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Central Park: Celebrate 2010 Olympic legacy and 2014 Sochi Games

In celebration of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, a North Vancouver artist has created a series of art prints of elite figure skaters from Canada, the U.S., Korea and Japan.
jonny weir
Johnny Weir poses alongside Ann Jurik’s portrait of the former Olympic figure skater, which will be on display at UBC’s Robson Square. photo submitted

In celebration of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, a North Vancouver artist has created a series of art prints of elite figure skaters from Canada, the U.S., Korea and Japan.

Ann Jurik, of Jurik designs, was inspired to create the paintings following the success of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. The prints include images of popular skaters such as Joannie Rochette, Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Johnny Weir.

Small art shows featuring the pieces have been set up at several locations across the city including the Kerrisdale Community Centre, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and UBC Robson Square, where the Weir print will be on display. Prints will be available to win through raffle sales at each location.

And speaking of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, anyone wearing red Olympic mittens will enjoy free entrance Feb. 8 to 10, in celebration of Family Day and the fourth anniversary of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

The weekend includes displays of Olympic and Paralympic medals, an opportunity to hang with mascots Quatchi, Sumi and Miga, the chance to stand on a real 2010 podium and a Family Day scavenger hunt.

There are Olympic-themed events taking place across the city during the next couple of weeks, including at the Pan Pacific Hotel, which played host to the First Nations display Kla-how-ya Village during the 2010 Games. It was also the place I first tasted rattlesnake and wrote at the time that it tastes absolutely nothing like chicken. NBC also broadcast the Games from the hotel so it also became a natural meeting place for sports fans.

To celebrate the 2014 Games the hotel has created the “Olympic Cheering Centre” in the Cascades Bistro from Feb. 7 to 23 where fans can watch events on big-screen TVs while enjoying Sochi-themed appetizers and special drinks including imported Russian beer and Moscow Mules. As well, anyone wearing red Olympic mittens will be entered into a draw for a special Pacific Club Floor Getaway Package.

Many of the city’s community centres are also reliving the games with special events. The centres were set up as community living rooms during the 2010 Games with big-screen TVs for residents to gather.

The Creekside Community Recreation Centre is hosting a Winter Games legacy celebration Feb. 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The centre is deemed a Vancouver 2010 Olympic legacy because it served as the administrative and commercial hub of Athletes Village at the time.

The celebration includes an opening parade, autograph station with gold medalist Ashleigh McIvor, the West Coast Lumberjack Show, a meet and greet with blue jacket volunteers, an extreme snowboarding simulator and way too many activities to mention here.

Blue jacket volunteers interested in participating in the opening parade should call 604-257-3050 to register. There are celebrations taking place at many community centres so drop by your neighbourhood location for a schedule or visit vancouver.ca.

sthomas@vancourier.com
twitter.com/sthomas10