VANCOUVER - A giant Olympic flag that fluttered in front of Vancouver's city hall was stolen Tuesday morning just as officials from the International Olympic Committee arrived to evaluate the city's preparation for the 2010 Winter Games.
"Clearly we are disappointed and it's unfortunate that the flag was stolen," said Renee Smith-Valade, vice-president of communication for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.
It's unclear if the act was a simple act of theft or a protest against Vancouver hosting the Olympics or the IOC's visit.
"That's hard to say," said Smith-Valade. "It could have happened at any time really.
"Whoever did this represents either an individual or a very, very small group that is not in any way representative of the huge support in this city for the Games."
Just last month a ceremony in downtown Vancouver to mark the three-year out anniversary of the Games was disrupted by protesters.
An IOC spokesman said via e-mail that the flag incident "goes against Olympic values."
Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, called the theft frustrating.
"It's frustrating to think that someone is so skewed in their view of all the good things the Olympics are about, they would go and do something like that which really, unfairly, scars the great history of the Olympics," said Chambers, who is attending the meetings as a member of VANOC's board of directors.
The flag, with its distinctive five Olympic rings, is valued at $1,600. Police say it was stolen sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. local time.
The thieves cut a cable which caused the flag to crash to the ground, damaging the pole. The flag was then ripped off the pole.
The flag was not the one Mayor Sam Sullivan received last year during the closing ceremonies of the Turin Winter Olympics.
Still, the theft angered city officials.
"We're very disappointed by this act of vandalism and it's a theft of public property," said city spokesman Jennifer Young. "There is no indication of the motivation."
Last month protesters threw eggs and paint-filled balloons as VANOC unveiled a huge clock to count down the days until the 2010 opening ceremonies. One man scrambled on the stage and shouted obscenities into a microphone before being dragged off by police.
Since then the clock has been guarded. Smith-Valade said there will also be increased security around the city hall flags.
"These are high-profile, prominent emblems," she said. "There will be people that choose to steal or do damage them.
"It's just part of life you do have to protect these high profile emblems."
The IOC inspection team is holding three days of meetings in Vancouver. One of the issues expected to be discussed is where VANOC plans to house extra officials and the international media at Whistler, site of skiing and the sliding events.
Television cameras were permitted to photograph the opening remarks between the IOC and VANOC officials, but reporters were not allowed.
A VANOC official later played a recording of the comments to reporters.
Rene Fasel, chairman of the IOC co-ordination commission, said he's pleased with the work VANOC has done but time is running.
"It seems we have a lot of time (left) but if we have to deliver an unbelievable Games we have to work together," he said. "We are very pleased that we have a very strong partnership.
"For sure we have some challenges but that's why we are here."
