He's coming home Toronto!

Rob Ford and Amir Remtulla at Guadalajara airport following last night's Pan Am flag handover ceremony.

His worship Rob Ford and I have had some serious bonding time this Pan Am Trip. First there was the provincial reception dealios on Friday and Saturday night, then I watched him wave the PASO flag at the Pan Am closing ceremonies and now — the man himself and I are sharing a flight out of Guadalajara.

He wasn't feeling super chatty whilst reading his morning paper (I'm sure it was a Toronto Star flown down special), but he kindly posed for a photo. His wife Renata is with him, as is chief o'staff Amir Remtulla.

The guys at customs had glowing things to say about Toronto's mayor. When they realized who he was they were very excited and asked for Toronto pins (pin trading has been huge at these Games). But they'd packed them! So Ford offered to mail some down and took the men's addresses.

I lost Ford at US customs. I think he was shuttled away to some special security land. Meanwhile, I took a full 45 minutes just to get to bag check. Thanks Houston.

A Mayor in Mexico

Mayor Ford with a bunch of sports and government big wigs, including the governor general and government ministers, at a reception in Guadalajara.

Mayor Rob Ford touched down in Guadalajara Friday afternoon. This is his first international I'm-here-representing-Toronto gig since taking office last December. So far Ford has taken a tour of the athlete's village, watched a few sporting events and attended two provincial receptions — one for athlete's and their families (although only a handful of athletes showed up, seems like most have gone home judging by the empty village) and the other for dignitaries. 

Last night he met Governor General David Johnston, although the two didn't get any one-on-one time. Ford did chat with Charles Sousa, Ontario's minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games and Bal Gosal, the federal minister of sport. He spent the night chugging back H20 and I didn't see him try any of the carmel, bacon, whip cream cake things (of which I had 4.) 

Ford has been a popular guy here. People seemed genuinely very appreciative and supportive that he made the trip, especially since his RSVP came at the absolute last minute. Those who have spoken to him about today's closing ceremony, where he will receive the Pan Am flag from Guadalajara's mayor, say he is a bit nervous. More than 50,000 people will be in the stadium and millions will be watching on television.

Ford won't be speaking. That's the GG's job. 

Toronto's Pan American Games - What's in it for us?!

 

As the Pan American Games wind down here in Guadalajara Mexico, the TO2015 team prepares to take that torch. Here's VP Allen Vansen talking earlier this month about what's in it for us.

First, I would like to share with you a tragic story from the local Guadalajara Reporter where dozens and dozens of cases of glorious Corona became casualities in a "fluke mishap" traffic accident.

Now that that's out of the way, this morning I realized I only have 3 unticked boxes on my hotel breakfast card, which means these Pan American Games are almost over. As the focus shifts to Toronto, the Ontario folk here are kicking into high gear.

The government of Ontario is hosting a number of events for Mexican business leaders, athletes and their families and sports dignitaries. Mayor Rob Ford is supposed to touch down in Guadalajara around 2 p.m. today. He's taking part in Sunday's hand over ceremony. This afternoon I'm heading out to the Omnilife Stadium for a sneak peek of our part of the closing ceremonies.

For tomorrow, I'll be taking a close look at how this Pan American Games benefited Guadalajara. Above, I've posted a video of TO2015's VP operations talking about what we can expect to gain.

Pan Am CEO Ian Troop - you're bugging me...

Today I once again read comments from TO2015 CEO Ian Troop labelling an article I wrote about the status of the Toronto Pan American Games “so untrue.” Specifically, Troop took issue with the following paragraph:

 "TO2015 plans to have everything built with test events running the summer of 2014. But about a quarter of the more than 50 venues still aren’t nailed down. Major builds, such as the velodrome, don’t have a home now that Hamilton city council officially rejected the project earlier this week."

Troop is of course entitled to respond however he chooses, but I find his statements irritating given the hoops the TO2015 team had me jumping through before this article ran. I gave the TO organizers more than 5 weeks notice that I intended to write a "status of the Games" article. I told them I was going to include an annotated map of the Golden Horseshoe, highlighting the status of every venue. I was initially told "sure, no problem" and that they would help find that information. More calls. More waiting. More promises.

Finally, on the day I was cross-your-heart-hope-to-die told the updated information was coming I was directed to the original bid book. I already knew many of those venues were going to be scrapped — like pretty well everything in Burlington, for example. That was all they could give me because "so much is still in the planning stages. We're four years out."

I still needed the updated info, so I spent the next week contacting dozens of the venues initially included as well as sports federations to see if they'd heard about changes. I tapped Toronto and provincial sources as well as other sports officials I know.

That 25% number I got to by counting. It wasn't a random observation from an anonymous source. I included what I'd learned on the map. And again, I had to count it out myself because the TO2015 team refused to provide me information on the status of venues because so much was still up in the air.

So when Ian Troop says only 5% of venues still aren't nailed down, I ask him: what is your definition of "nailed down?" And furthermore, if 95% is a done deal, why couldn't you provide me the information when I asked so nicely two months ago?

What surprises me is that if only 25% of the venues are still be decided and there's still four years to go — isn't that a good thing? As I mention in the map, the rejigging is all being done for good reasons, either to appease a sports federation or make it easier for spectators to watch popular events.

 

Death trap

I take this photo lying on the floor having tripped - again - stepping onto the carpet from this "out of nowhere" ledge.

Guadalajara, why build stuff like this?
Sent using Blackberry

Security breach at the Pan Am Games

Two days ago about half the media I know here got the following anonymous email:

I have made an important discovery about a security issue on the guadalajara2011.org.mx website where you have registered, and your privacy of your registration info (isn't) private anymore which is the reason I am contacting you and others who have registered on this website.

To prove that this is not a joke, I have included just 2 unsensitive informations about you.

At this point the individual, who identifies themselves as Galileo Truman, a web developor, includes the journalist's passport number and birthday. It goes on to say he is not a hacker, but:

I am sure somebody else with bad intentions could gain easily access and abuse this security hole.

When we applied for our media accreditation, we sent two pages of personal information to organizers here — photos, parents names, addresses, phone numbers, passport copies, etc. Obviously we were all pretty concerned. 

But the most disturbing thing of all has been the response from COPAG, Guad's Games organizing committee.

Regarding a supposed hacking of the official website for America´s Fiesta, the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 Organizing Committee (COPAG) assured that its databases are completely secured...

In the email claimed that hackers could be able to gain access to personal data of the journalists. However, COPAG explains:

“It is suspected that there was an illegal instance of access to the database. It is confirmed now that this statement is not true,” explained the Assistant Director of Information Technologies of COPAG... The COPAG databases and the website are not linked to each other...

“Access to the information may have occurred because of an incorrect use of a real password for the registration system. The person that had the password may have accessed the information shown in the screen and therefore was able to make participants uncomfortable,” he added, which is why it is possible that people registered to the system may get more emails like this.

COPAG dismisses any claims of hacking to the database, and has cancelled 100 per cent of the passwords to the registration systems. Also, important and confidential information of the registered participants has been eliminated.

I really don't feel comfortable with that response. If they weren't able to access the system, then how did the individual get a hold of these journos' passport numbers? They claim that no other officials here have been impacted — like athletes or volunteers — then again, they also say a breach didn't occur. Our Olympic committee is investigating the issue and we've all froze our credit reports, but I have to say: not impressed COPAG. Not impressed.

 

Some biased thoughts from a figure skater on artistic roller skating

Canadian champion Kailah Macri competes at the Pan American Games. She placed 5th.

I’ve been a figure skater for 17 years, so when I learned that one of the sports competing at these Pan American Games was artistic roller skating — figure skating on wheels, I was told — I had to check it out.

(Apparently, Canadian and World champion  Elvis Stojko was thinking the same thing. Stojko, who lives in a small village outside of Guadalajara, was in the stands today to watch the event.)

What can I say about this sport…

Athletically, it is impressive. But I can’t say I really understand why anyone living in a country with ice rinks would bother.

Artistic roller skaters look like figure skaters. They wear the same beige tights. Exact same dresses. The same hair style. The same make up. They try the same elements. There are loop jumps, flips, Axels, Lutz jumps, toe loops and Salchows. I saw camel spins, some sit spins and spirals. But eeek. The sport lacks everything that makes figure skating so spectacular. And it’s not the athletes’ fault. It’s a consequence of their equipment.

Allow me to geek out for a moment. And obviously I’m incredibly biased.

Figure skaters are mesmerizing to watch because they appear to defy gravity. They’re able to do this because blades cut into the ice, biting into the edge. This allows skaters to sink low and lean into their circle creating impressive angles. With that grip and speed, ice skaters can form long lines with their bodies, stretching their free leg high, pointing their toe and turning out from the hip.

On roller skates, the skaters have to stand pretty upright to keep balance. Wheels just roll on the surface. There’s nothing to sink into to. Subsequently, skaters cross their feet with near straight legs. And without the centrifugal force of a deep edge, they can’t sink, or lean or stretch. The skating looks awkward and rigid.

In figure skating there are edge jumps and toe jumps, but really, almost every skating jump takes off from the toe, whether that’s because the pick is pounded into the ice and the skater vaults off of it — like in a Lutz or flip jump — or the skater gently rolls off the toe as the free leg swings through for momentum — like the Axel or Salchow. When the skater lands, the first point of contact is ideally the toe. Then the blade will ease onto the ice, keeping flow and speed.

On roller skates, the athletes slow down before the jump, launching off a rubber stop. They shoot straight into the air then land with a very loud thud. There is no flow and without speed, there’s no extension, meaning the free leg just kind of hangs there. All the wheels hit the concrete at the same time for, presumably, balance. The ideal landing in roller skating is a sloppy one in figure skating.

The spins in roller skating are impressive, no doubt. Skaters rotate on their heels, or shift weight between two wheels. But the types of spins are very limited and it’s impossible to keep momentum going, so they get slow and wobbly. In figure skating, a good skater picks up speed as they spin. And because of a slight curve on the blade called a rocker, skaters can keep control and move their bodies into all kinds of shapes.

Again, I’m not trying to take away from the athleticism and skill required in this sport. I can’t roller skate to save my life. And I have NO idea how you would jump off of or spin on wheels. And ice is forgiving. Once you learn how to fall, wiping out on a jump doesn’t have to hurt when the ice catches you and slides you along. In roller skating you hit solid earth. Those were tough competitors I watched today.

I guess the problem for me is that this sport seemed to be trying so hard to look like and be like figure skating, but they are completely different. The sport should be going after elements that figure skaters can’t do — like spinning on the heel.

Because if you’re stuck comparing the two, which you inevitably do watching a roller skating competition, blade beats wheel every time.

 

 

 

Meeting Elvis Stojko has been a highlight of the Games for me so far.

 

A not-so green Games.

I spotted this recycled cardboard furniture at the aquatics centre. It's also in all of the athletes' rooms. Seems like Guad organizers are hosting an environmentally friendly game right?? Not so much. There's no recycling.

There's an impressive collection of plastic water bottles in my hotel room. I haven't been able to find a recycling bin so I just toss them in my backpack and bring them home at night. Yesterday I learned why.

Apparently: Guadalajara isn't doing the recycling thing at this Pan American Games. This is exceptionally unfortuante considering the amount of bottled water everyone is drinking. (I know. I know. But this is Mexico. At home I'm faithfully on the tap.)

The issue came up Saturday when a group of officials from Toronto were touring the athlete's village. A City of Toronto staffer asked how they're handling waste and recycling. The answer was simple: stuff goes in the garbage.

What else is interesting is that the Games seems to be making other efforts to go green. The furniture in all the athletes' rooms, as well as furniture at some of the venues, is made of compressed recycled (so they say?) cardboard. It's supposedly being donated afterwards?

I feel like they should have skipped the cardboard furniture and sprung for some blue bins.

Toronto's organizing committee promises the Big Smoke will be taking a different approach.

A silver lining I suppose: I've never realized how conditioned I am to recycle. Other Canadians I've spoken to about this are also struggling with some serious Mother Nature guilt. So that's a good thing right?

In the meantime, I wonder what customs will say to a suitcase full of plastic bottles... Any former or current Guad locals out there have any suggestions?

(IN SPORTS NEWS: Toronto was in 3rd place overall when I left the main press centre this morning. The US is in first, with 57 gold and 156 medals overall. Next is Brazil, with 26 gold and 68 in total. We're right behind with 18 gold and 66 overall. Mexico is fifth with 16 gold and 56 overall.)

Unlike Toronto, Guadalajara does Entertainment District right

A free concert featuring singing, dancing and 3 projector screens broadcasting Pan Am sports, is held at the end of Avenida Chapuletepc.

Like Toronto, Guadalajara has an Entertainment District — except theirs isn't covered in barf.

Instead, the lovely 7 or so blocks of bars, discos, cafes, and shops along the Avenida Chapultepec are a pedestrian-only zone. The hope is that the area, about a five minute drive from the main media centre, will serve as a sort of a cultural home base during these Pan American Games; a neighbourhood where people and media can interact with athletes. A place where you can come with friends to watch the events on television. So far, the athletes have been sticking to the village, but the Avenida Chapultepec has been packed and buzzing since the Games began last week.

Tonight is the 45th anniversary party of my campus paper, The Eyeopener. So fellow Eye alum Sean Fitz-Gerald, a National Post sports reporter, and I headed to this uber hip locally-loved street to celebrate in absentia.

The zone is heavily guarded by "policia." Revellers must pass through a security check, backpack search and metal detectors before entering the pedestrian zone. Once inside, the majority of people seem to be locals, although a healthy number are English speaking ex-pats.

A tented strip down the middle serves as a quasi-(over priced)-market for staple local souvenirs: ceramics, bead work, tiki-style chairs, etc. Other tourism-geared booths highlight local attractions. Flanking the road are half a dozen American-friendly bars, many with Rock and Roll themes and English in the menus.

Along the strip are viewing areas equipped with small cinema-size projector screens, which are broadcasting the events. Life-size cutouts of famed Mexican sports heroes are set up throughout the area in case anyone wants to take a funny photo. Which is important because the athletes aren't actually hanging out here, (see above.)

What's interesting about this area, compared to Toronto clubland, is that yes, while there are stiletto-wearing girls dancing on balconies, the area is pretty family friendly. Parents bring their kids. No one is stumbling down the street shouting obscenities (although honestly, I don't speak Spanish, it's possible they are in a very cheerful tone). This is actually an Entertainment District.

At the end of the strip, near a beautiful European-style statue sculpture thing, is an ongoing concert featuring local talent. The three times I've been so far, hundreds and hundreds of people have shown up to watch. I met a guy the other night who swore his friend's friend was playing sometime soon. It's that kind of Games. Everyone knows someone who is involved, or kinda involved, or used to be involved.

I have no doubt Toronto will put on a fantastic show. But I wonder if our sometimes cynical city will pull off this kind of excitement. And please, let's pick somewhere for our cultural hub that's far away from the Entertainment District.

Live: Debate over 2011 Toronto city budget