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Ilanaaq
the 2010 Olympic Mascot was designed from a traditional Inukshuk 1 |
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"Olympism is a philosophy
of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will
and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create
a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good
example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
—Olympic Charter, Fundamental principles, paragraph 2
First, Montreal
in '76. Then, Calgary in
'88. Next, in 2010, the Olympics return to Canada
when Vancouver, B.C.
hosts the 20th Winter Olympic Games—and what a fitting a host it will be.
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The
Magnificent City of Vancouver BC 2 |
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This magnificent coastal city
is one of Canada's top destinations to live and play in. It is located just over
an hour from the world famous slopes of Whistler
Ski Resort. As one of the nation's most diverse and exciting cities it
offers the populace a potpourri of attractions. It's mild maritime climate bestows
it with balmy weather patterns and some of the most pristine powder available.
In short, it has everything the Games need.
Once it was announced on
July 2, 2003 that the Olympic Committee selected Vancouver as the host for the
2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the city erupted into activity as
preparations for the games got underway. With villages to be built and venues
to be upgraded, highways to be expanded and accommodations to be promoted it
looks like things are not going to slow down until sometime in March, 2010,
when the curtains fall on another Winter Olympics.
These are exciting times
for the city of Vancouver, and the world is invited to stop by while they countdown
the days until February 12, 2007.
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2010
Olympic Games Timeline |
THE GAMES IN BRIEF
CEREMONIES
This is one of the world's largest and most complex sporting events, and accordingly
it comes with a very high profile. The world will be watching as Vancouver hosts
27 days of competition that will bring in 6,000 athletes and officials from
80 plus countries, along with 10,000 media representatives to tell their stories.
The event begins with the
Opening Ceremonies and the age old Lighting of the Olympic Torch. Each year
this pageant becomes more and more elaborate, featuring fantastic artistic programs,
parades and traditional formalities. It signifies the beginning of competition
as well as the spirit of the Games.
At the summation of all
the events, the Closing Ceremonies take place. During this exposition the Olympic
Flame is extinguished and the Olympic flag is lowered, which indicates the end
of the Games. It is also a time to honour Olympians of the past and the future.
OLYMPIC EVENTS
The list of sports sanctioned by the IOC varies widely and is open to change.
Some competitions like the bobsleigh event have been part of the Games since
the beginning, others such as snowboarding are relatively new, and still-others,
like tug-of-war, are no longer part of the competitions. Currently, 14 different
sports are on the Winter Olympic's roster, including:
Alpine Skiing
Comprised of six separate
events, these high-paced, downhill races see competitors racing the clock as
they slalom through gates as fast as possible with penalties received for gates
missed. These events were first included in the 1936 Games.
Biathlon
Originally a tactic of northern European hunters, biathlon became an Olympic
sport in 1960. The competition features four different events, each involving
a combination of cross-country skiing and marksmanship.
Bobsleigh/Luge/Skeleton
These three events are easily the fastest, non-motorized sports known. They
involve Olympians piloting a sled down a course made of ice, each aiming for
the fastest time. The sports differ in the type of sled involved and the number
of pilots on-board.
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Snowboarding
in a Halfpipe Competition 3 |
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Cross-Country Skiing
A sport of endurance and refinement, this event involves 10-, 15-, 30- and 50-km
(6.2-, 9.3-, 18.6- and 31-mi) races, plus 1.5 km (0.9 mi) sprints, where athletes
ski over flat tracks with slight gradations competing for the best time possible.
Curling
Played by a team of five, curling is staged on a large sheet of ice and sees
teams alternate at casting heavy, granite stones towards a target area. Players
may hit the opposing team's stones with their own in a bid to knock them out
of possition.
Figure Skating
Part sport, part art, figure skating features participants in singles or in
pairs events performing acrobatic dance routines on an oval ice rink. Competitors
receive scores from a panel of judges assigned by the IOC.
Freestyle Skiing
Two events shape freestyle skiing, the moguls competition and the aerial competition.
Moguls participants race down a treacherously rough course with two jumps designed
for aerial maneuvers, while the aerial competition involves high-flying, acrobatic
stunts that are judged on form and landing.
Ice Hockey
This sport is hugely popular in Canada and is sure to draw alot of attention.
The game pits two teams against each other for three 20-minute periods where
the object is to score points by shooting a small plastic puck into the opponent's
net using a curved stick. The rink is larger than regulation National Hockey
League rinks but many of the rules are the same.
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Curling
Stones 4 |
Nordic Combined
A part of the Winter Olympics since its inception in 1924, this event combines
ski jumping with cross-country skiing. The jumping portion occurs first followed
by a cross-country race, the two being seperated by 35 minutes to a few hours.
Ski Jumping
This event involves a huge jump from which competitors fly extreme distances
in an attempt to achieve the longest jump. They are judged on distance, form
and landing.
Snowboarding
A recent addition to the Winter Games, snowboarding events include aerial stunts
in the halfpipe competition, slalom races in the alpine competition, and the
high-flying boardercross event. Described as motorcross on snow, boardercross
features four snowboarders in a head-to-head, downhill race.
Speed Skating
Speed skating involves head-to-head races where atheletes utilize special ice-skates
designed for speed. Races range from 500 m (547 yd) to 10,000 m (10,936 yd)
and see competitors reaching speeds of more than 60 km/h (37.2 mi/h) in a bid
for the best time.
Though earning the chance
to compete in the Olympics is an amazing feat in and of itself; gold, silver
and bronze medals are awarded to the contestants who rank first, second and
third. These medals are presented during a medal ceremony at the completion
of each event.
WHERE THE GAMES ARE PLAYED
The venues chosen for the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will reach from the municipality
of Richmond on the
coast, to Vancouver's downtown and up to the mountain resort of Whistler. Indoor
ice events like speed skating, ice hockey and curling will be held at Vancouver's
great stadiums like BC
Place, GM
Place, the new Richmond Oval and others. Alpine events such as skiing
and bobsled will be held
in the high mountain elevations of Whistler
Blackcomb.
VANCOUVER
BC
Place - Easily Vancouver's highest capacity venue, BC Place will be
the stage for the Opening, Closing and Medal Ceremonies. This domed stadium
is located across from the spherical Science World building and is in walking
distance from the Stadium SkyTrain Station.
General
Motors Place – Neighbouring BC Place, GM Place is home of the NHL's
Vancouver Canucks and contains one of the two stages that will be used for Olympic
Ice Hockey competitions.
Hillcrest/Nat
Bailey Stadium Park – Built specifically for the Olympics, this
facility will host competition curling for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games. After the events the building will become a multi-purpose community
recreation centre.
Pacific
Coliseum – Located in Hastings Park, east of downtown, the Coliseum
is slated as the venue for short-track speed skating and figure skating. The
building will receive extensive upgrades, including the expanding the ice surface
to international size.
UBC
Winter Sports Centre – Construction on this project began in 2006.
The venue will be used as a secondary site for hockey games and practice, as
well as the Paralympic Games' Ice Sledge Hockey tournament.
WHISTLER SKI RESORT
Franz Wilhelmsen, the man who opened Whistler for skiing in the 1960's, did
so with the dreams of one day hosting the Winter Olympic Games here. It took
over 45 years, but that dream has finally been realized. Come 2010, the Alpine
and Nordic skiing events, as well as the luge, bobsled and skeleton competitions
will all be held in and around Whistler Village.
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Canadian
Flags Fly High On Whistler Mountain 5 |
Preperations are well underway
in and around the mountain village. Three of the venues, the Sliding Centre,
the Nordic venue, and Creekside are all expected to be completed by the end
of 2007. The Nordic venue will be home to the biathlon, cross-country skiing,
nordic and ski jumping events. The Sliding Centre will be the stage for the
bobsled, luge and skeleton races. Creekside will showcase the alpine skiing
events.
It has been said that the
journey is half the fun. In this case, that cliché rings loud and clear.
The
Sea to Sky Highway, which spans from the beaches of West
Van to the peaks of Whistler Mountain, is both a journey and a destination.
Travelling along this masterpiece as it hugs the pacific shoreline and weaves
through the majestic Coast
Mountains is a sight to behold and sets a precedent for the final destination—Whistler.
OTHER LOCATIONS
Richmond Oval
Located on the banks of the Fraser River in the northwest corner of Richmond,
the Oval will feature a new 400-m (1,312-ft) track housed in a 33,750-sq m (40,365-sq
yd), state-of-the-art facility. Slated to be finished by fall 2008, this will
be the venue for short and long track speed skating competitions.
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A
Skier Slaloms Down the Course 6 |
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Cypress Mountain
The freestyle skiing and snowboard events will be held in Cypress Provicial
Park, atop Cypress
Mountain. Part of the West Van Municipality, Cypress is one of Vancouver's
three premier ski hills.
Olympic Village
The Olympic Village
in Southeast False Creek is soon to be a home-away-from-home for more than 2,800
athletes and officials. This village will provide everything the athletes need
to prepare, train, relax, contact home, make friends and enjoy the experience
of a lifetime. Planned for completion in 2009, the village is only the first
phase of the Southeast False Creek Development Plan. After the Games, the village
will be converted into a mixed-use community for approximately 1,100 residential
units.
Canada Place
The Vancouver
Convention and Exhibition Centre at Canada Place is also getting a new
look. Located on the waterfront in the heart of downtown, the Convention Center
will act as the headquarters for an estimated 10,000 media representatives from
around the world. The Canada Place Expansion Project began in 2004 and is targeted
for completion in 2008.
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Snow
Falls on the City of Vancouver 7 |
STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY
In order to properly manage
the commitment made to provide the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games
with the required accommodations,
hotels
in Vancouver are not yet accepting individual or group reservations for February
2010. Rooms will become available as the Organizing Committee finalizes their
requirements, which is expected to happen 18 months prior to opening ceremonies.
Tickets, along with pricing
and buying information, will also be released sometime in 2008. It is estimated
that 1.8 million tickets will be available with an additional 900,000 tickets
for Opening and Closing Ceremonies, festivals and medal presentations.
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Ice
Hockey Is a Popular Event at the Olympics 8 |
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THE FIRST
The Olympic Games will usher
in many firsts for 2010. The Games will be the first ever held at sea level.
The ceremonies will be the first to be held indoors. The Sea to Sky Highway
will become one of the world's first Hydrogen Highways, providing fueling stations
for hydrogen powered vehicles running between Vancouver and Whistler. Perhaps
most importantly, the people of Vancouver will see the first phase of the Southeast
False Creek Development Project completed. This green village will promote sustainable,
urban development, and will join the Hydrogen Highway as a giant, innovative
move towards environmental and social stability.
PHOTO COURTESY
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
IIanaaq,The
Olympic Mascot; Whistler, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
The Magnificent City of Vancouver; Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
Snowboarding in a Halfpipe Competition; Whistler, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
Curling Stones; Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
Canadian Flags Fly On Whistler Mountain; Whistler, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
A Skier Slaloms Down the Course; Whistler, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
Snow Falls on the City of Vancouver; Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com;
Ice Hockey Is a Popular Event; Vancouver; B.C., Canada
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