Skaters and skiers will be outnumbered two-to-one at the 2010 Winter Olympics by red-carpet walkers.
More than 80 countries are expected to send approximately 2,500 athletes, but minutes of a Nov. 12, 2008 Government Operations Steering Team meeting said 3,500 "sport dignitaries" and 1,600 "VIPs from other departments" are coming.
That's why the Coal Harbour community centre will close for the first three months of 2010 and serve as the Centre of Protocol. The minutes, obtained under Access to Information, said it's costing $745,000 for eight federal, provincial and municipal organizations to set-up the centre to coordinate accommodation, accreditation, security and transportation for 5,100 people.
Department of Foreign Affairs' 12th annual diplomatic forum featured a Thursday lunch visit to the Vancouver Olympic Village for 95 ambassadors and high commissioners. The four-day conference, which ends Friday, includes briefings on Games-time protocol.
