G8 blog: Here’s hoping things get much busier for G8-G20 organizers

For an event of global proportions, the start of the G8-G20 activities has been surprisingly low-key.

While the focus of attention to this point has been on the burgeoning cost to host the event, various protests around Toronto and things like the “Fake Lake” at the International Media Centre, the hope for organizers had to be that once the delegations started arriving in the city, the focus would change to international media exposure and beauty shots of Muskoka and Toronto to drum up future tourism dollars.

So where is all of the media?

An official welcoming to the international media by Toronto Mayor David Miller was sparsly attended this morning. The Mayor touted the diversity, rich cultural heritage, economic prosperity, green initiatives and business opportunities for foreign journalists.

The problem was there were more local journalists than ones from other countries. Media attending the Summit have been given free TTC passes to explore the city. Whether they will use them remains a big question as reporters on deadline are not very likely going to ride around on the Red Rocket while trying to meet their deadlines.

Meantime, the so-called “Fake Lake” Muskoka replica which was the subject of so much scrutiny and derision due to the cost of construction, is dare I say, underwhelming. The real Muskoka vistas won’t be seen by many visiting journalists, as access to the G8 in Huntsville is restricted.

The only way in or out of Deerhurst for media is via a two-hour bus ride from Toronto, which is great if you like highways but doesn’t provide a true cottage-country feel.

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