October 11, 2007

Register at vancouver2010.com for the latest ticket information before ticket sales begin

Tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will go on sale one year from today, on October 11, 2008. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today unveiled details of how Canadians and visitors from around the world can have the experience of a lifetime by attending an Olympic event in 2010. The vancouver2010.com website offers a full range of information on 2010 Winter Games sport disciplines, events, ticket prices and the opportunity to sign up to receive the latest ticket information as it becomes available.

“Attending the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and sharing gold medal moments with Canadian athletes and international competitors, will be unforgettable,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “It’s about much more than the ticket – it’s the entire Olympic experience that will likely not come our way in Canada for many years to come. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder and singing O Canada with fellow Canadians you have never met but with whom you are family for one incredible day. These are experiences that will remain with you for the rest of your life and today we are delivering on our promise to make that unique Olympic experience available to anyone who wants to be there. Our goal is to ensure every venue is full. ”

Approximately 1.6 million tickets will be available for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games with 100,000 tickets priced at $25. Half of all tickets are priced at $100 or less and Opening and Closing Ceremonies tickets, ranging from $175 to $1,100, will be offered at prices lower than the Ceremonies tickets at the Torino 2006 Winter Games and the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games.

“The 2010 Winter Games are a global event and demand for tickets will be strong across Canada and around the world,” said Dave Cobb, VANOC Executive Vice President, Revenue, Marketing and Communications. “Our research tells us that three in four Canadians believe that attending the 2010 Winter Games would be ‘the experience of a lifetime.’ Attending the Games scored the highest of all major sport and entertainment events tested, including the Stanley Cup Finals and the Super Bowl in terms of overall experience. Given this high demand, we set out to develop a fair, accessible and affordable ticket program, and today marks the first major step in delivering exactly such a program.”

Together with its partners, VANOC is also following through on its bid commitment to purchase and distribute 50,000 tickets to Olympic and Paralympic events to those who would not otherwise have the means to be able to attend. A process for allocation of these tickets will be developed in consultation with community groups and social agencies.

“Experience from past Games, and feedback from athletes, tells us that we can create an unforgettable atmosphere for all involved by filling the venues,” said Caley Denton, VANOC Vice President of Ticketing and Consumer Marketing. “We’re doing everything possible to ensure that tickets are used, including working to develop an online ticket buy and sell exchange program that allows spectators with tickets who cannot attend an event to quickly exchange their tickets with other spectators who can. It will be a secure system that will guarantee the tickets are valid and we look forward to unveiling details as they are developed.”

The ticket buying process will be simple and user friendly. It will be staged in phases and will, in some cases, include lotteries to fairly distribute tickets to Olympic events where the demand for tickets exceeds the supply. This process has been standard for previous Games but may be different than what the public is commonly used to for other sporting events and concerts. By signing up at vancouver2010.com, the public will receive important news and next steps for the ticket program delivered directly to their email inbox. In addition, subscribers will also be sent:

A 2010 Winter Games competition schedule and other helpful Games planning tools

2010 Winter Games online ticket exchange and donation program information

Details on how to set up an online ticket account ahead of the first day of ticket sales

Information on convenient Olympic Experience Packages and other hospitality packages

Exclusive ticket contests offered through Vancouver 2010 sponsors

The latest release of official Vancouver 2010 merchandise

As is required of all Olympic Organizing Committees, approximately 30 per cent of the tickets will be held for key partners that participate directly in the staging of the Games – commonly referred to as the Olympic Family. The Olympic family includes athletes and their families, National Olympic Committees and international sport federations, media and broadcasters who tell the story of the Games to a global audience and VANOC sponsors whose financial investment contributes directly to staging the Games.

Further information on the ticketing program and on how the public can attend the many additional events around Vancouver and Whistler during the Games, including the nightly Victory Ceremonies at BC Place Stadium and in Whistler, the Cultural Olympiad and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, will be released in the coming year at vancouver2010.com and through targeted public communications.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

October 11, 2007

Crowds celebrate the Bid announcement at GM Place in 2003 awarding Vancouver the 2010 Winter Games. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images) The date of October 2008 will be on the minds of many. One year from today marks the start of the initial round of Canadian ticket sales for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In conjunction with today’s ticket program announcement, everything from when they will go on sale, to how to purchase them, to the cost of tickets was unveiled.

“The ‘lure of the Olympic ticket’ is something that’s difficult to explain unless you’ve had a chance to get a ticket,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “We’re thrilled to provide a ticket program that follows through on our commitment to make tickets and the Olympic experience available to anyone who wants to go.”

Ensuring Affordable Games

The ticketing program and prices will make the dream of attending a variety of events a reality – something Furlong and VANOC has supported since the bid phase.

Fans arrive early for the gold medal Men’s ice hockey final in Torino 2006. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

For Furlong, this affordable pricing plan has been a long time coming. Often over the past year he has shared a story about being approached by a young girl who wanted to tell him about her Olympic dream. “She is saving every penny,” told Furlong. “She’s cutting grass, doing dishes for money, begging, and borrowing every penny she can find because in her heart, she wants to go to every sport one time. And this is how young people are lining up and looking at the Games. This is why we have to be so good and this is why we have to make it possible for everybody to get inside what we’re doing.”

By announcing that half of all tickets are priced at less than $100 and 100,000 tickets priced at $25, VANOC is following through on its commitment to make sure that every Canadian will have the opportunity to see an Olympic event if they want to. In addition, tickets for some of the most popular events – such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies – will be less expensive than those at the Torino 2006 Winter Games and Salt Lake 2002 Winter Games.

Putting Fans in Stands

For spectators, getting tickets is one of the most exciting aspects of the Games. What many people may not realize, however, is that it is also one of the highlights for athletes - the sheer number of fans in the stands and the energy they create make the Olympic Games a once-in-a-lifetime experience for athletes. Todd Allison, former Canadian freestyle Skier and National Coach recollected, “We knew what World Cups were, we knew what World Championships were, but we didn’t realize the scope of the Games. The Games were so much bigger than us.”

Celebrating with the crowd, Jeret Peterson of the United States jumps into the stands after his final jump in the Men’s aerial finals in Torino 2006. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

To make the most of the crowds’ spirit, and to ensure that all the seats are filled, VANOC has a number of programs in place. Similar to past Olympic Games, tickets will be made available in phases, with lotteries for the most-requested events, to ensure the fairest possible allocation and allow for redistribution of unsold tickets.

In addition, VANOC will be creating an online ticket buy and sell exchange program designed to allow spectators with tickets who cannot attend an event to quickly exchange their tickets with other spectators who can. “Once finalized, our ticket redistribution program will give Olympic spectators confidence that they have purchased legitimate tickets with valid bar codes,” said Caley Denton, Vice President, Ticketing and Consumer Marketing “Buying invalid Olympic tickets could turn someone’s experience of a lifetime into a great disappointment, so our message is simple: buy directly from Vancouver 2010 or our authorized agents to ensure authenticity.”

Subscribe Now

“Attending the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be an experience of a lifetime,” said Furlong. People from around the world will be coming to Vancouver to experience the magic – make sure you’re one of them. Be in the know by signing up to receive updates on ticketing information, delivered right to your e-mail inbox.

The Games are only 2 years away and it will soon be time to start planning your 2010 Olympic Winter Games experience. Stay informed and look to vancouver2010.com for everything you need to know for 2010.

October 10, 2007

Canadians ready for "experience of a lifetime" at 2010 Winter Games

Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today that it will share the details of its Olympic Games ticket program on Thursday, October 11. Three in four Canadians believe that attending the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver would be “the experience of a lifetime,” according to a study commissioned by VANOC earlier this year.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are perceived to be the premier event ticket for Canadians, scoring the highest of all major sport and entertainment events tested, including the Stanley Cup Finals and the Super Bowl, in terms of overall experience. VANOC’s March 23, 2007 press release regarding the study is available in the media centre at vancouver2010.com.

“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are a global event and will be an experience of a lifetime for everyone who attends,” said Dave Cobb, VANOC Executive Vice President, Revenue, Marketing and Communications. “It’s been our goal since day one to develop a fair, affordable and accessible Olympic ticketing program and we look forward to sharing the details of the plan this week with Canadians and potential spectators from around the world.”

VANOC’s announcement on Thursday, October 11 will include the on-sale date for tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, how and where the public can access tickets, the pricing of the tickets to each event and a flavour of what the public can expect to experience when they attend Vancouver 2010 events.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

October 3

A look at Freestyle's Past

guaranteed legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is a healthier appetite and appreciation for sport, country-wide. Canada can also watch its athletes knowing they’ve never been better prepared for a Games.

1. Active Start : Geared toward kids six years of age and under, Active Start focuses on the learning of fundamental movements, and then linking them together into play
2. FUNdamentals : Concentrating on learning fundamental movement skills and the building of overall motor skills, FUNdamentals is aimed at boys aged 6 to 9 and girls aged 6 to 8
3. Learning to Train : Acquiring overall sports skills is the cornerstone for long-term athlete development in girls aged 8 to 11 and boys aged 9 to 12
4. Training to Train : Ages 11 to 16 direct their development on building an aerobic base and building speed and strength in this stage
5. Training to Compete : Optimizing fitness preparation and learning to compete is the focus of this stage, aimed at approximately 15 to 23-year-olds
6. Training to Win : Training to win, with podium performances, is the final stage of LTAD for 18 years of age and older
7. Active for Life : Being Active for Life can occur at any age and is considered the transition from competitive sport to lifelong physical activity

Peeking behind the scenes of the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Inviting Canadians to Believe

August 13

August 13, 2007

SportsFunder lottery games support amateur sports in BCWhile we all have dreams of winning the lottery, for amateur athletes, the dream is to stand on a podium and represent their country.

With its SportsFunder lottery games, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is striving to help make those athletes’ dreams a reality.

February 2, 2006, saw the launch of SportsFunder, a collection of lottery games created as a direct result of BCLC’s partnership with Vancouver 2010. “We identified an opportunity with the Games coming to Vancouver,” said Michelle Bodnarchuk, category manager, SportsFunder. “We thought amateur sport was a great cause to get behind given the heightened awareness of the Games.”

With a series of four different lottery games – Instant Win tickets, a province-wide 50/50 game, Pull Tab tickets, and Interactive Games available on bclc.com – SportsFunder has its sights set on generating $20 million for amateur sport in British Columbia.

“Our objective is, by 2012, to have raised $20 million – that’s new money that doesn’t offset existing funding,” said Bodnarchuk. “So far, we’ve raised $2.1 million for amateur sports, which supplements existing funding and really makes a difference for sports programs in the province.”

Creating possibilities
With a mission to provide high-quality gaming entertainment in a socially-responsible manner, while generating income for the public good, BCLC is on the right track with its SportsFunder program. Providing winners with exciting prizing, such as merchandise, travel and even tickets to the 2010 Winter Games, the program offers British Columbians a unique way to share in the spirit of the Games while addressing the need to provide opportunities for kids to participate in sport and recreation activities through several targeted areas.

“The SportsFunder program is about creating possibilities,” said Neeta Soni, director of marketing and client services at the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Knowing that the funds raised through the sale of these games support amateur athletes in the province, and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, allows SportsFunder players an opportunity to contribute directly to an athlete’s path to success.”

It’s no surprise that sport provides benefits beyond a strong heart and well-defined muscles. Being active in sport at a young age provides kids with self-esteem, goal-setting skills, a sense of achievement and skills that will shape their lives.

Supporting amateur sport

The SportsFunder series of lottery games plan to generate $20 million for four key areas of amateur sportsFor some kids’ families, though, managing the financial challenge of sport registration fees is beyond their reach. That’s where KidSport™, one of SportsFunder’s beneficiaries, comes in. The KidSport fund helps more than 2,000 kids annually by providing financial assistance to children who want to play sports but simply cannot afford the costs to sign up.

“Since our inception in 1993, more than 14,000 BC kids have played a season of sport thanks to KidSport,” said KidSport Director, Pete Quevillon. “The sheer joy they get from participating in sport, the great friends that make and the memories they will have are proof of the positive impact KidSport has on the lives of so many young people. These benefits, more than any others, are what we gauge our success on.”

Along with KidSport, there are three additional areas of amateur sport that are benefitting from BCLC’s SportsFunder program.

Supporting athlete development for provincial teams, the Team BC program provides training camps, equipment, high-performance coaching and the ever-important mental, strength and nutrition training that’s fundamental to every athlete’s success.

Costs associated with travelling, both for competitions and training, can add up quickly, especially for athletes and teams who live far from major cities within the province. SportsFunder’s Youth Sport Travel Assistance helps subsidize BC’s amateur athletes so they can attend sporting events and training facilities, giving them the same advantages as those youth living in urban centres.

The fourth area dedicated to the SportsFunder program is Coach and Leadership Development, which focuses on providing educational and certification opportunities for coaches in outlying regions, female coaches, Aboriginal coaches and coaches of athletes with disabilities.

Getting off the start line
Launching a new product is a monumental task. And it’s a rare product launch that doesn’t require some tweaking along the way. SportsFunder was no exception.

SportsFunder's redesigned logo, launched on August 13, clearly illustrates that proceeds benefit amateur sports in British Columbia“We launched last February and, as time passed, after introducing a couple of different products, we recognized awareness (of SportsFunder) was lower than we had hoped,” said Bodnarchuk. “We conducted focus groups in February 2007 to talk to our players and we learned people didn’t know about SportsFunder. Once they understood the concept, they loved that money went back to support all levels of amateur sport in BC.”

Through the focus group, BCLC realized the logo did not represent SportsFunder well, nor what the program was trying to achieve. A logo redesign was undertaken with the goal of creating interest for players, as well as clearly showing that the proceeds benefit amateur sports in BC. August 13, 2007 marks the launch of this new logo.

Sharing the dream
Along with the new logo, and to help with its funding goal, as of August 13th BCLC is launching a new SportsFunder Instant Win ticket, called SportsFunder Supports. With a top cash prize of $50,000, and like all other SportsFunder Instant Win games, this new game also offers players a chance to both win and give. Players who scratch and win the $1,000 “Share the Dream” prize on their ticket will not only receive $1,000, but they’ll also get to select an amateur sports organization to be the recipient of $1,000.

“It’s been an exciting year and we’ve learned a lot. SportsFunder was the first ‘cause-related’ lottery game BCLC ever launched,” said Bodnarchuk. “We’re making headway and our awareness is increasing. As well, we’re launching some exciting products in the next few months that will help the brand and, in turn, help amateur sports in BC.”

To learn more about SportsFunder and supporting BC’s amateur athletes, visit sportsfunder.com.

August 10

August 10, 2007

The vision of engaging every Canadian in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games today came four steps closer to reality. John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), at the annual Council of the Federation meeting, officially signed four separate memoranda of understanding with the premiers of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to explore opportunities for cooperation and involvement leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Games.

Each provincial premier has identified a number of potential areas for collaboration between his province and Vancouver 2010 that will help VANOC successfully deliver on its mission and vision to engage and benefit citizens across the country in the areas of sport development, culture, volunteerism, tourism and economic development.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent an opportunity for all of Canada to be showcased on the world stage and we invite Canadians, wherever they live, to play an active role,” said Furlong. “The 2010 Winter Games will be Canada’s Games. Today, as we come together in a spirit of cooperation with provinces from both the Atlantic region and the Prairies, we are well on our way to fulfilling our goal of including every region of the country in this remarkable endeavour.”

“By signing this memorandum today, New Brunswick has demonstrated that it is ready and excited to participate in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic experience,” said the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick and Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport. “We have agreed to work with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee on various initiatives, which will ensure that New Brunswick’s unique culture and the skills of our people can contribute in a positive way to the successful hosting of Canada’s Games.”

“In 2010, the world is coming to Canada, and Manitoba needs to be there to greet the world,” said the Honourable Gary Doer, Premier of Manitoba. “The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are an ideal opportunity to show all that Manitoba has to offer to an international audience.”

“These Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games will enable our province to advance Prince Edward Island culture, tourism, economic development and sport initiatives throughout Canada and internationally,” said the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island. “We will also be in a very good position to support the Olympic movement and to promote the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games when we host the Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island in 2009.”

“It gives me great pride to take part in this signing today as it provides a wonderful opportunity for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to make a significant contribution to the 2010 Winter Games,” said the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. “Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) our residents will have the ability to be volunteers at the Games, our province will be showcased at various events and the Torch Relay will visit Newfoundland and Labrador. The MOU also enables us to pursue various opportunities for economic development in the context of the Games, including promoting our province as a tourism destination.”

“As the Host Province of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, British Columbia is working hard to put on an extraordinary experience that will make all of Canada proud and inspire the world,” said the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia. “We are thrilled with our progress to date and are delighted to welcome New Brunswick, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to help truly make these Canada’s Games.”

Prior to today’s announcement, VANOC signed memoranda of understanding with Quebec and the Northern Territories in the areas of language, culture, sport development, volunteerism, tourism and economic development. Discussions are ongoing with the remaining provinces to identify areas of collaboration that will ensure all Canadians can be involved and inspired by the Games in 2010. The goal is to sign memoranda of understanding with all provinces and territories, so as to make the 2010 Winter Games truly Canada’s Games.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

Contact

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com

August 7, 2007

Such is the opinion of John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) who took a moment recently to play forecaster on the occasion of the August 8 celebration of the one-year countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. Furlong cast a global eye, one that could be regarded as historical, cultural and sporting, when he observed “The world is about to find out how capable China is, and how tenacious and talented its people are.”

While the Beijing Games will be the third to be staged in Asia, the next gathering of the world’s best athletes in August and September 2008 will surely prove ground-breaking.

“If any of us sat down to write what we know about China, we would go back to their 5,000 years of history and culture,” said Furlong. “But I think the story that China would want to project to the world is the emerging China, the new China, the modern China.

Sun Weide, deputy director of communications for BOCOG, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, agreed. “We describe hosting the Beijing Games as a 100-year-old dream come true,” he said. “The Beijing Games will be a window into Beijing and China. For a country whose history spans 5,000 years – Beijing itself has more than 3,000 years of history and has been the Chinese capital for more than 850 years – China will not only promote Olympism throughout its vast territory, but also make a significant contribution to cultural exchanges and better understanding between China and the rest of the world.”

Construction crews work on the site of the National Stadium, dubbed the ‘bird’s nest’, home to athletics and football. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)A quick review of the news reveals the tremendous team effort that’s under way to stage the 2008 Summer Games, and the results achieved as Beijing readies itself to welcome the world. As Sun explained, “At present, preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are going smoothly. Magnificent stadiums, masterpieces of modern design and construction, are taking shape; massive expansion and improvement to the public transportation system, with new roads, subways and an air terminal, are well under way; and substantial afforestation endeavours (converting of non-forested areas to forests through tree planting and seeding) by the municipal government and local Beijingers have been adding more green and beauty to the city. In a word, Beijing is getting ready to be a great host city. We’re confident of hosting high-level Games, with distinctive Chinese features.”

On this side of the Pacific Ocean, Furlong noted, “I think the world has framed up a kind of vision of what those Games are going to do, globally and in China, and everyone will be there with eyes wide open wondering just exactly what that will look like.”

The floating boathouse at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park, home to rowing, canoe/kayak at the 2008 Summer Games. (Photo courtesy BOCOG)As today’s China prepares for unprecedented global attention, Sun hopes those who attend the Games “will have a chance to experience China’s 5,000 years of history and civilization, and witness our enormous social and economic progress. Confucius, China’s renowned ancient educator, said more than 2,000 years ago, ‘What a great pleasure to welcome friends from afar!’ International visitors will feel the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people.”

Team Canada visits Beijing
A multi-tiered Team Canada will be among the throng of international arrivals in Beijing. As perhaps the most interested observer in the group, members of the Vancouver 2010 team will take full advantage of what Beijing’s contribution to the world is next year. “We’ll be there to learn, watch and understand the scope of what they do,” said Furlong. “Not only the achievements but also looking at where they were really challenged, because it’s [there] we will learn the most.”

Communication between the two Organizing Committees has long been fluid and fruitful. As Furlong described it, “I would say [both projects] are almost fairly well-baked, in the sense that [BOCOG] has a very clear vision and is past the point of international collaboration on what the project will look like and the scope of it, and we’re kind of in the same place.”

Canada, as Host Country of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will build on its reputation as one of the world’s pre-eminent Winter Games’ nations and biggest supporter, by ambitiously setting itself the goal of topping the medal table for the first time.

The National Aquatics Centre will host swimming, diving and synchronized swimming during the 2008 Summer Games. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)For BOCOG, “high-level performance by athletes from all over the world” is a stated goal. “We hope that athletes will achieve good results in Beijing and of course, we also hope Chinese athletes can deliver their best performance. At the Athens [2004] Games, China won 32 gold medals, the United States 35. But what really matters in sports competitions is the total number of medals,” noted Sun. “In this regard, China only won 63 [total medals], while the United States won 103, and Russia 92. So we are well aware of the gap between our team and the Americans and Russians. Personally, I think we would be very happy if we could repeat what we did in Athens.”

Practice makes perfect
Often referred to as home field advantage, BOCOG is looking to reap the benefits. Having venues completed well ahead of Games time allows Beijing to host test events leading up to the Games, giving their athletes an opportunity to train, race and familiarize themselves with every nuance of their sport’s venue. These ‘dress rehearsals” are ideal in assisting their high-powered athletes to fine-tune to perform at their most inspired in front of passionate crowds.

“Olympic Games are often a once-in-a-lifetime experience for an athlete in his or her career, said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. “There is really no coming together of the world like it – a unique combination of sport, culture, education, ceremonies, regional and national activities, with the athletes front and centre of this experience.”

The official emblems of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Sumer Games. (Photo courtesy BOCOG)It’s impossible to listen to Furlong talk and not become aware of the high expectations he has for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic counterpart on the other side of the Pacific Rim, or to hear the excitement in his voice when he contemplates the opportunity the two inherited when they won their respective nods from the International Olympic Committee. “I think the Olympic Games give a country a chance to unravel its own mysteries,” said Furlong.

The unveiling of China’s traditional mystique to those outside its borders exemplifies the tremendous power within the 21st century Olympic and Paralympic Movements that the two countries now share. With this in mind, it’s easy to imagine that one year from now, we will all be enjoying the movement beneath our feet.

August 1, 2007

A view of the installation of one of the ski jump super structuresIn less than three years, Canada will welcome the world's best winter athletes to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. To that end, the goals of the entire Vancouver 2010 team are clear: to stage outstanding Games and leave positive, lasting legacies that extend long after the Flame has been extinguished.

Preparations are proceeding well across all Games functions and venue construction is on schedule and on budget. The goal of early completion of venues is well on the way to being realized, with the first test events scheduled for the 2007-08 winter season.

People from across Canada and around the world are working hard to make these venues a reality. These are some of their stories.

Kate Perkins and her son at the Trout Lake Community CentreKate Perkins, second vice president of the Grandview Community Association of Trout Lake
Kate Perkins believes Trout Lake Community Centre is the heart of her vital, diverse East Vancouver neighbourhood. It is where Perkins got married, enrolled her son in pre-school, works out and meets up with other families in the neighbourhood.

A board member of the Centre for the past five years, she also knows that the facility has had a long decline.

"Our [ice] rink is really on its last legs," said Perkins, who noted that it has been 40 years since the last renovation. "We actually lost our Junior B Hockey team because our rink is no good and it was unsafe for them to use it."

When Vancouver 2010 announced that it would need a training rink for short track speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Perkins realized it could be a golden opportunity for the Centre's revival. She soon discovered the Trout Lake community agreed.

"We had 200 people turn up for an open house, wanting get involved," Perkins said. "I don't think anyone really expected how much we would want it. But we campaigned hard and diligently ... I think we made it very difficult to say no."

The persistence of the Trout Lake community paid off. This year, the rink will be renovated into a training facility for the world's greatest speed skaters. And, after 2010, Trout Lake will get its Junior B Hockey team back.

"I'm excited we can be involved and experience that magic that is very brief, but incredible," said Perkins. "And after the Games are over, we'll have a world-class facility in our little eastside neighbourhood."

Lauren Harbrow works at the Whistler Nordic Venue in the Callaghan ValleyLauren Harbrow, administrative assistant, Whistler Nordic Venue
For Lauren Harbrow, the journey to Vancouver 2010 began with a decision to change her life.

"I thought – there must be so much more than working nine to five," said Harbrow, who was an event coordinator in Australia at the time. "I woke up and thought ‘you know what? I'm going to go travelling.'"

Harbrow traversed the globe for five years, until she arrived in the Whistler-Blackcomb area. In this snowy resort town, she found something extraordinary.

"I felt connected," Harbrow said. "It was something that I haven't had anywhere else; even though I've travelled all over the world ... it really hit me how much I felt right at home here."

Harbrow became the administrative assistant at the Whistler Nordic Venue in the Callaghan Valley. With no background in construction, the learning curve was steep, but Harbrow loved the work.

When her visa expired, Harbrow had to return to Australia, but she didn't stay long.

"I just missed British Columbia so much – and I found another type of visa that would allow me to return," Harbrow said. She soon found herself back in her old position, this time until the project was complete.

"I absolutely love my job and the people that I work with here. It's amazing to see a venue built from start to finish," Harbrow said. "Seeing it in 2010 on the news, or even in person, and being able to say that I was part of building this venue that everyone will come to – that's the most exciting thing."

The Whistler Nordic Venue will host biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. During the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, it will host biathlon and cross-country skiing events.

Michael Rose at the Thunderbird Winter Sports CentreMichael Rose, manager, Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre
Michael Rose always knew he wanted a career in sports, and so he jumped on a chance to work at the UBC Thunderbird Sports Centre in 2000. What he didn't know was that the job would land him a part in one of the highest-profile sports events in the world.

"I can't imagine having the chance to do this again. It's a one-shot deal," said Rose. "To be part of something that is this exciting for the University of British Columbia, the community and people across the country is something that will probably be unmatched in my career."

Rose manages the Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre, which is currently being refurbished into a competition venue for the 2010 Winter Games. During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the venue will host ice hockey events; during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, it will host ice sledge hockey. The venue is also becoming multi-functional, with opportunities to host many new kinds of events.

Rose said that, in a way, the facility is "coming full circle." In 1963, UBC was home to the first-ever nationally based Olympic hockey program.

"It's exciting to tie those things together and know that the Olympic spirit is still here at UBC," Rose said. "And for the minimal amount of time that the Games are on, people are drawn to it and it brings them together."

"My fingerprints are on this building ... and that's something I take a lot of pride in."

August 1, 2007

A view of the installation of one of the ski jump super structuresIn less than three years, Canada will welcome the world's best winter athletes to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. To that end, the goals of the entire Vancouver 2010 team are clear: to stage outstanding Games and leave positive, lasting legacies that extend long after the Flame has been extinguished.

Preparations are proceeding well across all Games functions and venue construction is on schedule and on budget. The goal of early completion of venues is well on the way to being realized, with the first test events scheduled for the 2007-08 winter season.

People from across Canada and around the world are working hard to make these venues a reality. These are some of their stories.

Kate Perkins and her son at the Trout Lake Community CentreKate Perkins, second vice president of the Grandview Community Association of Trout Lake
Kate Perkins believes Trout Lake Community Centre is the heart of her vital, diverse East Vancouver neighbourhood. It is where Perkins got married, enrolled her son in pre-school, works out and meets up with other families in the neighbourhood.

A board member of the Centre for the past five years, she also knows that the facility has had a long decline.

"Our [ice] rink is really on its last legs," said Perkins, who noted that it has been 40 years since the last renovation. "We actually lost our Junior B Hockey team because our rink is no good and it was unsafe for them to use it."

When Vancouver 2010 announced that it would need a training rink for short track speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Perkins realized it could be a golden opportunity for the Centre's revival. She soon discovered the Trout Lake community agreed.

"We had 200 people turn up for an open house, wanting get involved," Perkins said. "I don't think anyone really expected how much we would want it. But we campaigned hard and diligently ... I think we made it very difficult to say no."

The persistence of the Trout Lake community paid off. This year, the rink will be renovated into a training facility for the world's greatest speed skaters. And, after 2010, Trout Lake will get its Junior B Hockey team back.

"I'm excited we can be involved and experience that magic that is very brief, but incredible," said Perkins. "And after the Games are over, we'll have a world-class facility in our little eastside neighbourhood."

Lauren Harbrow works at the Whistler Nordic Venue in the Callaghan ValleyLauren Harbrow, administrative assistant, Whistler Nordic Venue
For Lauren Harbrow, the journey to Vancouver 2010 began with a decision to change her life.

"I thought – there must be so much more than working nine to five," said Harbrow, who was an event coordinator in Australia at the time. "I woke up and thought ‘you know what? I'm going to go travelling.'"

Harbrow traversed the globe for five years, until she arrived in the Whistler-Blackcomb area. In this snowy resort town, she found something extraordinary.

"I felt connected," Harbrow said. "It was something that I haven't had anywhere else; even though I've travelled all over the world ... it really hit me how much I felt right at home here."

Harbrow became the administrative assistant at the Whistler Nordic Venue in the Callaghan Valley. With no background in construction, the learning curve was steep, but Harbrow loved the work.

When her visa expired, Harbrow had to return to Australia, but she didn't stay long.

"I just missed British Columbia so much – and I found another type of visa that would allow me to return," Harbrow said. She soon found herself back in her old position, this time until the project was complete.

"I absolutely love my job and the people that I work with here. It's amazing to see a venue built from start to finish," Harbrow said. "Seeing it in 2010 on the news, or even in person, and being able to say that I was part of building this venue that everyone will come to – that's the most exciting thing."

The Whistler Nordic Venue will host biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. During the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, it will host biathlon and cross-country skiing events.

Michael Rose at the Thunderbird Winter Sports CentreMichael Rose, manager, Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre
Michael Rose always knew he wanted a career in sports, and so he jumped on a chance to work at the UBC Thunderbird Sports Centre in 2000. What he didn't know was that the job would land him a part in one of the highest-profile sports events in the world.

"I can't imagine having the chance to do this again. It's a one-shot deal," said Rose. "To be part of something that is this exciting for the University of British Columbia, the community and people across the country is something that will probably be unmatched in my career."

Rose manages the Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre, which is currently being refurbished into a competition venue for the 2010 Winter Games. During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the venue will host ice hockey events; during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, it will host ice sledge hockey. The venue is also becoming multi-functional, with opportunities to host many new kinds of events.

Rose said that, in a way, the facility is "coming full circle." In 1963, UBC was home to the first-ever nationally based Olympic hockey program.

"It's exciting to tie those things together and know that the Olympic spirit is still here at UBC," Rose said. "And for the minimal amount of time that the Games are on, people are drawn to it and it brings them together."

"My fingerprints are on this building ... and that's something I take a lot of pride in."

August 1, 2007

Vancouver 2010 volunteers relocating plant species of local interestThe sun blazed down on Cypress Provincial Park as Vancouver 2010 and Cypress community partners worked to save samples of 12 plant species from demolition on a hot day in early July. The “locally significant” plants were found growing in a small wetland – the site for a future snow-making reservoir.

“It’s important to salvage any uncommon plants that have value to the public ... If we just shrugged our shoulders then that would be a loss,” said Alex Wallace, member of the Friends of Cypress Provincial Park Society, a charity dedicated to the protection of Cypress Park's environment.

Wallace said that the plants – including species such as the common butterwort, three-leafed goldthread and round-leaved sundew – are not rare, but are not usually found in environments such as the reservoir site.

The plants were discovered in an environmental assessment of the site. While not required to salvage the plants, Vancouver 2010, its partners and environmental consultants decided that saving them would benefit the park.

The common butterwort (pinguicula vulgaris) has never before been found growing in Cypress Park“Right from the beginning, we had a commitment to delivering great Games on a sustainability platform, and that includes being smart about preparing and staging the Games on as small an environmental footprint as possible,” said Ann Duffy, the program director of sustainability at Vancouver 2010. “When the local community said this was something it really cared about, we said ‘okay, we’ll address that.’”

An excavator was used to dig up large swaths of earth, but a number of plants in sensitive or hard-to-reach areas were moved by hand. Volunteers from Vancouver 2010 donned rubber boots and hard hats at 8:30 am and spent the day shin-deep in muddy water, carefully loosening muddy plots of vegetation with gardening shovels.

Ian Ponsford was one of about a half-dozen VANOC employees who volunteered to help move the plants.

“We talk about it [the environment] and we write about it all the time, but we don’t normally get our hands in it too much,” said Ponsford, who works in environmental approvals and management at Vancouver 2010. “I’m better at writing reports than I am at getting my hands dirty, so today felt very good.”

Volunteers moved smaller plant samples by handAfter excavation, volunteers carefully moved the tiny plants to their new site at a muddy ditch nearby. A local water current had been routed through the ditch earlier that day, providing the plants with enough moisture to survive.

VANOC’s environmental monitor, Alex Sartori, said that in addition to the day spent moving the plants, the project required a week of preparatory labour and over a month of planning.

“Everyone involved – be it Cypress Bowl, Vancouver 2010 contractors or the Cypress community – has really come together to make this possible,” Sartori said.

The project is breaking ground in more ways than one. Little is known about relocating plants in a sub-alpine environment, and specialists hope to learn more through observing the plants. As a means of extra precaution, 20 per cent of the plant samples were taken to the nursery of Frank Skelton, a leading expert in native wetland plants.

In addition to the Friends of Cypress, BC Parks, Cypress Bowl Recreation Limited and environmental consultants, North Construction (a local construction contractor specializing in extreme terrain development) donated man power and equipment time.

Dan Doyle, Executive Vice President of Construction “This is partnership at work,” said Dan Doyle, the executive vice president at Vancouver 2010 responsible for venue construction. “One of the things that we want to do with our Games venues is to be a friend to the environment and produce sustainable venues and this is another example of that.”

Doyle added, “This is the kind of work that we at VANOC want to be known for when we leave in 2010.”

July 18, 2007

Years of intense planning are required to prepare to welcome the world in 2010 and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will need to be ready to deliver spectacular Games when the world arrives. With only 940 days remaining until the Opening Ceremony is held at BC Place, VANOC has increasingly been focusing on Games-time operations. To this end, the Vancouver 2010 Board of Directors received an extensive overview on how VANOC will execute this important deliverable.

VANOC’s Games-Time Operations Steering Committee (GTO), responsible for overseeing the development of VANOC’s Games-time operating plans, policies and procedures, provided a comprehensive update and overview to the Board today, outlining how delivery plans are being developed and integrated within VANOC’s 53 functions.

VANOC Board Chairman Jack Poole continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery from surgery and participated in the meeting via Bell teleconferencing. Board Member Rusty Goepel was elected by the Board Members to act as Chair of the meeting.

"Every board meeting is a compelling review of numerous key activities that are moving the games forward and today was no exception. We reviewed progress in all key areas and are satisfied that there is rigor, discipline and a standard of creativity and excellence being applied across the board,” said Rusty Goepel, acting Chair of the Board meeting. “We were particularly impressed by the overview on VANOC's Games-time planning. This unique approach partnered with early venue completion will put VANOC far head in Games-time readiness, allowing for ample time to test and refine the operations and map out the optimum customer experience."

In addition, the Board received an overall Culture and Celebrations presentation that included an update on the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and VANOC’s receipt of 188 programming partnership proposals from arts and entertainment professionals – proposals received following recent community engagement. The Culture and Celebrations presentation to the Board also included a report on vancouver2010.com/EDU, VANOC’s new online, interactive, bilingual e-magazine that will be launching this fall. /EDU is a portal where teachers and students in Canada and around the world will be able to learn more about Vancouver 2010, the Olympic and Paralympic Movements and programs in sport, culture and sustainability.

The Board members also worked through a series of other regular agenda items, received a venue construction update and authorized the award of a number of contracts that will continue to support venue construction progress for the 2010 Winter Games. Further Board meeting updates and decisions are attached.

Reports, updates and decisions taken at the July 18, 2007 VANOC Board meeting included:

CEO Report

119th International Olympic Committee Session in Guatemala: VANOC presented a progress report to the IOC’s Executive Board and to the full International Olympic Committee session in Guatemala earlier this month.

IPC Visit (June 18-21, 2007): A 10-member delegation of staff from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) met with members of the VANOC team to provide transfer of knowledge sessions on Medical and Paralympic Family Services. The IPC’s visit also served as a one-and-a-half-day project review which included updates from VANOC in 13 areas. VANOC’s vision for the 2010 Games is appropriately aligned with the IPC’s own objectives for raising the visibility of the Paralympic Games, creating a remarkable Games atmosphere and leaving a positive legacy for sport.

Government and Partner Relations: The VANOC team has focused heavily on supporting the passage of Bill C- 47, the Olympic and Paralympic Marks Act, over the past few months. The bill received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007.

Release of the Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report 2005-06: In June, VANOC released its first sustainability performance report, a report which will be updated annually.

Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Village: Detailed planning and design work continues with the City of Vancouver and Millennium Properties. The City has completed significant components of the site preparation and servicing, including utilities installation, road building and waterfront reinstatement. Millennium has been excavating the development parcels since January 2007. Waterfront hard and soft landscaping works commenced in late May to ensure the waterfront can be opened to the public during the construction period.

Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village: Good progress is being made onsite with utilities installation and road building. The Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) submitted its first Development Permit application (for 42 town home units on Parcel A) for consideration by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) at the end of May, which will allow foundation work to start by late summer. Architectural design work is also progressing well on two apartment-style buildings to be located in the core of the Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Accommodation Update: The Accommodations team has now secured over 80 per cent of VANOC’s room requirements, including approximately 14,000 rooms in Greater Vancouver. The Organizing Committee is continuing to work with hotel properties to secure additional accommodation to ensure all room requirements can be met. In Whistler, approximately 4,000 rooms have been committed to date and dialogue with the owners of properties continues. The Accommodations, Technology and Finance teams are also working to design and implement the business processes required to operate the reservation system.

Cultural Community Event: On June 12, VANOC invited the creative community and the Vancouver media to attend an overview of VANOC’s Culture and Celebration, Education and Ceremonies programs. Over 450 participants took part, with many more following up online. A Request for Proposal for programming partnerships for the 2008 Celebration was announced, attracting 188 proposals from arts and entertainment professionals from across BC and beyond.

Communications Update: On June 26, VANOC launched its new Intranet site called ICE, which will serve as a critical internal communications tool as VANOC’s workforce team grows. An Extranet is under development that will be named SNOW. In June, VANOC also reached a significant milestone in the development of its advertising strategy. After a thorough and competitive process, a pan-Canadian group called The Hyphen Alliance was selected as VANOC’s creative and advertising agency, made up of Hyphen Communications (Vancouver), Downtown Partners (Toronto) and bleublancrouge (Montreal). Final measures are also underway to select the media buying agency that will assist VANOC in developing plans for strategic advertising.

Senior Management Reports

A revenue and marketing overview was provided to the Board, including an update on VANOC’s sponsorship program, discussions with new potential corporate partners and details on corporate interest in Torch Relays sponsorship opportunities.

A ticketing update was provided, with confirmation of next steps in the Vancouver 2010 ticketing planning strategy including the planned public release of ticket sales information in the fall of 2007.

VANOC’s Games-Time Operations Steering Committee (GTO) provided an extensive report on progress being made within the Organizing Committee as its 53 functions focus on important Games-Time planning.

Also included in the senior management reports were: an update from the Sport department; an update regarding the approval of Bill C-47; and an update from VANOC’s Strategic Communications Steering Committee.

Report of the Finance Committee
A report of the Finance Committee meetings, held on June 4 and July 9, 2007, included the following recommendations that required approvals from the VANOC Board. The Finance Committee update also included updates on contracts approved by the Finance Committee but that did not require Board approval. Contract awards are posted on vancouver2010.com following their completion.

1. Venue construction:
The Finance Committee recommended, and the Board approved a resolution that VANOC management be authorized to award and finalize a contract for the design services and construction of the foundation work for the Whistler Athletes’ Centre lodge and town homes.

2. Contribution Agreement between Canada and VANOC for 2007-08:
The Finance Committee recommended, and the Board subsequently approved a resolution that VANOC management be authorized to complete and execute a contribution agreement between VANOC and the Government of Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. The contribution agreement covers anticipated venue costs for the upcoming busy construction season. Completion of the agreement is a prerequisite to the flow of funds to VANOC from the Government of Canada and the agreement is expected to be similar to that of the previous three funding periods for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.

3. Bank Signing Authorities:
The Finance Committee recommended and the Board approved a resolution identifying the signing officers for VANOC and their respective signing authorities, updated following recent management changes in VANOC’s Finance Division.

Venue Construction Update
The Board received an update from management on the status of venue construction, which remains on budget and on schedule. Key information is included in the June 28, 2007 VANOC Quarterly Report, available at vancouver2010.com.

Although the slow snowmelt at higher elevations of the mountain venues triggered a need to reschedule in some areas, the overall venue schedule remains on track.

The last of 350 foundations for the Whistler Sliding Centre was constructed in mid-June and the first roof beam was recently erected at the Richmond Oval.

The first of the prefabricated sections of the ski jump structures have been transported to site at the Whistler Nordic Venue.

Grading for the snowboard half-pipe at Cypress Mountain is well advanced, while Rinks B and C at the UBC Winter Sports Centre have now been handed over to UBC for use. Contractors have moved into the Pacific Coliseum to undertake the planned ice plant renovation works. Construction results at Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park are now increasingly evident as excavation is completed and foundations are cast.

Scheduled completion of the Whistler Athletes’ Centre is slated for fall 2008. The design for the High Performance Centre has been completed and a Request for Proposal has been issued for the wall panels. A general contract for the remaining work is to be tendered imminently, with work scheduled to begin in August.

A meeting of VANOC’s Construction Advisory Committee was held at the Hillcrest site on June 21st. The Committee was established pursuant to agreements with the Government Partners that are funding the VANOC venue development program, and its members include: Klaus Biebach, Dan Doyle, Tom Johnson, Anibal Valente and Henry Wakabayashi.

Report of the Audit Committee
The Board received an update from the Audit Committee meeting held on June 11, 2007. The Committee had approved the financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the quarter ended April 30 for public release in June, and had reviewed the financial statement disclosure of significant transactions during the quarter. The Committee also reported that it has approved the audit plan for the year ending July 31, 2007.

In Camera Sessions

Mascot update

Ceremonies update

Background:
The Vancouver 2010 Board of Directors is made up of 20 members nominated by: the Canadian Olympic Committee (seven); the Government of Canada (three); the Province of British Columbia (three); the City of Vancouver (two); the Resort Municipality of Whistler (two); the Canadian Paralympic Committee (one); a joint appointment by the Band Councils of the Lil'wat and Squamish Nations (one); and one member nominated by the other 19 members.

The Board is scheduled to meet six times per year, and more often at the call of the Chair as required. The meetings are generally held at the Vancouver 2010 offices in Vancouver, although they are occasionally hosted by our Games partners in other locations. The Board’s responsibility is to oversee the conduct of the business of VANOC as it works toward achieving its Mission, to touch the soul of the nation and inspire the world by creating and delivering an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience with lasting legacies.

As part of its commitment to public transparency and accountability, the Vancouver 2010 Board of Directors has made today’s agenda, discussion topics and decisions available to the public on vancouver2010.com, subject to conditions of confidentiality related to personal information and/or competitively sensitive or privileged information. VANOC is also committed to hosting media briefings following each Board meeting with the Board Chairman, the CEO and other director(s) or members of the VANOC senior management team to elaborate further on matters.

Next Meeting
The next meeting of the VANOC Board of Directors is scheduled for September 19, 2007.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

July 18, 2007

The buzz about Whistler Mountain’s phenomenal conditions spread throughout Canada and lured droves of skiers to the area in the early 1960s. (Photo courtesy Whistler Museum and Archives)If some people think Whistler, British Columbia isn’t "on the map" now, they'll certainly change their minds by 2010 when it plays host to sport and cultural events as part of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games. And it’s all thanks to the vision of a few alpine enthusiasts who recognized Whistler’s potential even before its mountains had chairlifts.

Less than 50 years ago the Whistler region – then known as Alta Lake – was a quaint little summer getaway tucked into the BC Coast Mountains. Yet it wasn’t until a few determined skiers trudged their way to the top of a local mountain and experienced some of the best skiing of their lives that the area’s vast potential became clear.

Back then what is now the lively Whistler Village was once a garbage dump. There were no shops or restaurants, no high-speed gondolas and no snow grooming. If fresh powder was what you were after, you had to hike to it.

Prior to the onset of development in the late 70s, what would become Whistler’s town centre was then the community’s garbage dump. (Photo courtesy Whistler Museum and Archives)Forty years later, Whistler has received international accolades. The area entices skiers and snowboarders from across the globe who seek record-breaking snowfalls that blanket the town’s spectacular mountains.

Long-time Whistler resident, and president of the Whistler Museum and Archives, Alex Kleinman, was lured by tales of the Coast Mountains.

“My eyes were coming out of their sockets all of the time and I’m thinking, ‘Wow, look at that,’” Kleinman recollected, of his first sights of Whistler. “Even if you weren’t from the West Coast, you had a dream to come out to see this Mecca, and what was here was magnificent. That’s no different now.”

“[The Olympic Games] has consumed us as a group, as a community but I am quite proud of where we have gotten ourselves, knowing our community history and how we got to this particular [2010] Bid,” said Kleinman. “We’ve been through a Bid six times, but we’ve tried a number of methodologies that have always been around promoting our community.”

Defining a direction

The possibility of hosting an Olympic Games defined the growth and direction of Whistler. (Photo courtesy Tourism Whistler)During the early 1960s, a group of Vancouver businessmen and members of the Canadian Olympic Committee formed the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) whose goal was to seek out and develop a site to host a future Olympic Winter Games in Western Canada.

When GODA proposed to host the 1968 Olympic Winter Games, Whistler (which was then known as London Mountain) had very few amenities – no runs, lifts, roads, hydro or sewage systems. Experts were brought in to advise GODA on essential facilities required for hosting a Winter Games. Despite meeting the Canadian Olympic Committee’s technical requirements, the area’s lack of regional development and highway access cost GODA the bid. From 1962 to 1965, and with the continuing dream of hosting an Olympic Winter Games, funds were raised, a rough road from Vancouver was completed and development of the ski area began.

“The possibility of hosting an Olympic Games defined the growth and direction of Whistler. The community maintained a clear vision of what it wanted to be and that was a resort,” said Mike Vance, general manager of policy and special projects for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). “When we started planning for the Village, we didn’t plan for street lights and never anticipated the amount of permanent home owners, but we knew we needed people there to invest in the community, like local ‘mom and pop’ organizations.”

Avoiding growing pains
In 1964, Canadian international alpine skier Al Raine, together with some skiing friends, piled into a Volkswagen Beetle and drove what took, at that time, five hours along old hydro service roads to Whistler. Arriving in the dark, the snowy sights that greeted them in the morning were enough to keep Raine in Whistler for almost 30 years, during which time Raine worked as the provincial ski coach, and later, as program director of Canada’s first official national alpine ski team. He was subsequently appointed as a provincial alderman for Whistler.

Raine and wife Nancy Greene, legendary Canadian alpine skier, were regular visitors to world-class ski resorts, so they had in their heads a similar vision for Whistler. Their European ski experiences would prove invaluable when it came to planning the Whistler-Blackcomb vision.

One of the many high speed lifts that whisks skiers and snowboarders to the world-renowned snow that put Whistler on the map. (Photo courtesy Tourism Whistler)With the guidance and expertise of planner Gary Watson, Raine created a sustainable community and zoning plan for Whistler Village. The next step would be to develop Blackcomb Mountain, the neighbouring giant to Whistler Mountain.

“[Gary Watson] and I, together with Mayor [Pat] Carleton, worked our tails off to make sure it got off the ground and to make sure that it was the right vision,” said Raine. “The mountains in British Columbia are every bit as good as the mountains in Europe. Our knowledge about how to design them is just as good, so we knew we really should have world-class skiing in Canada.”

A climate of opportunity
It’s an exciting time for Whistler, and its council has some careful planning ahead of it in the next few years.

The 2010 Winter Games will bring legacies such as affordable housing, community play fields, walking trails and improved accessibility for people with physical disabilities. According to Vance, the positive vibe in Whistler just keeps getting better and better.

With a vibrant village and Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains as the backdrop, Whistler will welcome the world in 2010. (Photo courtesy Tourism Whistler)“You walk through the Village and look around and think you could never [recreate Whistler] today,” said Vance. “Part of it was optimism, but really it was just the Whistler culture of overachieving. People were committed to doing as opposed to philosophizing – it was all about getting it done.”

In less than three years, Whistler’s founders and visionaries will witness the culmination of their efforts as athletes and spectators from around the world share in a celebration of the possible.

July 6, 2007

Jack Poole, Chairman of the Board of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), underwent pancreatic surgery yesterday in Vancouver. His surgical team reports a successful operation and expects a full and complete recovery.

The surgery was led by the head of pancreatic surgery at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Charles Scudamore. “This was a complete team effort,” said Dr. Scudamore. “Over the course of four hours our surgical team removed an isolated malignant tumour from the pancreas that showed no signs of having spread. After the full removal of the tumour, we also took several measures to ensure a healthy digestive system over the long term. Jack is a strong and healthy patient who handled the surgery very well. He will remain in hospital for a time, and will then follow a prescribed recovery program supervised by his medical team.”

“The day before his surgery, I spoke with Jack, who was following with great interest in the vote that day for those cities vying to host the 2014 Winter Games,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Office. “Jack was positive and feeling good. These encouraging results from his surgery speak very well for his physical and mental health as he now transitions down the road to recovery. Jack has faced many challenges in his life, both in business and in health, and has always approached both with the same positive attitude and expectations for the very best results. Our thoughts are with him and his family as he recuperates.”

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

July 5, 2007

Highlights include balanced budget, early venue completion and lasting legacies

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) presented a project update today to the 119th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. The update, delivered by VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong, highlighted VANOC’s balanced budget, early venue completion schedule and progress on creating lasting legacies. The full project update, in report format, is available at vancouver2010.com.

“With only 953 days until the Opening Ceremony in 2010 we are optimistic about our progress to date,” said Furlong. “We encourage Games enthusiasts around the world to take an active interest in the work we are undertaking on their behalf and the legacies that will remain for the benefit of future generations.”

"Since Vancouver 2010's election at the IOC Session in Prague in 2003, a little over four years ago now, the VANOC team has worked tirelessly to create Olympic Winter Games of the highest quality,” said René Fasel, Chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the XXI Olympic Winter Games. “I am always impressed by the dedication and team spirit which they, and all the partners involved in the Games, apply day after day. As they go into the final three years of preparations, they are in good shape.”

VANOC’s update to the IOC included details on its balanced budget, outlined in full in the Organizing Committee’s Business Plan and Games Budget, which was publicly released on May 8, 2007. The Business Plan details current estimates and assumptions based on VANOC’s best assessment of Games requirements, risks and opportunities.

“Its seems like only yesterday that I was Chairman of the IOC’s Evaluation Commission for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and we were in Vancouver studying the Canadian proposal,” said Gerhard Heiberg, Chairman of the IOC’s Marketing Commission. “Four years on, things are still looking good. In my role as IOC Marketing Commission Chairman, I am also pleased to see that VANOC is making great strides in its marketing program, which is a key element to the success of these Canadian Games.”

Since the Torino 2006 Winter Games, VANOC has welcomed 17 new Canadian sponsors to the team, bringing the total to 23 and generating more than 80 per cent of its domestic sponsorship target, with $615 million of a total target of $760 million now committed. VANOC’s licensing and merchandising program has also been active over the past year. To date, VANOC has announced licensing agreements with 23 Canadian companies.

Today’s project update also underscored VANOC’s plans to complete 2010 competition sites as early as possible to reduce complexity and risk and to maximize athlete training and testing opportunities.

“All but three competition venues will be finished this year, with the rest completed in late 2008, providing ample training time for athletes,” said Furlong. “This is one of the earliest venue completion schedules in modern Games history.”

In addition, the VANOC update highlighted the Organizing Committee’s plans to leverage the Games to create sustainable legacies for Vancouver, Whistler, British Columbia and Canada – legacies that will last long after the final medal is awarded. These legacies are detailed in the Vancouver 2010 Business Plan and Games Budget and include facilities for summer and winter high performance sport, recreational legacies for communities in both the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Whistler, mixed-use housing and a commitment to providing 250 non-market (supportive) housing units.

Additional information on VANOC’s legacy initiatives, particularly in the areas of environmental stewardship and impact reduction, social inclusion and responsibility, Aboriginal participation and collaboration, economic benefits and sport for sustainable living, can be found in the 2005-06 edition of the Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report, released on June 5, 2007, the first of five annual sustainability reports VANOC will produce. Both the Vancouver 2010 Business Plan and Games Budget and the Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report 2005-06 are available at vancouver2010.com.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

July 5

July 4, 2007

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) congratulates the Sochi Bid Committee for earning the honour of hosting the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014. Sochi was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today at its 119th Session, held in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

“For the people of Sochi and Russia today is the end of one journey and the beginning of another,” said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “The bid process is now over and the organization of the 2014 Winter Games has begun. We look forward to working with the IOC to share our experiences with Sochi as they carry the Olympic and Paralympic ideals forward for future generations.”

“To the cities of Salzburg and PyeongChang, we acknowledge the tremendous journey you have followed to reach this pivotal moment,” Furlong added. “You have achieved much; as a result of this bidding process, the world knows more now about the tremendous commitment and enthusiasm for winter sport in Austria and the Republic of Korea than they did before. We look forward to welcoming your teams to compete in the Games in Vancouver in 2010.”

Furlong attended the 119th Session to present an update on Vancouver’s progress and was present for the vote. A shortened version of Vancouver 2010’s Celebrate the Possible video was also included as part of the IOC’s international broadcast of the vote.

Seven cities initially submitted applications to host the Games, with three advancing to the final stage – Sochi (Russia), Salzburg (Austria) and PyeongChang (Republic of Korea)*. The IOC’s 2014 Evaluation Committee, led by IOC Vice-President Chiharu Igaya, visited each city earlier this year and conducted on-site analyses to assess the ability of each city to stage the Games.

The IOC Members all received a written report produced by the Evaluation Commission and today, following the presentations by the three Candidate Cities, the Members were given a verbal report from the Evaluation Commission.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

*Candidate Cities listed in the order of the drawing of lots.

June 28, 2007

Proceeds from the sale of Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines, set to hit liquor store shelves beginning June 30, help support the Canadian Olympic TeamBy sipping a lively Chardonnay or a velvety smooth Merlot, Canadians will soon have the opportunity to support the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Canadian Olympic Team.

On June 30th in British Columbia, and just the day before Canada Day, Vincor Canada – Official Wine Supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – will uncork its exclusive Vancouver co-brand 2010 label Jackson-Triggs Esprit Chardonnay and Esprit Merlot wines.

“In true partnership with Vancouver 2010, we wanted to release a commemorative co-branded wine that really capture the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Casey Howe, brand manager of Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines. “Every time you purchase a bottle of Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines, partial proceeds not only support the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also our Canadian team. In the true spirit of the Games, we’re proud to have the opportunity to give back.”

The two Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines will initially be sold in BC. By late August, both will also grace provincial and private liquor store wine racks and dining establishments across Canada, with a portion of the proceeds going to Vancouver 2010 and the Canadian Olympic Team over the next three Games, including Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012.

Lorraine Smith, senior account manager of corporate partners for Vancouver 2010, says Vincor Canada, a Constellation Company, is a natural fit for Vancouver 2010.

“Jackson-Triggs Esprit really embraces the Vancouver 2010 brand,” says Smith. “[Vincor and Vancouver 2010] have aligned values and are very like-minded on sustainability and creativity.”

A Unique Varietal of Sponsorship
As Steve Bolliger, senior vice president of marketing for Vincor Canada, sees it, the Vancouver 2010 sponsorship is a win-win situation. Vincor is Canada’s largest wine company. As such, its Official Supplier status brings an ability to carry the look and feel of Vancouver 2010 right across the country. Add to this that the Vincor Canada brand also carries the Osoyoos Indian Band’s Nk’Mip Cellars wines, from BC’s Okanagan Valley region. As North America’s only Aboriginal owned and operated winery, there’s a perfect synergy given that Aboriginal inclusion is an integral element of the overall Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mandate.

“We are very proud to be a sponsor of Vancouver 2010 and the athletes of the Winter and the next two Summer Games,” says Bolliger. “That’s what this is really all about.”

The Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines mark the first time Vincor Canada has ever created a co-branded sponsor wine.

“We are strong brand builders so we don’t do a lot of control or custom labels for independent or specific retailers,” said Bolliger, “but we just saw that this was such a huge opportunity and such an important initiative – both from a social side and also from a business side.”

Flavours of the Games

Jackson-Triggs Esprit Chardonnay is one of the wines on offering from the Vincor Canada exclusive Vancouver 2010 labelFor this unique partnership, Vincor Canada selected its first two varietals based on Canadian tastes. Chardonnay, as a white, is the largest-selling varietal in Canada. And when it comes to reds, Merlot is also one of Canada’s favourite varietals. In spring of 2008, Jackson-Triggs Esprit will introduce two more wines that are gaining in popularity – Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

The Chardonnay is brimming with lively notes of lemon and green apple and is elegantly balanced with creamy citrus flavours and a touch of oak. The Merlot can be described as velvety smooth, a wine that wraps spicy cherry, raspberry and vanilla essences around bold flavours of black currant and red berry fruit.

The June 30th launch in liquor stores across BC will give wine aficionados and Vancouver 2010 supporters the first opportunity to sample the Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines. As well, in select cities, it will serve as an occasion to receive a specially-designed collector’s pin and meet some of Canada’s best athletes, such as snowboarder Drew Neilson, rower Iain Brambell and freestyle mogul skiers Kristi Richards and Christopher Wong who will be signing bottles of the Jackson-Triggs Esprit wines.

Canadians Supporting Canadians
Vincor has Canadian roots. Since its beginnings in 1874 as the Niagara Falls Wine Company, it grew to be one of the top 10 wine companies in the world by 2006, with production in Canada, California, Washington State, Western Australia and New Zealand. Some of the more widely-known brands from the Vincor portfolio include Inniskillin Wines, Jackson-Triggs Estate Wines, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Naked Grape, Sawmill Creek, President Sparkling, Nk’Mip Cellars, Le Clos Jordanne and Osoyoos Larose.

Whether it’s red or white, Vincor Canada is a trailblazer in the Canadian wine industry. Not surprisingly, its vintners share a dedication, passion and artistry – characteristics that also symbolize the spirit of Vancouver 2010. From coast to coast to coast, Canadians will soon be able to taste this dedication, passion and artistry first-hand, and to see it on display, in full force, at Games time. Cheers to that.

In-store Jackson-Triggs Esprit launch event, Saturday June 30 from 12noon to 4pm:

Vancouver:
BC Liquor Store, 39th and Cambie
With freestyle skier Kristi Richards (12noon to 1:45pm)

West Vancouver:
BC Liquor Store, Park Royal
With freestyle skier Kristi Richards (2:30pm – 4:00pm)

Victoria:
BC Liquor Store, Fort Street
With rower Iain Brambell

Kelowna:
BC Liquor Store, Orchard Park
With snowboarder Drew Neilson

Prince George:
BC Liquor Store, Pine Centre
With freestyle skier Christopher Wong

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June 28, 2007

The 20,010th ICBC commemorative license plate With the opening of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games still 30 months away, British Columbians are already showing just how much they’ve embraced the Games, in a wheel sense.

In early April, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) signed on with Vancouver 2010 as an Official Supporter of the Games, as the official motor vehicle insurer for the Organizing Committee’s fleet of roughly 4,500 General Motors vehicles. ICBC’s sponsorship also includes a program where members of the public can show their support by purchasing commemorative 2010 Games licence plates.

The plates feature the Official Emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the province’s slogan “The Best Place on Earth” and a mountain vista of the snow-capped peaks of Garibaldi Park, along Highway 99 on the road to Whistler.

“This is a pretty historical event to happen in British Columbia and as the main insurer in BC for auto insurance, it only made sense that we were involved in some way or another,” ICBC media relations spokesman Doug Henderson said following the announcement. “From a marketing standpoint it was a good way for us to become a sponsor and leverage that sponsorship to help us look for ways to maintain our optional insurance customers. We saw some good opportunities there. On the licence plate side of things, we just saw that as a good way to allow British Columbians to be able to show their support for the Games on an individual basis. That’s the beauty of the licence plate side of the program – it’s strictly voluntary. People who want to show their support for the Games can buy a licence plate and help promote the Games, both inside BC but also when they’re traveling around other parts of Canada or the States.”

All ICBC policyholders insuring passenger vehicles, motor homes, commercial trucks and trailers, farm trucks, motorcycles and utility trailers in BC are eligible. The plates cost $35 (with an annual renewal fee of $25) and can be purchased at any time. They will be on sale through December 31, 2010, and renewable through 2012. Those who continue to renew through December 31, 2010 will be able to keep their front licence plates as souvenirs. Net proceeds from all plate sales go directly to supporting the Games and their legacy.

“As the media relations spokesperson, I don’t normally receive a lot of phone calls from the public,” Henderson noted, “but when it was announced that we were going to be selling these plates, my phone was ringing a fair amount from people out there wanting more details about how to get a plate, so that in itself said to me that people are definitely interested. It struck a chord with people.”

Sales surpass lucky number 20,010

VANOC’s Dave Cobb and ICBC’s Ed Novac, along with Olympic snowboarder Alexa Loo, recognize Michael Sentes as purchaser of the 20,010th commemorative license plate and his support of the 2010 GamesIn mid-June, ICBC announced the sale of the 20,010th plate, purchased by Richmond resident Michael Sentes. For Sentes, who describes himself as “pretty sports-minded,” when it came time to bring his vintage ’89 Cadillac out of winter storage, the timing couldn’t have been better. “When the weather turns warm, we bring it out and when we went to get it insured, as soon as I saw (the plates) I said yes, I want one of those, to support the Olympics. It’s good, for BC and for Canada, I think. Just look at the speed-skating oval here in Richmond [under construction] and how it’s going to benefit us. I think it’s great.”

The retired Richmond resident confesses to being more of a golf enthusiast these days than a winter sports activist, but sport is sport. “I had only seen a few of them around, now you see them everywhere,” he said of the plates. And it didn’t take long for him to receive kudos on his bell-ringing purchase. “I took it to the golf club and the boys looked at it and they thought it was great.”

Having never attended an Olympic or Paralympic Games before, Sentes said he hopes to be able to get to Whistler to attend some skiing events, particularly ski jumping, while his wife is keen to take in the speed skating competitions closer to home.

BC Premier Gordon Campbell repeatedly emphasizes that these are BC’s Games. So far, plate sales confirm this, with strong buy-in from across the province.

“It’s the uniqueness of the plate that appeals to a lot of people. I think a lot of people like the look of the plate too, and the numbers speak for themselves,” said Henderson. “In less than two months, we’ve already sold over 20,000 plates, so I think that shows not only how popular the plates are, but also just how much people are behind the Games.

Expanding the program
John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) went a step further when the licence plate program was unveiled. “Our goal is for all BC residents and Canadians to feel ownership of the Games, and ICBC’s reach to all British Columbians will offer everyone the chance to demonstrate their pride and excitement,” said Furlong. “Following the leadership of ICBC, we’ll now look to develop licence plate programs in provinces and territories across Canada.”

“ICBC is more than ready to help,” said Henderson. “I think that if there are other provinces that showed interest in adopting a similar program, then we would be a resource and be able to walk them through the process and help encourage them. It would be interesting to see what interest there would be in other provinces and other parts of the country.”

Interestingly enough, similar Games-related licence plate programs ran in conjunction with the Montreal 1976 Olympic Summer Games and the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games. On the road to 2010, the licence plate tradition continues.

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June 28, 2007

The RBC mascot greets children at the Paralympic Emblem launch in WhistlerBeginning February 12, 2010, BC will host one of the most complex and high-profile sporting events in the world. On May 8, 2007, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) released its operating budget, describing just what the price tag for running this event will be: $1.63 billion.

Who will pick up the majority of this billion-dollar tab? Sponsors, both worldwide and national, are companies that commit significant amounts of funding, products or services in return for the opportunity to associate with one of the most recognizable brands on the planet – and to contribute to an event that will inspire generations of audiences around the world. Hosting the Games without the support of sponsors would not only be burdensome for host communities, such as Vancouver and Whistler, but impossible.

Many sponsors, one goal
Sponsorship at VANOC is split into various levels. Worldwide International Sponsors (also known as TOP sponsors) are signed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and have rights to promote themselves in association with the Games, both Summer and Winter, around the globe. These sponsors include prominent corporations such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and VISA, who sign on for multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games. While Vancouver 2010 has seven TOP sponsors (Atos Origin, GE, Omega and Samsung, in addition to the three mentioned above), several more are expected to join before the 2010 Winter Games begin.

Domestic sponsors are engaged by VANOC for the right to market the Olympic and Paralympic Games within Canada. These sponsors’ support ranges, financially speaking, anywhere from $3 million to $200 million, and are designated into three categories: National Sponsors, Official Supporters and Official Suppliers. VANOC currently has nearly 25 sponsors at the National level, and expects to engage over 50 by Games time.

Beyond dollars and cents

Petro-Canada’s commitment to the Games includes fuel and fuel-related projects as well as support for Canada’s athletesSponsor support extends well beyond simple cash contributions. From every phone call placed at VANOC headquarters and made possible by Bell Canada, to the Omega timepieces that will record the fastest athletes on ice and snow in 2010, to Teck Cominco’s gold, silver, and bronze that will be shaped into medals to decorate champions as they ascend the podium, sponsors provide essential goods and services that are necessary to the success of the Games.

More services provided by sponsors include the following:

Need a lift? – General Motors gets athletes, spectators and officials where they need to go, with a range of hybrid, biodiesel and alternative fuel vehicles that help VANOC reduce greenhouse gases and stage environmentally sustainable Games

It’s a wrap – By the time the international spotlight is on Vancouver and Whistler, the cities will be vibrant in the “look” and colours of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Readying these host communities for their close-up is 3M, an Official Supplier that will cover, or “wrap,” cars, buses and buildings – and even a few 160-metre ships – with designs inspired by the 2010 Winter Games

Flying high – Air Canada will fly Canadian teams – and their dreams for podium success – to the Beijing, Vancouver and London Games in 2008, 2010 and 2012

Investing in Olympic and Paralympic legacies
The IOC International Sponsorship Program accounts for approximately $201 million in total Games revenue. Domestic sponsorship accounts for approximately $760 million. This accounts for 71 per cent of the total revenue generated by the Games. It’s a level of sponsorship that Neeta Soni, director of marketing and client services at VANOC, calls “unprecedented.”

“This level of sponsorship engagement is rare in Games history, or in the history of any event – especially when you consider that it takes place in a country with Canada’s population,” said Soni. “It serves as a strong indication of the interest there is nationally in showcasing Canada and supporting Canadian athletes, and also of how these sponsors identify with the values of the Games.”

Soni noted th