(HoundsTV- Vancouver) One of the most talked about athletes of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games – American skiing star Lindsey Vonn arrived in Vancouver to much fanfare on Tuesday (February 9th.)

The super-model looking Vonn was greeted by a large group of fans, autograph collectors, and media as one of Team USA’s best medal hopes touched down in Vancouver. Despite the work of security and handlers to move Vonn quickly threw the crowds – Lindsey proved to be very fan-friendly, posing for pictures and signing lots of autographs – including the just published Sports Illustrated with Vonn on the cover.

HoundsTV has already heard from a few sources that the entourages and security around Olympic broadcaster NBC can be rough with crowds. During the encounter with Vonn – numerous sources reported that security working for NBC was literally pushing fans aside so they could “get their shot.” Bottom line, the American broadcaster seems to be running around the town like it owns it.

(HoundsTV – Vancouver) I often spend a lot of time on stories occurring in Toronto on HoundsTV. And in reality, Toronto can often be the center of the Universe here in Canada. For at least the next couple of weeks, the attention will surely shift to Vancouver – and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

And HoundsTV is gonna shift too. With the help of some special sources on the ground in Vancouver – especially our hounding friend JH from CanadaGraphs – we will tell some stories and share some photos from the Winter Games which has taken over the city.

A wealth of celebrities are expected in Vancouver. We’re already hearing the names Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Michael J. Fox, Wayne Gretzky and many more have planned appearances in Vancouver. That’s not to mention the wealth of former and future Olympic champions that will emerge at the Games.

And from what we hear already – it will be a battle to get close, meet, hound, and photograph any one of them. Security is extra tight at this edition of the Olympic Games – and we mean, real tight.

There really was a day, once-upon-a-time, when the patient fan could greet almost any Olympian near the athletes village or upon arrival at their playing venue. From what we hear, that’s just not the case anymore. CanadaGraphs reports that Olympic security is at the point where, “you won’t even see the athletes arrive at venues, let alone have a chance for an autograph. The fences are 10 feet high, covered by Olympic banners, guarded by countless police, and on average, a block away from the actual venue.”

So the savvy autograph collector and fan will have to find their moments at other spots around town to get up and close to celebrities and Olympic stars. And believe me, this group will.

But alas, that’s for future stories.

So we at HoundsTV wish everybody in Vancouver a safe and fun 2010 Winter Olympiad.

Let the Games begin!