The days are long and the nights are longer as we rehearse the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. It seems like there is never enough time but we are confident that the show will be amazing. Things are going well as we are working with a great group of suppliers with state of the art equipment and a very talented and dedicated cast. BC Place Stadium has never looked better.Below are a couple of quick shots of my view for the show.

What an amazing Sunday. The streets of downtown were jammed with revelers as Canada got it’s well deserved Gold Medal in hockey as well as set the record for most Gold Medals ever in a Winter Olympics. For us at PRP, the Closing of the Olympics marks only the beginning of the end of our Vancouver 2010 journey. We wrapped up Robson Square with incredible crowds (and a little good jestered poke at the Americans- see photo below). But now we are in the midst of working around the clock at BC Place loading in for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. It is strange loading in as the rest of the city is either still celebrating, dead tired or recuperating. Nevertheless, things are going well and it is great pulling our entire team together to ‘put on a show’.

Four years ago we got lucky and found ourselves on our one night off in Torino at Canada Russia hockey. At that time I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. The atmosphere was amazing but the final result was not as Canada lost 2-0. Last night, I had ‘a twice in a lifetime experience’ and attended Canada Russia again. I left the body paint in Italy but yelled and cheered so loud my voice is gone. I  was blown away by the crowd and atmosphere. Who knows perhaps in 4 years I will be able to see Canada Russia in Sochi.

After a day of meetings at Robson Square and BC Place, Patrick and I headed down to Sochi House at Science World. The Vancouver Olympics are not done yet but the end is near so it is time to look forward to Sochi 2014. We are working closely with Sochi 2014 on the handover segment of the Parlympic Closing Ceremonies and were invited to a reception hosted by the Administration of Krasnodar at Sochi House. It was interesting to see their ambitious venue plans and visit with many of their sponsors. We also both met some unique Russians.

Along the way, we went through the Concord Site and watched the end of the Canada/Germany hockey game at the Ontario Pavilion. From there it was off to Quebec Pavilion and Saskatchewan. We didn’t have time to hit Canada Hockey House (maybe another day) There were absolutely no line ups. It seems like the weather and the hard core partying of the first week of the Olympics is taking a toll on Vancouver. Our final show of the ‘Ignite the Dream’ had the smallest crowd to date, which is strange since it was a night Canada won in hockey. I imagine if Canada beats Russia tomorrow the partying will reconvene.

On Thursday a few of us made a quick trip to Whistler in order to see the Whistler Medal Plaza in operation. This is the venue for the Paralympic Closing Ceremony on March 21st. After a very quick uneventful trip up the Sea to Sky highway we arrived to a very relaxed crew and venue. Everything seems to be in a good rhythm. We toured backstage at the venue and met with suppliers and the venue team and then hit the Village for dinner and the Canada-Switzerland hockey game. We watched the shootout at Swiss House which was quite exciting. After that it was back to the Medal Plaza to watch a whole plethora of Medals being handed out. The concert that night was the DJ, Deadmou5. Unfortunately, it was a Sadmou5 as he had audio difficulties.

Whistler had a good vibe but not nearly as energetic and frenetic as Robson and Granville streets in Vancouver. I suppose their is limitation on how to get to Whistler and where to stay. I expect the energy was way higher when John Montgomery won his gold and then accepted his gold the next night.

After a long day, we made it back to Vancouver for the 11pm Ignite the Dream show at Robson Square.

Things started early today watching the Stanley Cup excite early morning on-lookers at Robson Square, which has turned into the Olympic Central.

Then we staged an event for General Electric.  The crowds and the world media turned up to see Olympic figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Scott Hamilton.  Also on hand was Angela Ruggiero,  three-time Ice Hockey Olympic medalist, World Champion, and a leader of the U.S. Women’s Hockey National Team.  However, the crowds went wild for Team Canada Olympic Hockey Team goalie Martin Brodeur !

Downtown Vancouver is still alive with thousands of cheering Olympic fans.  It’s is great to see the city alive with Olympic fever.

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Patrick and I ventured to Richmond on the Canada Line this afternoon for a reception at City Hall. We had time to visit the O-Zone and see the long line for Heineken House. The Main Stage featured a massive Chinese Dragon performance. We were also both quite impressed with the outdoor ice track in the sunshine. City Hall was surrounded by cranberries in all the ponds- pretty cool. At the reception we had a chance to chat with Nancy Greene. On the way back to town we avoided the Canada Line as the line was extremely long so we grabbed a cab and went by the ‘container inukshuk’.

Using our traditional model of having our venues set 48 hours hour before an event served us well yesterday. This gave us an opportunity to catch up and actually get out of the office for a bit. Rob, Marcia, Michael and I headed to the final Dress Rehearsal of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. After that we went to the Bell Ice Cube to catch the Barenaked Ladies.

This morning started very early at Robson Square with the Olympic Torch making an appearance right on the GE Ice Plaza. It was fabulous having Dal Richards accept it on the ice and round the rink on a Zamboni and then headed back up to Robson. It’s been non-stop action since then with performances on all our stages as well as an impromptu street set by the Barenaked Ladies on Robson, a visit by the Dutch Prime Minister, and also Governor Schwarzenegger.

All this fun and the Games haven’t even started.

PRP’s 2010 Olympic journey has been an exciting adventure, full of hard work, good times, good friends and experiences we will never forget.   Our road to 2010 began when we staged the press event that announced Vancouver as a candidate city in August of 2002.  I actually was the MC for the event introducing John Furlong on the day it all began.   Looking back it seems so long ago.

In March of 2003,  the IOC evaluation committee landed in Vancouver - here was our time to shine !  PRP produced a 2 hour gala ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre called “Celebrate Canada”.  We were committed to show the IOC we could put on a great show.  We felt the pressure that night.  Evaluation Commission Chairman Gerhard Heiberg said Vancouver could “host the best Winter Games ever”.  I remember the audience going crazy.   To make that event even more memorable my first daughter was born just over a  week prior to that big night.

On July 2nd, 2003 - PRP staged an event in GM Place where thousands gathered to hear President Jacques Rogge via satellite  announce Vancouver had won the 2010 Games.  It was electric.

In April 2005, PRP was thrilled to be a part of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games emblem launch “Imagine 2010”. The nationally broadcast program featured a cast of over 500 dancers and performers, including a stunning aerial dance by the world famous Cirque du Soleil.

PRP helped tell the 2010 story when we worked for the Government of British Columbia at the Torino Winter Games and helped welcome the world to BC in a Log Cabin in a piazza in Italy.

In November 2007 we brought the 2010 Mascots to life.  And we kept their identity a secret right up to the moment they were announced - no small task !

In 2008, we staged multiple events at the Beijing Olympics - announcing to the world we were ready to be next on the world stage.

A year ago this weekend, we produced Countdown 2010 - the 1 year countdown to the games at the Richmond Oval.   Olympians, Cindy Klassen and cast of hundreds came together as IOC President Jacques Rogge invited the youth of the world to come to Vancouver.

Three nights ago, PRP produced the Opening Ceremony of the 122nd Session of the International Olympic Committee and the following night we opened the British Columbia Celebration Site at Robson square with our production of “Ignite the Dream”.

We have staged 2010 Olympic events for General Electric, Petro Canada and the Pacific National Exhibition.  We have consulted on many Olympic projects including the Bell Canada Ice Cube.

Our 2010 Olympic journey has included meeting very interesting people, travelled around the world sharing great meals together and sharing wonderful stories.

My daughter is about to turn seven years old now - I’ve watched her grow up as our PRP family have worked incredibly hard preparing to welcome the world to our home town !

The journey to get here is coming to an end..

I’m heading to the Opening Ceremonies to share in a wonderful moment in Vancouver’s history.

Let the Games Begin !

After six and a half years, the wait is over.   Tonight marks the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  Heather and I decided to embrace our Olympic spirit and head down to Robson St. to watch longtime friend of PRP, Dal Richards carry the torch first on a Zamboni around the GE Plaza Ice Rink and then along Robson St.  The atmosphere was intoxicating with the crowds chanting “Go Canada Go!”  I was only 8 years old the last time I saw the Olympic torch in person, but I remember the same exciting feeling.  Let the games begin!