Winter Games brings a big freeze to daily life
They call the Olympics the largest logistical challenge for any city in peacetime.
But I've been surprised by how far the are affecting everyday life here - way beyond the usual blocked roads and traffic congestion.
The other day I was at the Vancouver house of a 91-year-old woman who is waiting for a .
Around a third of non-emergency operations in hospitals here have been postponed because of the Games and she's now decided to go to the to have treatment because she's fed up waiting and putting up with the pain.
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Vancouver health officials say the hospitals need the extra beds in case of a major incident. They also believe some people don't want to have operations at such a busy time.
Opposition politicans even claim the local government is using the as an excuse to save money on operations before the end of the financial year. But whatever the reasons, it's hardly a great advertisement for the Games.
What is even more surprising is that criminal trials have also been postponed at Vancouver's courts because so many police officers are involved in Olympic security that they cannot appear as witnesses.
In a rare interview the acting chief judge of the city told the 91Èȱ¬ that she was surprised that the Games would have such an impact.
Interestingly, the in London is sending out officials to learn from the Canadian experience of the Olympics.
At the moment and the say they are not expecting to postpone any operations and are planning for "business as usual" in .
But it's also true that two years before the Vancouver Games, Canadians were not expecting surgery to be postponed either and that they were only told of the delays in the summer.
Vancouver residents are frustrated that roads are being closed but they expected that to happen. Few expected the health service and criminal justice system to be put on hold.
Do you think it's right that the Olympics should upset everyday life like that?
Or is it worth it to have the world's greatest sporting show in your back yard?
I'm 91Èȱ¬ London's Olympics Correspondent, which means I report on every aspect of the preparations for 2012. I'm going to be telling you what people are saying about London's preparations - both in the Olympic corridors of power and on the streets of the capital - and I want to hear your views.
Comment number 1.
At 11th Feb 2010, stanners85 wrote:As a Londoner living in Vancouver, I am disappointed with this kind of news story which puts a negative spin on what is a positive event. Of course the city is having to make sacrifices in order to accommodate everything that goes with hosting a world event and naturally public resources will be stretched. One can only imagine the criticism and scorn Vancouver would attract if its hospitals weren't prepared for a major emergency. And incidentally, the disruption caused by road closures is generally seen by all as a necessary part of hosting a successful games. As London tries to learn from Vancouver's experiences it would be more helpful if the media focused on what the police and health service can achieve rather than what they can't.
And by the way, this report would have benefited greatly if the names and positions of the people interviewed had been given. After all, if the 91Èȱ¬ aims to give a fair report we at least need to know who they have chosen to comment on the story.
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Feb 2010, Adrian Warner wrote:Stanners85, the report embedded in this blog should have all the names of the people we interviewed. If it hasn't, it is a technical problem for which I apologise. For the record, here they are in the order of appearance,
BARBARA ROBERTS (Vancouver resident), DR PATRICIA DALY, (Vancouver Health Authority), HON. NANCY PHILLIPS (Acting Chief Judge, Provincial Court of British Columbia) and JAY STRAITH, Criminal Barrister.
The chief judge, by the way, doesn't give many interviews so we can't be accused of not researching this story properly. In fact other people we talked to on camera, I wasn't able to put in the piece because of time issues.
I am not there to put spin on anything, by the way. I'm just reporting what is happening.
best wishes.
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Comment number 3.
At 11th Feb 2010, Lewis Wiltshire wrote:It might also be worth saying that, in terms of "putting a positive spin" on Vancouver, Matthew Pinsent filed this blog /blogs/matthewpinsent/2010/02/smitten_with_charming_vancouve.html in which it really comes through how taken he is with the city. Adrian's blog here simply represents another angle, as part of the 91Èȱ¬'s rounded coverage of the event.
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Feb 2010, john wrote:i'm a londoner who lived in vancouver for a year last year. while it is a beautiful and unique city with mountains, wilderness, sea and beaches all on its doorstep, it lacks energy, presence and is pretty dull culturally compared to other 'world' cities. the people are laid back in the extreme which is great for a holiday but becomes quite dull after a while- conversation and humour isn't massively stimulating.
good luck for the games vancouver
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