2010 Commerce Centre - News

Leading engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Inc. named 64th sponsor of the 2010 Winter Games

12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER - SNC-Lavalin Inc. and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today that the Canadian engineering company has been named an Official Supplier for the upcoming Games.

Under the agreement, SNC-Lavalin Inc. will have rights to market and promote within the engineering services and construction services product category for the 2010 Winter Games and rights to associate with the Canadian Olympic Teams competing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games. In return, SNC-Lavalin Inc. will make a financial investment in the Games.

"SNC-Lavalin is pleased to partner with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Jim Burke, Executive Vice President of SNC-Lavalin Inc.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to support the 2010 Winter Games and the athletes in achieving their goals for the Games. SNC-Lavalin's role as an Official Supplier underpins our continued commitment to sustainability and embodies SNC-Lavalin's key corporate values and beliefs which make up the cornerstones of our WE CARE culture. We wish the very best Games in history for Canada, VANOC, the athletes, and our community."

John Furlong, VANOC's CEO, added: "We're delighted to welcome a dynamic company like SNC-Lavalin to our sponsor family, a company that has deep roots in Canada and has always demonstrated excellence in their projects both here at home and around the world. Their partnership helps us exceed our domestic sponsorship goals for delivering great Games in 2010."

About SNC-Lavalin Inc.

SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC-Lavalin has offices across Canada and in over 35 other countries around the world, and is currently working in some 100 countries.

TravelSmart2010 Update: Sea to Sky Highway permit distribution underway

11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — The distribution of vehicle access permits for the Sea to Sky highway vehicle checkpoint that will be in operation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games is now underway. Two permits per household — which are fully transferable between vehicles, tenants and/or guests that have a parking space — have been mailed by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to Whistler residential property owners and distribution has started to the accommodation sector in Whistler and Pemberton. VANOC also confirmed today that permit distribution offices will open December 14 in four locations — one in Vancouver and three in the Sea to Sky corridor.

The checkpoint, north of Squamish near the Alice Lake turnoff, was outlined earlier this year as part of the integrated transportation plan for the Games and is designed to manage traffic volume into and through Whistler during the Games with the ultimate goal of only allowing access to vehicles that have confirmed parking spaces at private residences, businesses or hotels. There will be no parking at venues or on public streets.

During the peak hours of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, given extremely limited parking in Whistler during the Games, only vehicles with a checkpoint permit (that also serves as confirmation of parking) will proceed up the highway from February 11 to 28, 2010. Daily checkpoint operations will be managed by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the permit distribution process will be managed by VANOC.

Permits are NOT needed for southbound vehicles. However southbound vehicles will need a permit to return between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. Permits are also NOT required for northbound vehicles travelling outside the peak hours of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, or at any time for emergency and health-care vehicles, road service vehicles (i.e.: tow trucks, snowplows), buses (i.e.: transit, tour buses, school buses), Olympic accredited vehicles, commercial limousines, taxis, and utility providers, but all vehicles will require confirmed parking if staying in Whistler. Based on traffic conditions, peak hours may start slightly earlier in the day.

Permit distribution offices

In addition to the direct mailing and to facilitate ease of access and provide in-person customer service, permit distribution offices will open on December 14 in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. The Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton offices will remain open through to the end of the Olympic Winter Games. The Vancouver office may close February 12, 2010. Office hours and locations follow at the end of this document.

Residents who visit a permit office will need to show a photo ID and proof of address, such as a utility bill. Businesses will need to show their business licence and proof of operations in Whistler or points north, while hotel guests will be asked to show confirmation of their room reservation. Residents and businesses looking for more information on the Sea to Sky checkpoint, local vehicle permits or on how to plan ahead for travelling during the 2010 Winter Games are encouraged to visit www.travelsmart2010.ca.

Other travel options to/from Whistler

Olympic ticket holders originating from Metro Vancouver, who are travelling to Whistler for sport events, will need to book transportation on the Olympic bus network unless they have prearranged accommodation in Whistler. The Olympic bus network website was launched today and can be accessed through www.travelsmart2010.ca. The website will offer a phased venue by venue booking starting on December 4. The network provides direct bus service to each of the Whistler competition venues and Cypress Mountain from designated departure hubs in Metro Vancouver. There is no spectator parking at the venues.

Day skiers and other travellers without parking, but wishing to travel to Whistler, can take advantage of enhanced commercial motorcoach services to Whistler. For more information on the Olympic bus network, or commercial motorcoach services, visit www.travelsmart2010.ca.

Directly in Whistler, neighbourhood-specific local vehicle permits and commercial carrier permits will also be required through the Resort Municipality of Whistler. To find out more about these permits, visit www.whistler2010.com.

Permit Issuing Office locations and hours:

Vancouver

450 West Broadway (at Cambie)

December 14 to February 11:

§ Monday through Saturday

§ Noon to 8:00 pm

February 12 to 28: CLOSED

Whistler

Municipal Hall 4325 Blackcomb Way

December 14 to February 11:

§ Monday through Saturday

§ 8:30 am to 4:30 pm February 12 to 28

§ Seven days a week, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Squamish

Squamish Volunteer Centre #2-40437 Tantalus Road

December 14 to February 11:

§ Monday through Saturday

§ Noon to 8:00 pm

February 12 to 28:

§ Seven days a week

§ 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Pemberton

Old Community Centre 7567 Pemberton Meadows

December 14 to February 11:

§ Monday through Saturday

§ Noon to 8:00 pm

February 12 to 28:

§ Monday through Saturday

§ Noon to 8:00 pm

TravelSmart2010 Update: Look before you book - Olympic bus network for travel to Cypress and Whistler sporting events live at www.travelsmart2010.ca

11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — Spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver, who already have sport tickets to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games’ events at Cypress and in the Whistler area, can start planning their round-trip travel on the Olympic bus network starting today. In addition to providing spectators with a comfortable, convenient ride to and from these sport venues, the Olympic bus network helps reduce vehicle traffic during Games time on key roads in downtown Vancouver, on bridges crossing the Burrard Inlet, on the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Whistler.

As was done with the ticketing website, the first few days that the site is live will permit the event ticket holder to browse and get comfortable with the site and develop their Games-time travel plan. Starting on Friday, December 4, the online booking and payment function accessed at www.travelsmart2010.ca will go live with a venue-by-venue phased sale of ticketsstarting with alpine events at Whistler Creekside.

A round-trip ticket (GST and fees included) to Cypress will cost $14, while a round-trip ticket to Whistler will cost $28 if booked by midnight on January 10, 2010. Prices will increase to $25 (Vancouver-Cypress Mountain) and $50 (Vancouver-Whistler), including GST and fees, as of January 11, 2010.

Tickets will be available as of 11:00 am (Pacific Time) on each phased in date and will remain on sale from that day forward. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and a range of departure times are available. Ticket holders are advised to book early in order to secure their preferred departure time. All bus tickets are non-refundable and Visa is the only payment card accepted.

“Today, we are pleased to offer spectators the opportunity to ‘look before they book’ and plan their bus travel. This way they will be ready for the phased in booking process that starts Friday, December 4,” said Irene Kerr, VANOC’s vice president of services and transportation. “The Olympic bus network is the fast and affordable way for spectators to travel from the Metro Vancouver area to events in Whistler and Cypress without worrying about the hassles of driving, and it ensures we can significantly reduce Games-time traffic into Whistler. We’re encouraging all of our ticket holders who don’t have accommodation in the Sea to Sky corridor to develop their Games-time travel plan by taking advantage of this convenient service as there is no parking at Games venues and traffic restrictions will be in place for non-residents travelling on the Sea to Sky Highway in February 2010.”

The venue-by-venue phased in dates for Olympic bus network ticket sales are:

Friday, December 4: Whistler Creekside (alpine skiing)
Monday, December 7: The Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, luge, skeleton)
Wednesday, December 9: Whistler Olympic Park (biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping)
Friday, December 11: Cypress Mountain (freestyle skiing, snowboard)

The Olympic bus network will use a network of designated departure hubs in Metro Vancouver. The hubs are provided by post-secondary institutions in Metro Vancouver that are members of VANOC’s Community Contributor Program. The hubs are located at: Lonsdale Quay and Langara College for Whistler Creekside; British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Lonsdale Quay for The Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park; Simon Fraser University, Capilano University and Lonsdale Quay for transport to Cypress.

Taking public transit to the hubs is strongly encouraged, along with other forms of alternative transportation (rideshare/carpool, cycle, walk etc.). If driving cannot be avoided, spectators should book parking space at the departure hub at the same time they purchase their Olympic bus network transportation ticket. Parking is included in the price of the bus ticket but please carpool when possible — there is limited parking available at the hubs and Lonsdale Quay has no parking.

Who should buy an Olympic bus network ticket?

All ticketholders for events at Cypress require a ticket on the Olympic bus network.Public transit is not available to Cypress Mountain during Games time.
Ticketholders travelling from Metro Vancouver for events in the Whistler area that do not have accommodation in the Sea to Sky corridor and or confirmed parking will require a ticket on the Olympic bus network.
Please keep in mindthere is no public parking at any of the venues at Games time and only vehicles with resident permits or confirmed accommodation will be permitted to drive on the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm from February 11 to 28, 2010.

An Olympic bus network ticket is not required if ticketholders:

Have accommodation and parking in Whistler
Are booked or plan to use a commercial motorcoach (see www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information)
Are coming from the Whistler area to Vancouver (except Cypress). However, a Sea to Sky checkpoint permit will be required to travel back north of Squamish between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Planning ahead for a great spectator experience: The Olympic Spectator Guide

To help prepare for a great spectator experience at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, each ticket holder will receive a pocket-sized Olympic spectator guide when their tickets are delivered, starting in December. The guide includes comprehensive spectator information, including venue specific details and helpful tips. It is also available online at www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide.

Ticket holders travelling to Whistler-area venues and Cypress are urged to dress warmly for cold and wet weather using layers and waterproof clothing. Prohibited and restricted items should also be left at home to avoid having the items confiscated and long security lineups. They include: animals (except service animals), folding chairs, glass bottles, sporting equipment, non-prescription drugs, and large bags.

Wearing suitable warm and waterproof footwear is also a key consideration. Some of the venues will require spectators to walk a considerable distance outside from their Olympic bus network drop-off point to reach venue entrances because the drop-off points are outside of venue perimeters and security access points.

Gates will open three hours before each ticketed session starts at venues in the Whistler area and Cypress. Inside the venue, hot and cold beverages and food items will be available for purchase at concession stands as soon as gates open and warming tents will be available for a limited number of spectators (with the exception of Whistler Creekside where space restrictions do not allow for such tents).

To build excitement for watching the world’s best athletes compete, each venue will showcase visual and performing artists and other entertainment at each venue providing a celebratory Olympic atmosphere.

VANOC offers special ticket opportunity for residents in Squamish to Mount Currie region

10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

Residents must pre-register to take advantage of two-day sale
Phase 3 of Canadian resident ticket sales to open November 7

VANCOUVER — Residents of the Squamish to Mount Currie region who register a ticketing account before Friday, October 23 will have an exclusive opportunity to take advantage of a special “Locals” Whistler Olympic ticket offer starting Saturday, October 24. This two-day offer is the best remaining chance for residents in the region to get tickets for Olympic sporting events in Whistler and is in addition to the third — and final — phase of ticket sales in the Canadian market, which start November 7.

“We’ve seen strong demand for tickets from the Sea-to-Sky community in the past, so we’re really pleased to make these tickets to events at Whistler Olympic Park, Whistler Creekside, The Whistler Sliding Center, and Whistler Medals Plaza available to the residents and families and ensure they have the opportunity to be a part of history happening in their community,” said Caley Denton, vice president of ticketing and consumer marketing for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

The Olympic bus network (OBN), the transport system for spectators originating in Metro Vancouver, has reached maximum capacity in Whistler, and therefore Phase 3 of ticket sales to the Canadian public will largely be made up of sessions at city venues.

“For those living outside of the Squamish to Mount Currie region, it’s time to start planning for our last phase of Canadian market ticket sales starting November 7 — we’ll have more than 100,000 tickets available exclusively to events at city venues,” continued Denton. City venues include Cypress Mountain, Canada Hockey Place, BC Place, Richmond Olympic Oval, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Center, and the University of British Columbia’s Thunderbird Arena, also known as the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

1) Squamish to Mount Currie “Locals” ticket sale: October 24 to 25 Key elements

Program is open to residents with a mailing address within the Squamish to Mount Currie region.
Customers must register a new account or edit existing account information prior to October 23 at 7:00 pm.
Those with an existing account who live outside of the Squamish to Mount Currie corridor but who have a residence in the region can simply sign into their account and edit/update their address to reflect their secondary residence prior to October 23 at 7:00 pm.
Tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 24 at 10:00 am and will remain on sale while tickets remain, or until October 25 at 5:00 pm.

Special opportunity for Whistler Victory Ceremony tickets

As an exclusive bonus while quantities last, account holders will also receive two Whistler Victory Ceremony tickets— the first time these in-demand tickets have been available — when they pick up their “Locals” Whistler event tickets at the Main Ticket Centre in Whistler by December 31. The Whistler Main Ticket Centre will open November 26 in a location near Whistler Medals Plaza. Whistler Victory Ceremony tickets will be available while supplies last.

Program restrictions

Tickets purchased through this special ticket program will be subject to certain restrictions:

The tickets must be picked up in person at the Whistler Main Ticket Centre; as such, ticket accounts will not be charged a delivery fee.
Tickets purchased through this program cannot be resold through the fan-to-fan marketplace at www.vancouver2010.com, which will launch later this fall.
Tickets cannot be used to access the Olympic bus network. Tickets will have “No Olympic bus network access” printed on them, however tickets will still provide access to local public transit on the date of the event.

Important reminders

The only official sources in Canada for tickets to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are www.vancouver2010.com/tickets and CoSport.
In order to ensure access to the Vancouver 2010 ticketing website, previously registered customers who live in the Squamish to Mount Currie region are advised to sign into their ticketing account before October 23 to ensure their username, address and password are up-to-date and functional.
There is no public parking at any of the Games venues.
In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games proudly accepts only Visa cards.
Plan ahead for purchases and ensure you have sufficient credit available in your account as purchases will be charged immediately.
Ticket purchasing by phone is also available at 1.800.TICKETS (1.800.842.5387), and a TDD/TTY service is available for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing at 604.629.7140.

2) Phase 3 Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Ticket Sales: starting November 7

More than 100,000 tickets to sessions, including numerous prime events at all city venues and Cypress, will be made available for purchase by Canadian residents starting November 7 and will remain on sale while supplies last. Further details will be released in the coming weeks.

Second phase of Vancouver 2010 integrated transportation plan released: TravelSmart and everyone wins in 2010 www.travelsmart2010.ca launched to help public plan ahead

10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) released the second phase of its Games-time integrated transportation plan today providing residents and businesses with the most up-to-date information available on how to start planning now for their day-to-day travel needs during the 2010 Winter Games. The plan requires reducing vehicle traffic by at least 30 per cent in downtown Vancouver, the Lions Gate and Iron Workers’ Memorial (Second Narrows) bridges, the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Whistler.

This phase of the integrated transportation plan, which builds on information released in March and rolled out in venue communities on an ongoing basis, includes updated information on peak hours, street and road closures, the Sea to Sky Highway checkpoint, transportation plans for the Paralympic Winter Games, Olympic bus network, and advice on the movement of goods and services for businesses. Please see attached backgrounder for details. The plan is based on the need to transport athletes, officials and all Games participants safely, reliably and efficiently throughout the Host Region, while also taking into consideration the transportation needs of local residents, businesses and visitors.

“Our message to every resident and business owner is that we need everyone to pull together to make this a success by doing their part,” said Terry Wright, VANOC’s executive vice president of services and Games operations, on behalf of OPTT. “We know the public wants this to work and wants our guests from around the world to have a great experience here and see the region in a positive light.

“This means we need everyone to think of ways to reduce vehicle traffic into downtown Vancouver, on the Lions Gate and Iron Workers’ Memorial (Second Narrows) bridges, on the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Whistler by at least 30 per cent. Also, keep in mind the easiest way to get around will be public transit, which will increase greatly with more buses and trains and enhanced hours of service, as well other sustainable modes such as walking and cycling.”

“The best way to get where you need to go and avoid delays is by planning ahead, avoiding peak travel times and knowing your transportation options now before you step out the door in February 2010,” he added.

Although use of public transit and other sustainable modes of transportation are key to having a successful transportation experience, there will be peak travel times no matter what mode you choose. If trips must be made, travellers are encouraged to avoid peak travel times from February 12 to March 1.

In Vancouver, this means, whenever possible, travelling into the downtown area before 7:00 am or after 9:00 am and leaving by 2:00 pm; or, for those who want to stay later and enjoy the fun, leaving after 7:00 pm.
In the Sea to Sky corridor, this means travelling northbound before 6:00 am or after 6:00 pm on the Sea to Sky Highway

To help residents and businesses plan ahead, the OPTT today launched www.travelsmart2010.ca, a website portal with the most up-to-date transportation information available now and during the Games. The portal directs users to the appropriate website containing the information they are seeking, such as the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, or the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Fine-tuning of the transportation plan will continue up until Games time. Over the last year, VANOC has contacted over 900 businesses, residents, associations and organizations, schools and community associations throughout Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky region to share Games-time transportation plans and answer questions from the public. In addition to its stakeholder outreach, this fall the Organizing Committee, together with its partners, will host another series of Game Plan open houses in communities near Games’ venues. Visit www.vancouver2010.com/gameplan for the schedule.

About the OPTT

Members of the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) are VANOC, the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Planning is also supported by other partners, including Transport Canada and the municipalities of Richmond and West Vancouver.

Get your Vancouver 2010 Games gear here! VANOC opens anchor Olympic Superstore in downtown Vancouver at the Bay

10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — Everything Vancouver 2010 under one roof: that is the vision behind the Olympic Superstore opening today on the main floor of the Bay in downtown Vancouver. The 1,890-square metre (21,000 square foot) location houses more than 1,000 pieces of official licensed merchandise for the Games, including plush mascot toys, T-shirts and toques and thousands of pins waiting to be bought and traded.

The location at the Bay, Canada’s largest retailer, marks the first time in Olympic history that an Olympic Superstore is housed within an existing bricks and mortar establishment. The Olympic Superstore is an independent retail operation licensed by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

“The store is quite simply amazing and we owe a great deal of thanks to all our partners, especially the Hudson’s Bay Company for providing us with this fantastic downtown location,” said John Furlong, VANOC’s Chief Executive Officer. “This opening is a major milestone for the 2010 Winter Games and is an opportunity for all Canadians and visitors to join in the excitement of the coming Games and take a little piece of Vancouver 2010 home with them.”

Jeff Sherman, CEO of the Hudson’s Bay Company, added: “Hudson’s Bay Company will bring a world-class department store experience for Canadians and international visitors to the Games. Our company is proud to partner with VANOC on offering consumers the largest assortment of Vancouver 2010 products and Vancouver 2010 Canadian Olympic Team Apparel.”

“We’ve seen interest in the 2010 Games merchandise growing steadily and are pleased to now offer more choice than ever before at this Superstore,” said Caley Denton, VANOC’s vice president of ticketing and consumer marketing. An estimated 10,000 people are expected to visit the store daily during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The opening of the Olympic Superstore coincided with the official unveiling of the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team uniform by the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Hudson’s Bay Company. The 28-piece collection marries vintage Canadian designs with the latest high-tech fabrications in a palette of red, vintage white, black, and heather grey and will be sold to the public at the downtown Olympic Superstore location.

The uniform “makes a great statement about Canada and our athletes. It speaks to our official colours and heritage but with a modern, youthful spirit. These items are a perfect way for Canadians to feel a part of Team Canada and show their support of the athletes on home ice and snow in 2010,” Furlong said.

Visa, a proud partner of the Games and the Olympic Superstore, along with the Hudson’s Bay Company, have dressed the downtown building’s upper exterior panels facing Seymour and West Georgia streets with almost 40 banners celebrating the Games and Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The banners, unveiled today, are 16 metres high and approximately five metres wide and feature Canadian medal-winning athletes such as speed skater Clara Hughes, bobsledder Pierre Lueders, as well as American Lindsay Jacobellis, a 2006 Olympic silver medallist in snowboarding.

Inside the Superstore, customers will find the Happiness café and official pin trading centre from Coca-Cola, the city’s largest pin wall and the latest Games-related products from sponsors such as Swatch, Panasonic, Birks, Nike, and the Royal Canadian Mint. In light of VANOC’s goals to neutralize the carbon footprint for the 2010 Winter Games, the Hudson’s Bay Company is working with Offsetters — the first Official Supplier of Carbon Offsets in Games history — by voluntarily offsetting the operations of the Olympic Superstore.

Among the Olympic Superstore’s most interesting features at Games time will be a concierge service for shoppers wanting to ship purchases overseas or within Canada using Purolator, the exclusive supplier of courier services for the 2010 Winter Games. The company will take purchases to hotels in downtown Vancouver for those in a rush to get to a sport or Cultural Olympiad event, as well as those who want the convenience of not carrying their parcels home.

The Olympic Superstore at 674 Granville St.will operate during regular operating hours at the Bay leading up to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, with extended hours starting February 12, 2010 when the Games begin. The Superstore will close at the end of the Paralympic Winter Games in late March 2010.

In recognition of Visa’s long-standing support of the Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Superstore proudly accepts only Visa cards and cash.

VANOC celebrates opening of 2010 athlete training venues at Trout Lake and Killarney Facilities designed as lasting Games’ legacies for surrounding communities

9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — Some of the world’s most artistic and nimblest athletes on skates will conduct their final training sessions for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on the ice at two brand-new community arenas, officially opening this week in Vancouver.

The $15.9-million Trout Lake Centre, which opens today to the public, will host training sessions for the world’s top ladies, men, pairs, and dance figure skaters, while the $14.9-million community arena at the Killarney Centre, which opens Friday, will host training for short track speed skaters. The Pacific Coliseum will hold the Games-time competitions for both sports.

The arenas are managed by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and were funded by the board, the City of Vancouver, the federal and provincial governments via the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), and the Grandview Community Association and Killarney Community Centre Society. Construction started at Killarney in November 2007 and in March 2008 at Trout Lake. The arenas, which are both located in east Vancouver, replace and upgrade older community facilities.

“Congratulations to the Vancouver Park Board, the City of Vancouver, the surrounding communities, our venue team, and all of the workers on a job well done,” said Dan Doyle, VANOC’s executive vice president of construction. “These important training venues, built with the highest environmental standards in mind, will not only serve an important role during the Games but also continue as much needed community facilities for recreational athletes young and old — a fitting legacy of the Games that will last for years to come.”

“These are stunning state-of-the-art ice arenas that will offer invaluable training space for athletes working to perfect their technique in the crucial days before they compete at the 2010 Winter Games,” added Jan Damnavits, VANOC’s director of event services and venue management, city operations. “These excellent training venues will have the same international ice size the athletes will compete on at the Games, as well as crash pads for the speed skaters at Killarney instead of the regular dasher boards used in hockey.”

On January 15, 2010, VANOC will take control of the arenas to prepare them for their Games-time usage. Both will open for daily training from February 4 to 26 on Olympic-sized ice sheets (30.5 metres by 61 metres). Close to 150 athletes and 250 team officials representing 35 nations will use Trout Lake, while approximately 120 short track speed skaters representing 20 countries will use Killarney. In order to ensure the athletes can completely focus on their training these daily sessions will be closed to the public.

The Trout Lake facility is bathed in natural light and features stunning wooden panelling in the lobby and corridor ceilings milled from Douglas firs felled in a 2006 windstorm that devastated Vancouver’s picturesque Stanley Park. The building’s other sustainability features include, reusing heat generated by the arena’s refrigeration system to preheat hot water systems and change rooms warmed using heat pipe energy.

Blue vintage glass window panels are one of the most striking characteristics of the Killarney Centre’s new arena. Salvaged from the site’s original 1963 rink, the glass has been recycled into a beautiful work of Aboriginal art by Dionne Paul of Sechelt, BC, called The Eyes of the People, as part of the Vancouver 2010 Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program. Additional sustainability features include, using waste heat generated by the arena’s refrigeration system to warm spectator seating and change rooms.

Both buildings were constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be converted to community recreation use after the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

Note to Photo Editors: Images are available of Trout Lake Centre and Killarney Centre at http://vancouver.ca/parks/news/download/recfacilities.htm.

Successful Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay training exercise solidifies plans to engage and inspire a nation Operational plans tested to bring Olympic Spirit from coast to coast to coast

9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — Residents of seven British Columbia communities received a special preview today of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay convoy and celebrations as the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) put their operational plans to the test in a simulation exercise representing an actual day along the national relay route.

“The training exercise was tremendously valuable for the team and the communities to validate our plans. For the most part, our major planning assumptions were proven correct,” said Jim Richards, program director for the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relays. “We’ll use the next several weeks to incorporate what we learned today, including the need to fine-tune media operations, torchbearer transitions, as well as ensure we have continuous communication with our route communities on any last minute changes. We are very thankful to the communities and media who participated in this event today and the residents for their patience.”

With a main convoy of vehicles that stretched the distance of a football field, staff, observers and partners rehearsed an actual day from the relay route to refine and ensure the proper coordination of the many staff and vehicles it takes to stage this pan-Canadian celebration.

Approximately 150 volunteer stand-in torchbearers experienced first-hand what it will feel like for the 12,000 Olympic Torchbearers involved in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC and supported by the Government of Canada.

“We’re no longer counting the months until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay begins, we’re counting the days,” said Richards. “Staging such an engaging and inclusive relay, we can’t do all of our planning in boardrooms or in meetings. An Olympic Torch Relay is a complex project with many moving points that need to work within precision timing. We had to take our plans and test them out on the very streets the Olympic Flame will pass through on its way to light the Olympic Cauldron in Vancouver.”

Similar to when the relay will visit each of the 1,036 communities across Canada, the host communities and local law enforcement provided rolling road closures to allow the torchbearers and convoy to travel through the community. Residents in Chilliwack and Abbotsford also saw a setup of the celebration stages that will be used at the nearly 200 community celebrations over the course of the 106-day relay.

Key lessons from the training event included:

Convoy operations

A vehicle in the core convoy had a dead battery this morning causing a departure delay of 10 minutes. All vehicles will be outfitted with booster cables for relay time.
Advance vehicles responsible for management of arrivals and departure of the convoy during the day will require double the amount of pylons to help manage this process.
Unexpected road construction in Chilliwack did not delay the convoy but at relay time the team will double-check with communities to ensure they are aware of the routes and road projects on the relay day.

Torchbearers

Confirmed our pacing for torchbearers and the convoy was accurate as the team was always within five minutes of projected times.
Ensure torchbearers are provided with clear direction to understand the exchange with the next torchbearers, as well as torchbearers with special needs.

Media operations

Position media zones on the same side at celebration site to ensure unobstructed camera positions for photo opportunities.
Clearly identify media relations staff at celebration sites.

Media One Vehicle in core convoy

Further retrofits to vehicle are required to accommodate additional camera positions.
Pre-registration of media interested in being on Media One vehicle will be required to ensure smooth transitions between segments. This registration will need to be separate from the torch relay registration that closed mid-summer 2009.

Celebration site

Adjustments to some set elements will be required.

The 45,000-kilometre route, which will bring the Olympic Flame within one hour of over 90 per cent of the Canadian population, has now been mapped out metre by metre and each day more torchbearers are receiving official notifications offering them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. While communities put the finishing touches on lively and entertaining celebrations that showcase local talent, torch relay staff, including flame attendants and escort runners, continue their rigorous training to prepare physically and mentally for the challenges of a relay through a Canadian winter.

With less than a month to go before the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia, Greece in a time honoured and celebrated ceremony, communities are getting ready to welcome the world and showcase their part of Canada through the torch relay which will begin in Victoria, British Columbia on October 30, 2009.

Planning for the torch relay has been ongoing since 2006, VANOC has been working in close collaboration with relay partners including the provinces, territories, communities, RCMP, and many sponsors and suppliers who have loaned their time, talent and energy to stage the longest domestic torch relay in history.

Those wanting to follow the Olympic Flame online, see video and video highlights and read daily stories from the road can do so at www.vancouver2010.com/torchrelay. An enhanced interactive map of the national relay route will be unveiled in mid-October and updated continuously to provide detailed maps of the Olympic Flame’s path through each community in the days before the exciting celebrations take place in every corner of Canada.

Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad adds over 70 new projects to eclectic lineup

9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, presented by Bell, is adding more international flair to its impressive lineup of music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and digital programming in its largest announcement of 2010 projects to date — more than 70, including hardcore troubadour Steve Earle, an inspiring Ugandan dance troupe and an all-star lineup of emerging Canadian talent brought together by an American music producer, often called the inventor of the modern tribute album, saluting the godfather of grunge: Neil Young.

In addition to the more traditional stage and gallery presentations, Vancouver streets and unexpected nooks (such as a concrete plant) will buzz with a number of groundbreaking interactive public installations, like a thumping party with some of the best DJs in the world spinning electronic music into the early morning hours and a path of LED lights that react to a person’s every move.

The third and final edition of the Cultural Olympiad festivals will start on January 22, 2010 and run throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, concluding on March 21. The extensive program will include more than 600 ticketed and free performances and exhibitions in 60 venues in Metro Vancouver and British Columbia’s Sea to Sky corridor. The shows announced today join the 55 Cultural Olympiad projects previously announced for 2010, including highlights such as The Blue Dragon/Le Dragon Bleu by Robert Lepage, Delusions by Laurie Anderson, Moon Water by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, and Tundra Songs by the Kronos Quartet featuring Tanya Tagaq. Tickets and information are available now at www.vancouver2010.com/culturalolympiad.

“A cultural celebration of this magnitude is the work of an outstanding partnership featuring our presenting sponsor Bell, the federal, provincial and territorial governments and a wide range of national cultural agencies and arts organizations,” said David Guscott, executive vice president of celebrations and partnerships for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “With their assistance we have assembled an unprecedented program of contemporary Canadian art and artists.

”Burke Taylor, VANOC’s vice president of culture and celebrations, added: “Our vision for Cultural Olympiad 2010 is that it be eclectic, bold and breathtaking. Whether it’s onstage, online, in a gallery, or on the street we want people to have an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience and feel a personal connection to the cultural program of the Games. It’s part of the celebratory atmosphere we’re creating with our many partners to welcome the world.”

The hot new projects include:

Music

If a theme can be applied to this diverse mix of artists, it is collaboration and connection between iconic artists with up-and-coming musicians.On January 23, country and rock musician Steve Earle pays tribute to an equally gifted songwriter in Townes Van Zandt, with Canadian alt-pop crooner Joel Plaskett opening, as he did for Paul McCartney this past summer. In Hal Willner’s Neil Young Project, Willner uses Broken Social Scene, Joan as Policewoman, Ron Sexsmith, and Iron andWine to illuminate the hits and obscurities from Young’s massive catalogue of work.

The music list is rounded out by Juno-nominated breakout Canadian band Stars, known for its atmospheric, literary pop; the Hilario Duran Latin Jazz Band, led by a man who learned his craft at the centre of Cuba’s vibrant Latin jazz scene, performing with saxophonist Jane Bunnett, pianist Phil Dwyer and master percussionist Changuito — all band leaders and international jazz icons in their own right; and the double-bill of K’Naan (a young Somali-Canadian rapper) and Tinariwen (a collective of poet-guitarists that has rocked the south Saharan since the late 1970s).

For something completely different, try Sound Gallery and its unique blend of improvised music and video mixing or Taiwan’s Chai Found Music Workshop and its revival of Chinese chamber music called sizhu.

Performing Arts

Spain’s María Pagés, lauded for her development of modern flamenco, reveals her FlamencoRepublic at the Orpheum, while the Spirit of Uganda, a company of 22 young artists orphaned by AIDS or civil war, brings their uplifting and spirited East African dance and music to Canada for the first time. Go down the rabbit hole in Alice and Other Heroes, where Daniel Janke’s Whitehorse-based ensemble plays a live score for a series of short films, including vignettes from the animated classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

For a taste of something closer to home, the National Arts Centre does the country and its more than 30 million inhabitants proud with Made in Canada, a concert celebrating the rich cultural landscape of the Great White North through music, dance and song.

Visual Arts

Step back in time and view a Vancouver Island Aboriginal family’s history and stories through beautifully painted ceremonial curtains in Backstory: Nuu-chah-nulth Ceremonial Curtains and the Work of Ki-Ke-In, or watch cutting-edge videos and films by some of the world’s best visual artists on a huge screen on the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Robson Street façade during CUE.

For a unique meld of avant-garde music and art with a personal twist supplied by the audience seek out Metcalfe/Lewis: Ikons. In a forest walk like no other, be entranced by the provocative sculptures of Vancouver’s Eric Metcalfe while listening to a composition of acoustic sounds by New York-based trombonist George Lewis. The forest and music respond to the actions of the people around it. Get lost and found again in Tracing Night, Ed Pien’s maze-like installation that turns day into night, using fanciful creatures pulled from Chinese and Inuit mythology to confront uncertainty and fear.

CODE Live

For digital innovation look no further than CODE Live, an 18-day event that is part of CODE, the Cultural Olympiad’s digital edition. It will showcase a diverse range of works fuelled by digital technology and audience interaction. The exhibitions and performances are in venues around Vancouver and most are free.

From around the world, these works draw the audience into the creative experience: a cellphone turns into a musical instrument, enabling the user to create a symphony of sound; a green thumb goes to new levels playing with virtual acoustic plants; paparazzi robots offer up 15 minutes of fame to passersby; a telepresence performance makes it possible to reach out to friends across Canada; and a pathway of reactive LEDs respond as audiences make their way to late night performances featuring DJs and electronic music.

About the Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad, presented by Bell, is a series of multidisciplinary festivals and digital programs showcasing the best in Canadian and international arts and popular culture. Launched in 2008, the program culminates in the 60-day Cultural Olympiad 2010 (January 22 to March 21, 2010), which begins before and continues throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. CODE is the Cultural Olympiad’s digital edition, a series of programs developed to creatively engage national and global audiences through the use of digital technology.

Partnerships

Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs, including Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite television, Bell Home phone local and long distance, and IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For information on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca. For corporate information on BCE, please visit www.bce.ca.

Government

The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad is grateful for the support of the Government of Canada and the governments of all of Canada’s provinces and territories and their respective cultural agencies: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. In addition to the Cultural Olympiad’s government and corporate partners, CODE is proudly supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Film Board of Canada. New Media BC and Wavefront Innovation Society are also both active participants in the project. The National Presentation and Touring Program is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Arts Partners in Creative Development

Arts Partners in Creative Development (APCD) is a strategic investment partnership to assist BC arts and cultural organizations create and develop new works or further develop existing works, with the intent of producing, presenting or exhibiting them at the highest standard. Organizations can apply for funding to create, commission and develop original work in the performing, visual, media or literary arts. With an initial investment of $6.5 million over three years, APCD facilitates the creation and development of new work to showcase both locally and worldwide. APCD funding partners include VANOC, the Province of British Columbia, 2010 Legacies Now, the City of Vancouver, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Vancouver Foundation.

VANOC Board of Directors reviews final five month home stretch of activities and operations before start of Games

9/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

VANCOUVER - The board of directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) met today in Vancouver to discuss an exceptionally busy fall schedule full of operational activities and major announcements leading up to the opening of the Games, as well as updates on standing agenda items such as ongoing financial management, Games-time planning and the Olympic Torch Relay.

The members of the board, as well as VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong and executives, spoke largely via teleconference today. This change in format may be replicated at the handful of remaining board meetings because it provides more flexibility for the board and management in the final months before the Games.

“The Organizing Committee is now in the midst of an exciting and extraordinarily busy time before the Games begin in just 147 days,” said Rusty Goepel, acting chairman for the meeting. “Huge milestone projects that have been worked on for years are now just days and weeks away and the VANOC board of directors is confident the management team has preparations well in hand to ensure the delivery of great Games in 2010.”

Already, VANOC’s overlay teams have started the complex process of making Games venues ready for the world’s top winter athletes. The work, which involves installing temporary items such as additional seating, lighting, banners, and cables, will continue into 2010.

John Furlong also provided the board with a rundown of major announcements and events the Organizing Committee will make in the next six weeks, which include: the start of the 106-day Olympic Torch Relay; the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce program; the international unveiling of the Games’ medals; the second phase of transportation plans; and the largest announcement to date of projects added to the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

“We’ve been running at full steam for the last year but this fall we’ve kicked our activities into an even higher gear as we put the finishing touches on our plans to host the world at Canada’s Games,” said Furlong, who will present Vancouver 2010’s final pre-Games report at the 121st International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen, Denmark early next month.

“For our team, the Games really start on October 22 when the Olympic Flame is lit in Greece and begins its journey to Victoria, BC, for the start of the Olympic Torch Relay on October 30. The 105 days after that will no doubt pass in a blur of activity and feelings of pride as we witness the excitement Canadians feel when they see the Olympic Flame in person.”

The board also received the following updates:

Finance: The Organizing Committee is continuing to proceed with procurement and is in final contractual negotiations for numerous goods and services for accommodation in the Sea to Sky region, snow management and food services. Information will be posted at www.vancouver2010.com once contracts are finalized.
Venue Construction: The City of Vancouver provided an update to the Finance Committee on the positive progress being made on construction of the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver. Both athlete villages, located in Vancouver and Whistler, are on schedule to be handed over to VANOC this fall. The Trout Lake and Killarney training venues are complete and will open to the public next week.
Torch Relays: With 42 days left before the Olympic Flame arrives on Canadian soil, the Organizing Committee is locking down final details for the torch relay’s 106-day journey across Canada, including: confirming celebration community plans and torchbearer data. More than 2,000 journalists, photographers and videographers from across Canada and internationally have registered to cover the relay. The Olympic Flame will be officially handed over to VANOC officials on October 29 in Greece before flying to Canada for the start of the relay in Victoria, BC, 24 hours later. Meanwhile, planning for the Paralympic Torch Relay continues; further details on the route will be announced later this fall.
Cultural Olympiad: On Monday, September 21, VANOC will reveal more than 70 new projects added to Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad’s lineup of music, theatre, visual arts, dance, and digital programming. The announcement is the largest unveiling of 2010 projects to date.
Olympic Truce: VANOC will announce details shortly on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce program, which includes an innovative project to involve Canadians of all ages, especially young people, in promoting peace in everyday life.
Accommodation: The Homestay Volunteer Program, launched by VANOC in February 2009, has seen excellent results to date. The program will provide more than 650 beds during the Olympic Winter Games from 550 host families. More than 220 beds secured through the program will also house volunteers during the Paralympic Games. Applications will continue to be accepted from additional host families until Games time. Those who apply before September 30 will qualify for event tickets as an added incentive.
Transportation: The second and final phase of the integrated transportation plan for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games by the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) will be released in mid-October.
Sport: Approximately 28,000 spectators attended the women’s Hockey Canada Cup from August 31 to September 6 at GM Place. The sport event, featuring the top four ranked countries in women’s ice hockey, was the last of 18 sport events in the 2008-2009 season where VANOC conducted operational testing in preparation for the Games. Each event has resulted in key learnings and refinements to VANOC’s plans for the Games and valuable feedback from international sport federations.The next scheduled VANOC board meeting will be held on November 17, 2009.

VANOC Board of Directors Background

The VANOC 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 VANOC 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 VANOC board of directors has made today’s agenda, discussion topics and decisions available to the public on www.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.