Massive screens, nightly fireworks and live music by the likes of the Sam Roberts Band and Alexisonfire will welcome Olympic revellers in downtown Vancouver during the 2010 Games.
Vancouver fleshed out its plans yesterday for its two free party plazas, or LiveCity sites, during the Winter Olympics.
“The Olympic experience is about celebration and sharing the moment,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “And that is what LiveCity Vancouver is all about.”
• LiveCity Yaletown is located along the north side of False Creek in David Lam Park. The site, which holds 10,000, is billed as alcohol-free family entertainment.
• LiveCity Downtown is located in a parking lot at Georgia and Cambie streets. It is smaller and will hold about 3,000 people. It will serve alcohol and will also operate as the lone LiveCity site during the Paralympic Games in March.
The two sites are connected by the Hamilton Street walkway, which will be closed to vehicle traffic during the Games.
Celebrators will have to pass security to access the sites.
Vancouver will spend $5 million on the project. Part of that will pay for large rubber mats, made from recycled tires, to prevent the David Lam Park field from turning into a huge mud pit. The sod will be replaced after the Games.
LiveCity Yaletown is also the site of Vancouver House, the city’s pavilion, which was originally planned for the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library.
The Yaletown site will have nightly fireworks to celebrate, said LiveCity creative director Scott Givens.
However, he added, previously announced plans for a light-projection show onto a wall of water pumped over False Creek have not been finalized.
