, and would eventually also become the president of the corporation. The chief architect selected was Bruno Freschi, the Creative Director was Ron Woodall, and Bob Smith was responsible for the production and design.

Construction started in October 1983, when Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, started a cement mixer on the future site of the Canada Pavilion, and offered the "invitation to the world."[1] But, work was disrupted by labour disputes for 5 months. Still, Expo Centre opened May 2, 1985, as a preview centre for the fair.

The final cost of the fair ended up being CDN $8 million under budget.[citation needed]

[edit] The Fair
Expo '86 was opened by Charles, Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on May 2, 1986. It featured pavilions from 54 nations and numerous corporations. Expo's participants were given the opportunity to design their own pavilion or opt for the less expensive Expo module. Each module was approximately two-and-a-half stories high and had the floor space equal to a third of a city block. The design was such that any number of the square modules could be placed together in a variety of shapes. The roof design allowed the interior exhibit space to be uninterrupted by pillars.

This World's Fair was categorised as a "Class II," or "specialised exhibition," reflecting its specific emphases on transportation and communications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_86

[1-800-bigtruck]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism

Hope you didn't expect me to read all of that let alone understand it all:duh2[1]::asking::duh1: