2010 Olympic Winter Games - Venues and Events
Share that heart-stopping moment when the world’s premiere athletes push off their mark to hurtle headlong towards the podium. Go for it! Go for the gold! Many of the venues for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are ready and waiting for you. Here's where you can participate in your own winter fun:
Alpine Skiing and Alpine Skiing Paralympic – downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined
With the greatest vertical-rise skiing on the continent, Whistler Mountain is not only first choice for the Alpine events at the 2010 Winter Games, but a pinnacle experience for ski enthusiasts the world over.
The two-mountain resort is open every day of the season – just waiting for YOUR gold-medal ride. You can even ski during the Games! The only runs closed to the public will be: Dave Murray Downhill, Raven, Franz’s Run and Wildcard on Whistler Mountain. All runs on Blackcomb will remain open throughout the Games.
Nordic – biathlon, biathlon Paralympic, cross-country skiing, cross-country skiing Paralympic, Nordic combined and ski jumping
Whistler Olympic Park is located in the Callaghan Valley, about 18 km southwest of Whistler. It is the first Olympic Nordic venue to include all three traditional Nordic sport stadiums in one site: cross-country ski, ski jumping and biathlon. The facility opened to the public on December 15, 2007, and has 25 km of recreational trails, 15 km of competition trails and an extensive menu of competitive events and public programs. The early opening of the park also fulfilled a promise made to provide an internationally-ranked training facility for aspiring Olympians. So expect to see them beside you on the trails of the Callaghan. How’s that for motivation!
Freestyle Skiing – aerials, moguls, ski cross
Snowboard – parallel giant slalom, half pipe, snowboard cross
Whether it’s the spectacular views of the city below, 51 downhill runs, the 22 foot half-pipe, 19 km of cross-country trails or the hot chocolate in the historic Hollyburn Lodge, Cypress Mountain is first choice with hundreds of thousands of users each year. To prepare for its starring role in the 2010 Winter Games, the park is benefiting from improvements to infrastructure and terrain that have bumped the superb Cypress experience up another notch. But why wait to watch the medal contenders take it on in 2010? Take your own run at the gold now!
Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton
The Whistler Sliding Centre on Blackcomb Mountain is a new, purpose-built venue located in the heart of the Whistler Blackcomb resort area. With the construction phase on this facility completed, four-time Olympian Pierre Lueders and brakeman Justin Kripps were invited to christen the track with its first runs on December 19, 2007. Testing of this technologically advanced facility will continue until the Games, but early runs are already pointing to an exceptionally fast track.
Ice Hockey
General Motors Place in downtown Vancouver and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Winter Sports Centre on the west side of the city are the hot ticket venues for Canada’s national passion, hockey. Fortunately, GM Place is already accustomed to the thunderous roar of a sold-out house. The “Garage” is home ice for the city’s own professional National Hockey League team, the Vancouver Canucks.
Ice Sledge Hockey
UBC Winter Sports Centre on the sprawling ocean-side University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, is the venue for ice sledge hockey, which is rapidly achieving renown as a truly exciting spectator sport. The sports centre includes development of two new rinks as well as the refurbishment of an existing facility with deep roots in the local hockey community. UBC’s summer hockey school is a tradition for young hockey hopefuls who come from across the province.
Curling & Wheelchair Curling
Hillcrest/ Nat Bailey Stadium Park is set in the heart of Vancouver, near Queen Elizabeth Park. This is where curling's best will try to "sweep" up their opposition.
Figure Skating & Short Track Speed Skating
The Pacific Coliseum on the east side of Vancouver is the venue for figure skating and short-track speed skating. The Coliseum is already a familiar facility for Vancouver locals and visitors alike. It is set in the Hastings Park complex, at the site of the Pacific National Exhibition, the city's massive summer fair. The Coliseum is also home ice for the city’s Junior Hockey team, the Vancouver Giants.
Speed Skating
Richmond Oval is a purpose-built venue designed to showcase speed skating during the 2010 Games. The Oval is located in Richmond, an island community set between the arms of the mighty Fraser River and within sight of the international airport.
Ceremonies
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games will be the first ever to be presented in a covered, indoor facility. BC Place Stadium in Vancouver covers four hectares and boasts the largest air-supported stadium roof in North America. The sheer size of this venue, combined with its impeccable sightlines, offers the opportunity to feature thousands of performers in what will be a spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
With events venues in both Whistler and Metro Vancouver locations, nightly Victory Ceremonies will be conducted concurrently at BC Place Stadium and the Celebration Site in Whistler Village. The Victory Ceremonies will be linked by large video screens enabling both communities to participate in honouring the achievements of these magnificent athletes.
And because no one knows how to throw a party better than Canadians, Victory Ceremonies will be followed up each evening with concerts by Canada’s most dynamic and well-known performers.