Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble.
An' if I stay it will be double. So come on and let me know!
- The Clash
Should I stay - in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games - or should I go - and get the heck out of town?
I'm pondering that question right now - like thousands of other people in Metro Vancouver.
Will the Olympics be an outrageously expensive, insider-only, corporate celebration of advertising where civil rights are quashed and ordinary people's lives disrupted by traffic snarled just so big shots can speed around the city?
Or will the Olympics be Vancouver's finest moment, with the world coming together in peace to witness amazing athletic feats, sports drama, international arts, ending with a tremendous boost to our economy?
I really don't know.
I still support the Olympics, having voted "yes" in Vancouver's February 2003 referendum. Even if only for job creation, economic development and international profile, they are well worthwhile.
But stay or go? Here are the arguments:
STAY: This is likely the only chance in a lifetime to experience the Olympic Games at home - a unique opportunity.
It will be a global party like no other, buzzing with international guests, celebrities and media attention.
Since we're paying for the Olympics, massive overruns and all, we might as well get our money's worth.
GO: The Olympics are a huge advertising event where sports take a back seat to pushing the products of corporate sponsors paying millions for that right.
Rules to protect Olympic sponsors are so draconian that the B.C. Civil Liberties Association is taking Vancouver to court, alleging its bylaws violate the Canadian Charter of Rights.
Ticket prices lean towards outrageous - $1,100 each for the best seat in B.C. Place for the opening ceremonies and $775 for the men's ice hockey finals. Modestly-priced tickets at $25 are cheap seats for biathlon.
But hey, don't worry about the prices - you can't get tickets anyway!
Popular events are long sold out and for many events 70 per cent of the seats go to corporate sponsors, Olympic "family", politicians and big wigs.
Of course, legal scalpers are standing by to help - those $1,100 tickets are now going for up to $6,000!
Gold-medal traffic gridlock. Vancouver will be hell off wheels as security concerns and games demands mean street closures and elimination of parking.
So what to do? Go to Mexico? Even Bellingham?
Or party up with the world and enjoy all the attention while splurging for a few events or just drinking with an international crowd at the live sites?
I can't decide without your help - for a poll on whether Vancouverites should stay or go see: billtieleman.blogspot. com/
News, views and attitude Bill Tieleman
STAY: This is likely the only chance in a lifetime to experience the Olympic Games at home - a unique opportunity.
GO: The Olympics are a huge advertising event where sports take a back seat to pushing the products of corporate sponsors.
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