Looking for a place to protest? We’ve got a list for you.

The Integrated Security Unit (ISU), which is co-ordinating security efforts for the 2010 Winter Olympics, released its list of “safe assembly areas” – in other words, places they want to see the protests at.

Naturally, the action is mainly in Vancouver, but they did designate three areas in Whistler: the lot area off Glacier Lane is the place for your anti-bobsled action, the golfers’ approach off of Whistler Way is the place for Whistler Media Centre demonstrations and Village Park East (bonus points if you actually know where this is) if you want to protest at the Whistler Medals Plaza.

Naturally, no protester worth his balaclava would be caught anywhere near one of these zones – hence, the demonstrations which took over swaths of downtown Vancouver in a large, peaceful and largely-ignored protest during the opening ceremonies last Friday (Feb. 12) and a small, much less peaceful and much more publicized version on Saturday (Feb. 13).

But don’t look for either type of protest in Whistler, either in the “safe assembly areas” or anywhere else, for that matter. It’s just not going to happen, for a few reasons.

First, even if every permanent resident of Whistler were opposed to the Games, they’d still be outnumbered about four to one by the spectators, organizers and athletes who are clearly here to celebrate the Games.

Beyond that, even those who live here and either have misgivings about the Games or are firmly opposed to them are reasonable people. They realize that the party is here and nothing is going to dislodge it – some, like Sara Jennings of Whistler Watch, are not letting their feelings about the environmental and social impacts of the Games get in the way of enjoying what is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

But even if there were a group of hard-core protesters itching to make a scene on the streets of Whistler, they wouldn’t get further than the nearest corner. The immense police presence in Whistler, from jets and balloons in the sky to cameras on the lamp posts and the ubiquitous black tents – dubbed “pigloos” by one particularly outspoken Games critic – and the uniformed police officers on nearly every street corner is a clear message that Whistler is a community under control.

Is the security presence in Whistler during the Games overkill? Quite probably – unless, of course, it suddenly becomes necessary, in which case it might not be enough.

It’s OK not to love the Olympics – and to be concerned about what it’s done to the environment, our economy and our civil liberties. But trying to stop the show is basically useless, and at its worst, counterproductive, as was proved last Saturday in Vancouver.

There’ll be plenty of time after the party’s over for the naysayers to tell the rest of the world “I told you so.” Just ask Montreal.