The city has $200,000 to give away--if you have the right idea for an appropriate sports event.

The city announced this week it's extended the application deadline for the Vancouver Sport Hosting Grant Program, which in the past has helped pay for such large events as the World Police and Fire Games, KitsFest and the Vancouver International Soccer Festival.

Consideration is given to events that have potential to bring significant economic, social, health and community development benefits to the city.

There are three options for grants through the program, including the Major Sport Event Operating Grant for larger projects, the Major Sport Event Service Offset Grant, which has a maximum of $10,000, and the Community Sport Event Operating Grant, for direct operating costs to a maximum of 10 per cent of the gross operating budget of an event to a maximum of $5,000.

The list of assessment criteria is long and includes in part cultural benefits, a demonstration of financial need, economic considerations, environmental benefits and eligibility under Hosting B.C.

The new deadline to apply is Sept. 30 and official application forms are available online. Electronic versions will be accepted, but must be followed by a signed paper copy. Host groups are encouraged not to spend money on the design and production of elaborate presentation materials. I don't have the space in this column to include all of the information supplied by the city, but it's all laid out in a document available on the park board's website at vancouver.ca/parks.

MAKES YOU THINK

The park board and Vancouver Biennale have partnered to install a neon light art piece entitled Hold That Thought at Sunset Community Centre.

The actual words "Hold That Thought" can be seen through the windows of the centre and several of the letters are programmed to flicker off and on at random intervals. The neon installation is the design of multimedia artist Kelly Mark and was first installed in 2006 on the front façade of the Church of the Redeemer in downtown Toronto, the artist's hometown. According to Mark, the signs encourage viewers to stop, slow their minds, think and "hold that thought," before continuing with their busy day.

HAIL CESAR

I'm too busy to own a dog, but that doesn't stop me from watching the TV series The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. So I was happy to discover this past weekend that Cesar "I train people and rehabilitate dogs" Millan, is making an appearance at the River Rock Casino in Richmond Oct. 27.

As soon as I got into the office Monday morning, I dropped Millan's publicist an email requesting a phone interview prior to that appearance. (I assumed a face-to-face interview would be too much to ask.)

I explained my interest is that, not only do I live in a city full of canine lovers, but I've also been covering dog issues as a beat for more than 10 years. Millan's people hadn't acknowledged my email as of the Courier's press deadline Thursday (Sept. 4), but I'm not giving up and will continue to drop them a note once a week requesting an interview. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

sthomas@vancourier.com