Olympic protesters unveil mascot
Last Updated: Monday, February 8, 2010 | 4:24 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Squatchi, an activist group's take on the official Olympic mascot Quatchi, sits on a bobsleigh near the Olympic countdown clock in Vancouver on Monday. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)Anti-Olympic groups are gearing up for a large protest before the opening ceremonies on Friday, saying keeping the demonstration peaceful will be up to police.
Several critics of the Games held a news conference Monday to show off a mascot named Squatchi — a parody of official mascot, Quatchi — who spreads skepticism rather than Olympic spirit.
There is a large protest planned Friday ahead of the opening ceremonies of the Games, and more promised when the Games get underway.
Bob Ages of the Council of Canadians says he's hoping thousands of people show up, from anti-poverty groups to union members.
Ages says his group is particularly concerned with Olympic sponsors such as RBC for its involvement in the oilsands, but the list of protesters' complaints range from alleged displacement of the homeless to police treatment of activists.
RCMP and Vancouver police say they expect peaceful protests, but they won't tolerate demonstrators interfering with the rights of others or disrupting Games activities.
