2010 Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, will be held February 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the resort town of Whistler nearby. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are being organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC).
Olympic Winter Games in North America are generally highly successful and leave a multitude of lasting legacies in their host communities, according to a new report commissioned by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The report, which includes a chapter on each of the three previous North American Olympic Winter Games, will be released over the next month as part of a host of activities to mark the 1,000 day countdown on May 19 to the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Venues:
Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver
This locally loved arena was once the home of the Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey team and is now the address of the Vancouver Giants Junior hockey team. During the Olympics, though, it will see the figure skating and short track speed skating events.
• Venue Capacity: 14,239
• Elevation: 26 m
• Completed: All upgrades were finished in fall of 2007
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver
Known for hosting some great musical concerts, this arena will focus on some of the hockey tournaments and the men’s ice sledge hockey competitions.
• Venue Capacity: 7,200
• Elevation: 90 m
• Completed: Refurbishments were completed in June 2008, four months ahead of schedule
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver
Otherwise known as GM Place and the current home of the Vancouver Canucks, this venue will be the centrepiece of the men and women’s hockey tournaments.
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre
Located at the base of lovely Queen Elizabeth Park and with views of the gorgeous coastal mountains, this venue will see the curling and wheelchair curling competitions.
• Venue Capacity: 6,000
• Elevation: 74 m
• Completed: Phase one is complete for the Olympics, but will also see an aquatic centre and legacy recreation complex finished by the summer of 2011
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
The Whistler Sliding Centre
Perched on Blackcomb Mountain, this venue is only one of 15 sliding centres in the world. This will be the venue for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.
• Venue Capacity: 12,000
• Elevation: men’s luge handles 939 m, bottom 787 m, highest vertical drop 152 m
• Completed: Testing was successfully finished in February 2009
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Whistler Creekside
This popular site will be the home of the alpine skiing competitions during the 2010 Winter Games. Events include downhill, suger-g, giant slalom, slalom and super combined.
• Venue Capacity: 7,600 (Olympic Games) and 6,000 (Paralympic Games)
• Elevation: 810 m
• Completed: finished in the fall of 2007
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park
Comprised of three separate stadiums, this venue makes up the cross-country skiing, biathlon, paralympic biathlon and ski jumping competitions.
• Venue Capacity: 12,000 in each stadium (Winter Games) and 6,000 (Paralympic Games)
• Elevation: 840 m - 930 m
• Completed: Permanent construction was completed in the fall of 2007, while temporary construction will begin in the summer of 2009
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Richmond Olympic Oval
This classy and fantastic venue will host all of the speed skating events. The oval is located 14 kilometres from the Vancouver International Airport and close to downtown Richmond.
• Venue Capacity: 8,000
• Elevation: sea level
• Completed: works was finished in December 2008, 14 months ahead of schedule
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver
Another popular skiing spot, this venue is located within Cypress Provincial Park. Views of Vancouver are magnificent and the mountain is well serviced by the Trans-Canada highway 1.
• Venue Capacity: 8,000
• Elevation: 930 m
• Completed: Improvements were finished in the fall of 2007, while the freestyle venue was the first to be completed in November 2006
Photos by: www.vancouver2010.com
- 2005 – 2006 Venue construction begins on all 2010 competition and non-competition sites
- February 10 – 26, 2006 - 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. VANOC sends an observation team.
- March 10 – 19, 2006 - 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino. VANOC sends an observation team.
- Summer 2007 - Construction to begin on the Vancouver Olympic Village and the Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village.
- 2007 Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mascot to be selected.
- Winter 2007 / 2008 Games venues to be available for athlete training.
- 2008 VANOC to begin volunteer recruitment. An estimated 25,000 volunteers are required to stage the Games.
- August 8 – 24, 2008 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China. VANOC sends an observation team.
- September 6 – 17, 2008 2008 Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing. VANOC sends an observation team.
- Fall 2008 Vancouver 2010 Winter Games ticket sales.
- Winter 2008 / 2009 Official test events for the 2010 Winter Games.
- 2008 Media Accreditation for the 2010 Winter Games. An estimated 10,000 media members expected.
- Fall 2009 2010 Winter Games Olympic Flame (torch) Relay.
- February 12 – 28, 2010 XXI Olympic Winter Games
- March 12 – 21, 2010 X Paralympic Winter Games
Whistler Olympic Events
Alpine Skiing
The Alpine Skiing events will take place on Whistler Mountain and include Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Combined. The Men's events will be hosted entirely on the Dave Murray Downhill, widely considered as one of the top 3 courses in the world. The Women's and Paralympic Alpine course will begin on Wild Card, swing over to Lower Jimmie's Joker, and wind its way down a portion of Franz's to finally join up with the Men's course on the Lower Dave Murray Downhill.
The entire Creekside base will be transformed during Games-time to accommodate facilities such as wax cabins, athlete's lounge, and security check posts. VANOC is installing a chairlift at Creekside to carry spectators, Olympic Family and officials from the base area to the Timing Flats. In all, this venue will be prepared to host a capacity crowd of 7600 people. After the Games, much of the overlay will be removed and Whistler Creekside will be a site for future international competitions and Canadian team training.
Nordic
Whistler Olympic Park, the Nordic Competition Venue is complete and will host all Nordic events: cross country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events.
The venue, open daily for public access hosts all competition facilities including two ski jumps, competition trails and training trails, as well as utility installation, access roads, parking lots, technical sport buildings, a day lodge and other related infrastructure. 55 kilometres of recreational trails, and access to the day lodge, are available for public use. Three separate, temporary stadiums will be in place for the Olympic Games; each will house 12,000 fans.
Sliding
The Whistler Sliding Centre on Blackcomb Mountain will host the Sliding events: Bobsled, Luge, and Skeleton events. Construction of the track is complete and public tours are being offered.
This 1,450 m refrigerated track winds its way down 150m of vertical, allowing for three starting areas: Competitive Men's and Women's, and Recreational. The track has already hosted World Cup events and training sessions for teams from around the world.
Paralympic
Whistler will host Paralympic Alpine Skiing, Biathalon and Cross-Country events.
All Paralympic alpine skiing events will take place on Franz's Run on Whistler Mountain.
All the Paralympic cross-country skiing and biathlon events will take place at Whistler Olympic Park. Competition courses include a 5-kilometre course for the standing classes and a 3.75-kilometre course for the sit-ski classes. Several kilometres of training trails will be available near the competition courses. A temporary and portable 10-metre biathlon range will be set up in the stadium for the biathlon events.