Olympic Cauldron

While we were in Canada, one of the top things on our list to do was to see the 2010 Olympic Cauldron. I have enjoyed watching the cauldrons being lit during the Opening Ceremonies in the past, and was very excited to be able to see the Vancouver Olympic Cauldron in person and take some pictures. We even met a nice couple from the area who were there with some out of town guest who wanted to see the cauldron as well. It was nice to spend a few minutes talking to locals who shared some of the crazy stories from 2010. The cauldron is also right next to the convention center and right on the water. It was an amazing area and I was thrilled to be able to experience a piece of Olympic history. If you want to learn more, check out my post on my travel blog as I share more history about the Olympic Cauldron and the Olympic Games.

If I learned anything about my time in Vancouver, it’s that Canadians are very humble people. Why do you not have Olympic related things plastered all over your city?! My friend and I were walking through the city and found the Olympic Cauldron quite by happenstance. We were walking by the Convention Center and randomly came across it. It’s quite the landmark – you can get some nice pictures with the mountains and coast in the background. I wish I could’ve seen it at night or seen it lit or something! It’s one of those things that you will probably trek to, only to be there for five minutes or so to snap a few pics so you can prove you’ve been there.

This is a cool piece of architecture and is now considered a Vancouver landmark, thanks to the Olympics. I went in the day to see it and it’s located by the east side of the convention center. To me, it looks like pillars of ice that are melting since there is a fountain underneath of it as well. You also get a great view of the the harbor as well, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
I didn’t get a chance to go at night but I heard it’s even better since they light the cauldron with various colored lights. I’m sure it was even more spectacular when the Olympics was there with the lighted torch. This just means I’ll have to go back to Vancouver and see the cauldron at night I guess (secretly jumping up and down inside).

This is definetely worth walking a couple blocks out of your way to go visit. More than just the cauldron, you get a fantastic view of the harbor and mountains that is spectacular as the sun sets. Also within quick striking distance of this site are several other huge sculptures, the greenway down the bank of the river and a spectacular convention center.

I went to the Olympic Cauldron both in the day and the night. It was wonderful both times. It really is a cool piece of art culture and history. It is very visible from the street as it’s practically almost near the curb and it’s not too far from the pixelated orca statue.
To me, it looks like several pillars of ice that have fallen upon each other in just the right way to support the weight of the whole calamity. Then there is a fountain below it as if the fire that used to burst from the tops of the shards melted the ice into the fountain below creating a pool that bubbles and toils with the same sort of contradiction as fire and ice. This probably isn’t what this sculpture is about but that is what it made me think of.
At night, they light up the pillars with a variety of colors. The night I went, they were lit up in blue. How fitting… blue…to fall in line with my idea from above. Nonetheless, it is an excellent stopping point to kind of take it in and see the cauldron against the background of the sky. You may even catch a seaplane or two flying through your camera’s view.
I did have to pay to park in order to walk around the general vicinity but there are so many other things to see around that area that it was worth it.

You will have to park in the streets to see the torch. Parking wasn’t too bad though on a Monday late afternoon.
The time I went to see the torch, it wasn’t lit up but it was still beautiful. Seeing the torch took me aback because it was hard to fathom how historical this artwork is. It’s located in this open area and it was also hard to imagine how this place was filled with hundreds of people during the winter olympics!
Aside from this landmark, there’s a beautiful view of the water. It’s perfect to come here during the fall season where there are autumn colored leaves. There’s a lot of scenic views around this area! I recommend coming here in the morning or in the afternoon just to see the water and nature itself.
I also think it would be beautiful to see the torch lit up at night! Whatever time you come here, I’m sure you will be in awe of its beauty.

It looks pretty when it is all lit up. Good to know where all my Olympic taxes went to.

A nice memento of the Olympics, in a great area of the city. It is a beautiful landmark and public piece of art for tourists to photograph and enjoy.

At least they built all 4 pillars??? In all seriousness, nice location and gathering spot to hold public events, as they do from time to time. It also gets lit once in a while for some special events such as Canada Day. Points deducted for opening a Cactus Club Café next door. Aren’t there enough of those in the city already?

Hmmmm… tricky review considering the DF and AF (During Fence and After Fence):
The Cauldron itself is beautifully made, I love that it looks like it is covered in ice and crystals. The setting of it; right on the tip of the beautiful West-​coast, where the ocean meets the land and the Mountain Range behind it all, is just stunning. And now that it doesn’t have that horrible, soul crushing fence around it, much better. But of course now, no flame.
So, I was lucky enough to visit Vancouver during the Olympics, to see and get a picture of the flame (and the worlds most horrible chain-​link fence). As well as to be back and see the «structure» (not really a torch as it is out) as it will now forever sit. I guess the best way to explain the Olympic Cauldron now, is that it is a lovely installation art piece that symbolizes Vancouver’s fantastic feat: Bringing the world together for 2 tremendous weeks and showing how incredible Canada is. And as far as installation art work is concerned, it is quite lovely.

What a magnificent sculpture of heat and remembrance from the Olympic games. Some people, like myself, love seeing both a piece of history as well as a familiar sight from television. The Olympic Cauldron is located next to the Vancouver Convention Centre and is visible from West Waterfront Road. Having reviewed other people’s reviews, I want to let everyone know that the Olympic Cauldron is no longer fenced in, nor is there a glass wall.
I took one star off, because they do not light the Olympic Cauldron except on special occasions. I would suggest that they light it on a timer every hour on the hour for 10 or 15 minutes. Or, since the Olympic Games in Vancouver were 2010, they could light it at 10am and 10pm every day for 20 minutes. Just a thought.
And as Always, Have Fun!!!
(18÷30)

Great place to relax with lunch or drink. Get lunch from nearby street food trucks. Great view of water, Stanley park and mountains. Watch the the seaplanes come and go. Cactus Club opening soon.

I should have brought a Cigarette Lighter or something. While apparently I came when the Olympic Cauldron is no longer fenced in, it’s not lit on fire either. It still sits on one of the picturesque backdrops of Vancouver with Snowy Mountains of North Vancouver behind it.
It looks more like a Glass Toothpick Hut than a Fiery Cauldron at the moment. It would have been AWESOME to BBQ some Meat on this puppy. That’s what I would call «eating in style». YUM!

I didn’t bother going during the Games. I like what they’ve done with it since.
The plaza has turned into a nice public space, with lots of benches. It makes Vancouver seem like a big city :) My favourite part is the lounge-​chair-​shaped seating, facing west. Must be a nice place to sun tan in the summer.
It connects to the waterfront pathway all the way to Stanley Park!
The cauldron itself and some lighting towers (?) surrounding it are lit up at night, and change colours. Pretty.

A standing symbol for this city of a time, that in most Canadians hearts, and especially that of Vancouverite’s was one of the happiest times where the world was focused on Vancouver. The symbol of the Olympics, the Cauldron, where it is still standing today, sitting in the perfect name where it should be, «Jack Poole Plaza», the sight even today, with the no fie coming from above is a beautiful, peaceful sight, and a standing legacy.
Gone are the fences and gates that obstructed the distance people could get to the pillars, but also gone to is the flame that lit the sky from above. I heard for a measley fee of $ 10,000 you could light it up for some special event, maybe your wedding pictures, to allow the gas and flames to burn bright! What now sits is the cross pillars, and a clear view of the water and mountains. Being down here I see that some people, on a beautiful sunny day, sit here for their lunch’s during the working day. Where once people were here in the droves lining up just for that perfect picture with the famed flame, now it’s just a symbol of what once was.
You can get some beautiful shots of this structure now, and if you were here back when the world was watching you have that feeling of re-​living this moment once more. The terrace above is another nice stretch of design, as it gives you a different angle of looking at this piece of work. In some ways this is a shrine, but one where it is now all opened to the people to enjoy.

Love it and have photographed it at dawn, best time only two of us taking pictures and 4 police. I saw it lit and will forever remember The Great One in the rain with a REAL smile, he was loving it.
If you missed it lit then head over during the Para Olympics when they light it again for the duration of the second half of the games.

We went to visit the flame after the German v. Finland hockey game late at night. The cauldron, which looks like it belongs in the fortress of solitude from Superman comics, was actually surrounded by a shitty fence because the police were afraid that people would vandalize it. So now all of your Olympic photos can feature you and your loved ones in front of the cauldron that is in prison.
By the time we got to the cauldron it was 1am, there was a small crowd and some security guards, and the platform for viewing the torch unobstructed was closed, so you had to stick your camera through the fence and hope for the best. I don’t understand why they needed to put the fence up, with the security they had in place at the cauldron it seemed a little excessive and unnecessary. Of course, the next morning they replaced the fence with plexi-​glass windows… just my luck.

The Cauldron itself: 5 stars
The fence surrounding the cauldron: 0 stars
The hastily-​built viewing platform: 5 stars
The 75 minute queue t get up on the platform when there really weren’t a ton of people on it: 0 stars
Overall, I think that averages out to 3.
Glad I was able to snag an unobstructed photo of it through a hole in the fence. Sucks that I couldn’t get a photo of any of my friends in front of it without getting the damn fence in there. Oh well. At least the dignitaries got to get up close.

Cool to see the Olympic cauldron… not so cool to gets pictures of it with the wire fence. If you’re heading here, there’s really no «best time» to go. The place is CROWDED… not only on your way to and from the cauldron but right in front of it there’s a mass of people who are taking pictures of it.
You can’t get very close to it due to the wire fence and if you’re tall, you’re lucky because you’ll get a nice view of it. But still, it’s the Olympic cauldron and you’re probably closer to it than most people!

The Olympic Cauldron sits just east of the new Olympic convention center and has the waterfront as a backdrop. It will remain as a permanent fixture after the Olympics (albeit, the flame will be snuffed out). The structure itself is quite impressive with its five flames and is a definite must-​see during the Olympics.
I came here the day after the Opening Ceremonies (after Gretzky’s awkward truck ride down here with the torch). And like much of the crowd, I stood here in stunned silence — not at the sight of the cauldron, but because of the ugly chain-​link fence that kept the unwashed masses a good 50m from the cauldron. This wasn’t the image they showed on CTV. I heard the murmurs — ‘Is this permanent?’, ‘I can’t get a picture without the fence’, etc. — but no one said what everyone was thinking: «THIS SUCKS!»
On the other side of the fence was a platoon of security guards with absolutely nothing to do — have fun collecting that overtime! The VIPs wandering inside the security zone avoided eye contact with the plebs as they freely snapped unobstructed pictures. The sight infuriated me as it was just a reminder that the Olympics weren’t for me or other Vancouverites — it was just a over-​glorified corporate circle-​jerk. But I felt especially bad for tourists that couldn’t get a decent picture as a souvenir (VANOC offered ‘nice’ photos for download online — gee, thanks for throwing a mongrels a bone).
However, despite the attempts in recent days to make it more visible and accessible (moving the fence closer, replacing sections of ugly chain-​link fence with plexiglass and allowing access to skywalk with an unobstructed view) — this structure is just a reminder of the ineptitude of VANOC. While I am glad to are listening to the public outcry and doing something about it, whoever designed the original security fence should be shot.
I am aware there is a security concern as the site is so symbolic and it’s the first publicly accessible cauldron — but the original execution was just horrid. I hope the chain-​link fence doesn’t become my most vivid memory of the Vancouver 2010.