olympics

Olympic Costs Felt in Halifax

Hillary — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:37:22 +0000

Halifax students in solidarity with Anti-Olympic protesters in Vancouver

"It's a day of solidarity," explains Ashley Clayton, one of the people organizing a series of actions in Halifax highlighting the true costs of the Olympics. "Cities across Canada are coming together to show their support for what's happening in Vancouver."

GroundWire Podcast | Abdelkhadr Belaouni -- Student Poverty

GroundWire — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:28:29 +0000

November 9 - 20

groundwire.ncra.ca

THE HEADLINES:

In Montreal, migrant justice advocates are celebrating a significant victory this week in the case of Abdelkader Belaouni. Aaron Lakoff | CKUT

From Vancouver, perspectives on the disruption of the Victoria torch relay and where the resistance movement is headed. VanRad Collective

In Toronto, students have had enough of living below the poverty line. The Student Day of Action on November 5th saw crowds demanding lower tuition fees, as recession job losses target youth, part-time and racialized workers. Omme Salma Rahemtullah | CHRY

THE FEATURES:

A recent Queen's University report indicates medical students want more training to help them treat people with intellectual disabilities. Indeed, 93 per cent feel training in intellectual disabilities should be improved. VoicePrint spoke with Dr. Philip Burge, author of the report.

November 20, 2009 marks 20 years since the U.N Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ontario youth in and from foster care got together to talk about the Convention's goals around education and if those goals are a reality in Ontario. Jacky Harrison | CHRY, with files from the Network Community Group and the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth.

A new report, A Flawed Compass, suggests the Correctional Service of Canada is trampling on the constitutional rights of prisoners. Authors Michael Jackson and Graham Stewart, as well as former inmates and activists, warn Canada is headed down the road to more rights abuses. Dee Le Comte | CKUT

This episode was anchored by Melissa Beckford and Ian Gormly, and produced by Alissa Tutay and Jacky Tuinstra Harrison. Music by Steel. Interested in submitting your own stories? Get in touch by emailing groundwireprod@gmail.com.

N.S. gives $1.5M to 2010 Olympics

Hillary — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:24:23 +0000

This is pretty crazy...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/02/24/olympic-money.html

N.S. gives $1.5M to 2010 Olympics and receives some perks
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | 9:09 AM AT
CBC News

Nova Scotia will contribute $1.5 million to the Vancouver Winter
Olympics in 2010, for which the province will receive some perks, such
as logo use and hotel rooms set aside and VIP tickets.

The sponsorship also bought the province the right to send local
artists to the cultural Olympiad, events consisting of artistic
performances and exhibitions. As well, a "Nova Scotia Day" will be
held during the Games.

The province now has the right to use the Olympic logo in promotional materials.

Toby Koffman, spokesman with the Nova Scotia Health Promotion and
Protection Department, said the $1.5 million is money well spent.

"We get all kinds of benefits to promote investment in business, in
tourism, and all avenues of the Nova Scotia economy," Koffman said.

The sponsorship means hotel rooms have been set aside for the
provincial government's delegations, and 200 Olympic event tickets and
four VIP tickets for Nova Scotia's premier, Rodney MacDonald, have
also been reserved.

The cost of airfare and the hotel rooms is not included.

Much of Nova Scotia's $1.5-million contribution to the Games is
earmarked for the Own the Podium program to train athletes.

The $110-million program, designed to help Canada become the No. 1
nation in terms of medals won at the 2010 Olympics, and to place Top 3
at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games,

In a separate deal, Atlantic premiers have also agreed to cost share
an Atlantic pavilion at the Games to promote the tourism, culture and
business interests in the region.