Canwest News Service

The main media centre for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games opened Tuesday within Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre.

During the Games, about 10,000 journalists will be in town, with most expected to arrive on Jan. 29.

About 2,800 accredited newspaper journalists and photographers will use Canada Place, while the International Broadcast Centre, in the convention centre, will house approximately 7,000 accredited television and radio broadcasters.

VANOC STILL FILLING VOLUNTEER SPOTS

The final blitz is on to hire volunteers to staff the Winter Games, and Vanoc officials insist they have enough applicants to choose from and will have enough people to meet and greet Olympic tourists.

Vanoc CEO John Furlong said volunteers play a key role for the host city, as they project the spirit of the Games and “have the ability to take the sting out of the air” for any frustrated travellers.

However, there appears to be a shortage of accommodations for volunteers who will work in Whistler.

Every day during the two-week event, Vanoc will bus between 500 and 700 volunteers to Whistler and back, officials said Tuesday.

GAMES ARE LIVE ONLINE, ALL THE TIME

With one month to go until the opening ceremony, the media consortium broadcasting the Games says Canadians will be able to watch what they want, when they want and how they want.

“We have seen an evolution in the way Canadians consume media, and as content providers, we have an obligation to deliver on those desires and expectations. And that is precisely what we aim to accomplish,” said Keith Pelley, president of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.

Live hockey games, curling matches, alpine skiing races, figure skating programs, speed skating, sliding events and more will air in full on TSN, RDS and Rogers Sportsnet. Every second of every competition will be streamed live on the consortium’s two websites, ctvolympics.caand rdsolympiques.ca,through the 17 days of the Games.

ABORIGINAL MENU OFFERS BISON, OYSTERS AND MORE

Bison in phyllo pastry and baked oysters served on the half shell with wild garlic and cheese are just a taste of the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion’s Exclusive Menu.

The menu includes first nations meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner on both an a la carte menu and a choice of set menu options.

“This pavilion will be the aboriginal gathering place at the biggest potlatch the world has ever seen n the 2010 Games n hosted here within our shared traditional territories,” said Squamish Chief Bill Williams. “We’re welcoming the world, and this pavilion will be the place to experience the best in aboriginal culture, business and achievement.”

The pavilion is located in the plaza at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

tsherlock@vancouversun.com

Any sign of the Olympics in your neighbourhood? E-mail Kelly Sinoski at ksinoski@vancouversun.com.