Vancouver Information and Newspaper

A 20-year-old American freelance journalist known for his anti-Olympic views was detained at Vancouver’s airport and denied entry into Canada.

Martin Marcias Jr. was held for seven hours on Saturday and then flown to Seattle, his supporters say.

Chris Shaw, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology, is a personal acquaintance of Marcias Jr.

“As a member of the No Olympics (group), I’m not terribly surprised,” Shaw said yesterday.

“As a Canadian I’m pretty shocked. It’s the kind of thing where we talk about what happened in China and now it’s happening here.”

He also said Marcias Jr. was scheduled to leave Canada on Feb. 11.

Marcias Jr. usually works with a community radio station in Chicago, but according to Shaw, it was his involvement with the group No Games Chicago that caught the attention of Canadian Border Service Agents.

“Somehow he is a threat to Canadian security, which is absurd,” said Shaw.

Marcias Jr. was recently permitted to enter Denmark for the Copenhagen Climate Summit and to Switzerland to protest Chicago’s Olympic bid.

With five days to the start of Vancouver’s Olympics, the city’s mayor finds himself engulfed at the centre of an international media maelstrom.

“My job is to host, represent our city and tell our story,” said Gregor Robertson, following a series of interviews yesterday.

“The international media is all here doing stories about Vancouver. It’s an intense week, but the pace only quickens during the Games.”

Among the interviews will be an appearance tomorrow on NBC’s Today Show, at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. Sleep becomes small potatoes when compared to coverage on the biggest morning show in the United States.

“I won’t get to watch much of the sports. Time is just too precious. I’ll be seeing the highlights in March.”

A sample itinerary supplied by the mayor’s office shows Robertson working 16-hour-plus days, chock-a-block with staff briefings and updates, interviews, appearances, business meetings and hosting leaders at various Olympic events.

Much of his time will be spent courting business and trying to share the city’s story with the world.

As for the spotlight that will invariably fall on the city’s Downtown Eastside, Robertson hopes international media is able to thoroughly explore all aspects of a neighbourhood stigmatized as Canada’s poorest.

“There is no question that the homelessness and drug addiction (in the DTES) are deplorable,” Robertson said.

“But they need to see an incredibly diverse and creative neighbourhood too … it’s not just a downer story.”

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Health issues forced Jack Layton to miss his first scheduled appearance since announcing he has cancer, a sign the NDP leader may not be able to sustain his usual frenetic pace while he is receiving treatment.

The 59-year-old NDP leader revealed Friday he was diagnosed in December with prostate cancer, a disease his father overcame.

He has vowed to beat it too and stay on as leader of the New Democrats and MP for Toronto-Danforth, though fighting the disease may have already put a dent in the energetic politician’s normally jam-packed schedule of community and cultural events.

Layton was scheduled to attend two public events Saturday, though health concerns forced him to trim it back to one. At a gala fundraiser celebrating Chinese New Year in Toronto, Layton – a mainstay at such functions – said he doesn’t want to have to ease up on attending them.

“I hope not, because I love these events,” he said. “It’s like you’re being invited into the living room of each community.”

Earlier in the day he was scheduled to attend a celebration for a local publication in Brampton, Ont., at a Sikh place of worship, but wasn’t able to make it.

“I didn’t speak to his doctors, but he was not in a condition to travel,” said Layton’s spokesman Karl Belanger.

“I do not know if it was related to his cancer or not.”

Layton did call one of the speakers at the event, Jagtar Shergill, who held his phone up to a microphone as Layton read his prepared remarks.

“First, I apologize for not being able to be there with you today,” Layton said.

“I am however honoured to be able to join you by phone, celebrating the sixth anniversary of Road News being published and distributed in the community.”

Saturday evening, when Layton and Chow arrived at the Dragon Ball in Toronto, they were greeted by well-wishers at every turn.

“I said (to Layton), at the end of the day I appreciate what he’s been doing for his party and for the people of Canada, but certainly take care of himself because health above all is important,” said Richmond Hill, Ont., Coun. Godwin Chan.

Pauline Tong, president of the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation, a charity supporting seniors and their families and the beneficiary of Saturday’s fundraiser, said it’s “amazing” that Layton showed up.

“He’s treating life as exciting as it can be,” she said. “He’s a fighter. I said he’s going to be living more than 100 years old.”

Chow is also a cancer survivor, having won a battle with thyroid cancer.

Layton said he especially didn’t want to miss the Dragon Ball, in its 21st year, because he and his wife – NDP MP Olivia Chow – have attended each year.

“He’s also born in the year of the tiger,” Chow said.

“This is my year,” Layton chimed in. “And my mother-in-law’s year. We have two tigers in the house.”

Layton said Friday that his treatment plan is underway, but his staff said the details would remain between Layton and his doctor.

Layton has represented the riding of Toronto-Danforth since 2004. He just celebrated his seventh anniversary as leader.

Hundreds of demonstrators turned out for the poverty torch relay in downtown Vancouver yesterday to spread the message that money should be spent on fighting poverty, not staging the Olympic Games.

A poverty Olympics was also held, featuring events that can only be described as unique.

Protesters wore eclectic costumes and carried signs and posters that read Homes Not Games and End Poverty, It’s Not a Game.

The rally also attracted some members of the international media.

Amidst events with names like housing hurdles and the broken-promise slalom, speakers passionately argued the Canadian and B.C. governments should spend money on housing.

“We are pressuring the government to do a few simple things — raise welfare, raise minimum wage and build social housing,” said Trish Garner, who helped organize the mock torch relay.

“Better yet, shift priorities from Olympic spending to a poverty-reduction plan.”

Others at the rally decried condo ownership and amassing personal wealth.

With only days to go until festivities begin in Vancouver, city residents and members of local sports clubs showed their colours yesterday to demonstrate support for Canada’s Olympians.

Dressed in red, more than 100 people, including members of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association, Ottawa Pacers and Gloucester Concordes speedskating clubs, and uOttawa students converged at Dow’s Lake to help the National Capital Commission create a video dedicated to Canada’s Olympic athletes.

The video of the event, which will be released through sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, as well as the NCC website this week, marks the first time the NCC will have used viral operations to show support for Canadian athletes.  

“It’s a great way to show our support to Canadian athletes and celebrate this great event for our country,” said Guy Laflamme, vice-president of the Capital Experience, Communications and Marketing with the National Capital Commission.

He expects the video to travel quickly.

“That’s the magic of viral marketing. In a matter of a few hours, you can have exponential reach across not only the country, but around the world. As far as we know, there aren’t too many of these initiatives, so hopefully this will stimulate other initiatives across the country.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” said participant Mike Gall. “Being the capital of Canada, it’s good to show our pride.”

There will be two more opportunities to take part in similar events during the Olympics.

On the last weekend of Winterlude, there will be an event in Dow’s Lake, to cheer for Canada’s speedskaters.

“When the speedskaters are on the start line, they will have heard of thousands of people in the capital cheering for them,” Laflamme said.

VANOC aimed for a home-away-from-home atmosphere at its Olympic villages, but unless athletes already have a personal gym, hotel-grade bedding, a masseuse and a chef, they’re getting quite an upgrade.

Competitors at the villages in Whistler and Vancouver will have 24-hour access to a market-style dining hall, games rooms outfitted with pool tables and beanbag chairs, Internet cafés, and concierge services — among other amenities.

“What (we) really wanted to do was minimize stress,” said Nejat Sarp, general manager of Vancouver Village.

“People from different cultures (have) different ideas of what a home should be like,” he said.

The first of the roughly 6,000 athletes and officials started moving into their temporary accommodations late last week.

The villages are set up more like towns than hotels, and include banks, shops, clinics and faith centres.

Cathy Priestner Allinger, executive vice-president, sport and Games operations, said VANOC solicited input from athletes to find out what they wanted in their villages.

“(We’re letting) them focus on what’s most important to them: Competing,” said Priestner.

“The athletes will have everything they need to perform on their day.”