A hastily assembled federal showcase to this nation's sporting heritage, Canada Pavilion cannot be defended on architectural merit. Because there is none.
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The Olympic Venues: Canada Pavilion the big ugly tent everyone loves
- February 16, 2010 3:30 PM |
- By Noah Love
Story provided by
By Brian Hutchinson, National Post
In this occasional series, the National Post profiles some of the key Olympic venues.
VANCOUVER -- A hastily assembled federal showcase to this nation's sporting heritage, Canada Pavilion cannot be defended on architectural merit. Because there is none.
It is, essentially, a big white tent, set up for Vancouver's Winter Olympics. It sits atop a patch of cracked asphalt, inside a fenced compound that is protected by dozens of private security guards. Visitors must pass through airport-style metal detectors prior to entry.
The surroundings almost bring to mind a remote military base. Except Kandahar Air Field has more charm than this.
Once past the guards, on the left, is a barebones Manitoba House; it's made of plywood and sheet metal. On the right are two rows of port-a-potties and a trinket stand doing a rather lacklustre trade.
None of this matters, not a whit. The pavilion's many critics can take their seats. In what might be the surprise of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to date, Canada's pug-ugly, hard-shell tent is proving to be a hit. The public seems to love this place.
Saturday, the day it opened, 10,000 folks passed through the free-admission pavilion set up downtown. On Sunday, another 12,000 folks showed up.
A line formed outside the pavilion's fenced compound yesterday morning, an hour before the doors opened. A special ceremony was scheduled to take place inside, but
that didn't explain the crowd. In fact, no one in line seemed aware of the date's significance. Feb. 15 is National Flag of Canada Day.
"It's national what?" asked visitor Darlene White. "I've never heard of it."
Steve Buckoski wore a red and white hockey sweater, the Maple Leaf and the words Proudly Canadian embossed across the front. A patriot. Here to toast the flag's birthday, no doubt. "Actually," he said, "I just wore this sweater because it's cool. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't know about Flag Day."
Michael Benetiz was also caught off guard. "I didn't see 'Flag Day' on my calendar," he said, once past the security gate. "I'm here because I love the Olympics. I thought this would be a good place to see them." He pointed to a giant TV screen inside the compound. The men's downhill ski race was about to start.
Mr. Benetiz had no great expectations. He didn't know what lay in store, what else
he'd find inside the compound. In fact, all he'd heard of the pavilion was controversy. "Wasn't it installed by an American company, fairly quickly?" The tent is costing the government $10-million, he could have added.
James Moore appeared. As federal minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, he's responsible for the tent. He makes no apologies for it.
Joined by a small group of dignitaries outside the tent, Mr. Moore presided over a brief flag raising ceremony. Herded into a cluster behind them, the hoi polloi looked on, bewildered. A cadet band played O Canada. And that was that. The doors to the pavilion flew open and people stormed inside.
Mr. Moore stood near the back, next to a hockey sweater. It once belonged to a Montreal Canadiens hockey great, Maurice "Rocket" Richard. The sweater is encased in Plexiglas. Other mounted displays included hockey sticks and helmets. Ignoring these ancient artifacts, children engrossed themselves with interactive electronic displays and video games. Some of their parents stood back and watched; others examined racks of old skis and figure skates.
"Some people were looking for an architectural eureka moment," acknowledged Mr. Moore, glancing around the packed interior. "But that's not what this is about." It's simpler. It's a "happy, safe, and family-friendly" place, removed from "thugs and protesters." Hardly Olympics-worthy sentiments, but they fit this modest place.
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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