CLT Blog

It took us about a day and a half to find the Olympic Cauldron that appeared to be hidden from all the citizens of Vancouver we spoke with. Once we got there it was really exciting to see the enormous amount of people that were flocking to see the flame Wayne Gretzky lit the night before, but once we got to the cauldron we were greatly underwhelmed. Becca sums it up the best …

Watch this video on YouTube

So why would you have this amazing structure that represents the Olympic games and have it gated off to everyone who wanted to come see it. I understand not wanting to get people right on it or anything, but an 8 ft tall chain-linked fence is not the way to go. People were climbing the fence and standing on barricades to just get a good picture. Not really the pristine Olympic showcase that one would expect.

My suggestion to everyone who wants to go see the Cauldron, don’t go see it. Just watch it on NBC because clearly they are the ones Vancouver and the IOC want to have a good view of it, not the multitude of people from around the world who come to see it.

Although today has shown peaceful protest turn into violent conflicts, yesterday’s activity was largely peaceful. Tons of photos below, video coming soon.
Read more…

watch this video on YouTube

Thanks to PromoLogic & Mountain Khakis (@MountainKhakis)!

PromoLogic is Charlotte-based; and Mountain Khakis, while based in Jackson Hole, has offices in Wesley Heights and is owned by Ross Saldarini, a Charlotte resident and investor.

PromoLogic hooked us up with some sweet embroidered jackets and polos, and Mountain Khakis gave us all some of their extremely durable khakis, jeans & cords. All the better for trekking around Vancouver & Whistler while repping some CLT biz.

We’re waiting to board the train in Seattle. The guard with the machine gun (any idea what kind?) in the snap below says they’re contracted by Amtrak, special for the Olympics. They cooperate with a combination of private, city, state and federal agents to oversee the passage across the Canadian border.

I imagine this is only the start.

watch this video on Vimeo

photo credit: Brandon Godfrey

There comes a time in every blog’s life that they have to step up, move out, and make something of themselves in the world. Enter the World’s Party, the Media’s Mosh Pit, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

CLT Blog is going to Canada! Our Vancouver crew departs for our week-long trip on February 11th.

We’re teaming up with North Carolina’s largest NBC affiliates: Charlotte’s WCNC NewsChannel36; and Raleigh’s WNCN NBC17, to bring our unique perspective to a larger audience, and to give a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of local NBC affiliate crews at the Olympics.

We’ll be armed with Flip cams, DSLRs, iPhones and laptops, taking you across the border to the Great White North in pursuit of the real Olympics, whatever that means.

CLT Blog Vancouver consists of:

• Matt Tyndall (@mtyndall)
• Meck (@MeckCharlotte)
• Rebecca Perry (@rLper)
• and myself, Justin Ruckman (@jruckman)

We will be lodging with Charlotte’s own Justin “@jritch” Ritchie, now a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, who will rejoin us as both tour guide and correspondent on our quest to cover the games and culture from the streets of Vancouver. Expect guest appearances from travelling Charlloteans and native Vancouverites alike.

If you’re looking for 20-camera HD slow-motion 3D IMAX coverage of all your favorite sporting events … you’ll probably want to watch WCNC (or visit NBC’s Olympic website).

But for a genuine look at the city of Vancouver with its many natives and visitors during one of the world’s biggest events, keep your dial right here on CLT Blog (or follow us on Twitter: @cltblog)

To America’s attic eh!