Vancouver Winter Olympics

Progress to 2010! News Items

Two Years to Go!

Feb-12-2008: Three main venues have already had their work mostly done. The upgrade to Nat Bailey stadium park, which will host curling, is on track for a 2008 completion. Canada is being unusually aggressive (for Canada) in 'Own the Podium' plan. One hopes the athletes don't choke under the pressure. The goal for the games is 35 medals. Watch out world!

Key Whistler Olypmic Venues Open

Dec-20-2007: Last weekend, Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games opened three major sporting venues: Whistler Sliding Centre, Olympic Park and Creekside. These are to be the homes for alpine skiing, biathlon, Nordic skiing, ski jump, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Huge expectations on Canadian athletes to train at the site in advance in order to enhance the home team advantage.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Mascots are Here

Nov-27-2007: Mascots of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games have made their debut, specifically Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk. Miga is a sea bear inspired by legends of orca whales that transform into bears. Quatchi is Sasquatch. Sumi is an animal spirit who is part orca whale with wings of the thunderbird. Mukmuk is a rare Vancouver Island marmot. The figures have a Japanese Anime look, which resonates with children but that look has left adults often perplexed. Time will tell if these creatures are a big hit.

2010 Olympic Security Budget Review

Nov-04-2007: It's with relief that people should hear that the RCMP's newly-appointed Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer is quoted as saying "we will be able to attach dollar figures to that [security], and go to the Games' security committee with an updated plan." The estimated security budget of $175-million has not been revisted since 2002 and has been criticized by many as being too low. Assistant Commissioner Mercer puts the past behind him by saying his "focus is forward, not behind."

Who says it's not about money?

Oct-22-2007: The Canadian Press has reported that organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have exceeded their 2007 sponsorship target by at least $15 million. John Furlong is quoted: "I never dreamed we would be in such a favourable position so early, and we will continue to honour our promise to Canadians to keep these Games on budget, on schedule and to engage the private sector fully in the project." The committee is 88% of target with two years remaining.

2010 Winter Olympic Tickets

Oct-12-2007: After the announcement that 2010 Winter Olympic tickets would go on sale starting Oct 11, 2008 jokes about needing a bank loan to buy them aired on local radio. Opening ceremonies tickets will range from $175 - $1100. Men's gold-medal hockey tickets will start at $350. These are of course the big ticket events. Regular tickets can cost $50. VANOC is trying to arrange that people without big wallets can enjoy an event. The scalpers have a year to figure out how to take advantage of the situation.

Buy Tickets with Caution!

Sep-23-2007: The Globe and Mail (one of Canada's national newspapers) reported that a Texas-based company was trying to sell 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies tickets online. The Vancouver Organizing Committee states that nobody can sell tickets that do not yet exists. Official ticket information will not be available for months; the only way to be sure your tickets are real is to go through the Olympic web site (http://www.vancouver2010.com) to find authorized dealers. Don't get scammed!

Atkins to produce Opening Ceremonies

Sep-20-2007: On September 20, 2007 David Atkins was named as Executive Producer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Ceremonies. Atkins' company produced the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Summer Games as well as the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar. Atikins plans on utilizing talent from Canada's music, producing, creative and events industries. Atkins is hoped to be able to present Vancouver/Whistler better than did the closing ceremonies at the Turin 2006 Winter Games.

Plan B? Sea-to-Sky needs a Plan C or D

Sep-12-2007: On Sep 10, there was a crash on the highway to Whistler: a logging truck and a car collided. (Guess who won.) The Sea-to-Sky was closed for three hours. The local press keeps calling the highway treacherous but surely the problem is stupid drivers. Regardless, it seems unlikely that the highway will suddenly become a stretch of prairie road nor will drivers suddenly smarten up. Vanoc doesn't yet have a contingency plan. Vanoc better have a couple by 2010.

Brace yourself for Border Bother

Sep-05-2007: In early October, for 30-60 days, there will be only 2 customs lanes for travelers entering the U.S. at the Peace Arch. Most of the trouble will be reserved for US-bound motorists, but changes to Interstate 5 also will annoy those headed north. This is in support of a $70 million upgrade project to finish by the end of 2009, six weeks before 2010 Winter Olympics. At that time 10 lanes are planned. Check http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS/index.htm and http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/ before heading out.

Improved Drivers' Licenses?

Aug-19-2007: BC and Washington State are working on a plan for a driver's license that allows border crossing without a passport. Approvals from Homeland Security and the Canadian federal government are pending; it is hoped that this will be in place for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The licences will have RFID chips that broadcast an ID linked to a database that allows border officials to tag those not allowed across the border. It's not clear how this connects to personal data or how that data is secured.

Change in Head of Security

Aug-16-2007: The RCMP has confirmed that Chief Superintendent Bob Harriman, the officer who had led the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit since 2003, has stepped down. Canadian media outlets are speculating heavily if Harriman was pushed out given the proximity to the announcement of budget problems. Of course the media would love someone in the job who actually talked to them. Chief Supt. Harriman gave no media interviews during his time on the job. No replacement has yet been named.

Fuel cell buses for 2010

Aug-04-2007: BC Transit is buying a fleet of fuel cell-powered buses to be used in the 2010 Games. New Flyer Industries will build 20 buses to be used in Whistler. The Canadian federal government is assisting financially in the construction of hydrogen fuelling stations. Ballard Power Systems, a local BC company, will produce the fuel cells. The bus emissions will be water, making it a green technology. The non-green impact of producing the cells and infrastructure is questioned.

Security Budget to Expand?

Jul-29-2007: The RCMP is warning that $175 million budget for security at the 2010 Winter Olympics does not reflect reality. The key stated reason for the change is that when the games were won in 2003, there was a security plan for 20 venues. It is looking like the real number of venues will be 100. The budget for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City was $352 million. Was the number a deliberate low-ball estimate or just good old fashioned bad planning?

$600 million + 80,000 cu. m of granite

Jul-10-2007: If you need some spare gravel, they might have some extra on the Sea-To-Sky Highway. This road from Vancouver to Whistler is in the midst of the upgrade to make it 2010 Winter Olympic friendly. The Darrell Bay Cut is expected to produce around 80,000 cu. m of granite loaded into 500 railcars. The project is reported to be on budget and on time. With 80 km of new passing lanes and more pullouts, residents and visitors alike will be keen to see if getting to Whistler will be easier and safer.

Olympic Mascots - big business!

Jul-08-2007: You'd think that picking mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics would be straight forward for BC, which has a host of both majestic and cute-and-cuddly animals from which to choose. Even if you weren't keen on real critters, you could consider mythical things, like Ogopogo. Earlier this week VANOC put the choices to the IOC. The pressure is on for a Christmas launch of the various pins, toys and other revenue-generating images. Just don't ask what they are … you have to wait!

Can't make the 2010 Olympics? Try 2014!

Jul-04-2007: Jacques Rogge of the IOC announced that Russian resort town of Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.South Korea's Pyeongchang and Salzburg in Austria were defeated again after previously losing to Vancouver. Russia has never hosted the Winter Olympics. Vladamir Putin, during a speech pitching Russia's entry, stated that Sochi would allow 70% of athletes to be a five minute walk to the venues. Putin also touted warm weather for this Black Sea town with nearby mountains for the alpine sports.

VANOC reports being on budget

Jun-29-2007: Construction of the 2010 Winter Olympics venues is, according to The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC), on schedule; about half the budget is now spent. VANOC said it has consumed 2 million CAD from a contingency fund, but asserts the $580 million construction budget will be enough. The estimated cost is $1.6 billion to host the Games, which includes venues but not associated costs for highway improvements or security. There is debate in Vancouver about the true costs of the Games.

New Ships for BC Ferries

Jun-26-2007: BC Ferries - the company that runs routes between places like Vancouver, Victoria and Prince Rupert in Northern BC - is bringing in 3 more ships from from Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft in Germany. Due this autumn 2007, the 160m Super C-class ships will be covered with huge photographic images and branding for the 2010 Winter Games. Each ship will prominently feature images promoting BC and winter sports.

Ottawa Reviews 2010 Olympic Spending

Oct-05-2006: The Department of Canadian Heritage has hired an auditor to check the organizing committee's books. Such reviews are anticipated and conducted regularly by Ottawa and BC governments. The federal government recently added $55 million towards Games venue construction warning that it would be the last.

Ski cross to debuts at 2010 Games

Nov-29-2006: The IOC has announced that Ski cross will debut at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Ski cross is freestyle skiing where skiers compete head-to-head down a rutted and curving course which includes jumps, banking turns with varying terrain. The event is similar to snowboard cross, which debuted at the Turin games.

Olympic Sized Security

Jul-12-2006: Jacques Rogge, IOC president, spoke with journalists to mark the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Games. Rogge expressed confidence in security for the upcoming the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. "I'm not concerned," he said from Lausanne, Switzerland. "I trust that the authorities will provide the security that we need. "Security has always been the No. 1 priority of the IOC since 1972. It started of course with the implementation of security measures at a very high level in Montreal 1976."

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Merchandise

Jan-05-2006: All Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Merchandise is produced using strict quality assurance standards. All Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Merchandise is made of quality materials and are manufactured to last. Commencing January of 2006, Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Merchandise will be sold at approved retail outlets nationwide and will feature security devices affixed to each item that affirms the product's authenticity.

Job Opportunities

Jun-14-2005: VANOC will start small and will not be hiring in significant numbers until 2006. VANOC openly celebrates the diversity that gives our country and community its strength and commits to creating inclusive participation opportunities in all aspects of the Games through employment, volunteerism, performance, and business. We encourage applications from persons with disabilities, women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and the economically disadvantaged. Fluency in French is an asset.

Petro-Canada Named National Partner

Jun-14-2005: The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is pleased to announce Petro-Canada as its National Partner in the Oil and Gas category. The eight-year agreement provides Petro-Canada with sponsorship rights for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including sponsorship rights for the Canadian Olympic Team for the Torino 2006, Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games.

"Ilanaaq"

Jun-14-2005: With the deepest appreciation for Canada's aboriginal heritage and for the joy Canadians share in celebrating winter's snow and ice, the emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games is a contemporary interpretation of the inukshuk. It is called “Ilanaaq”, which is the Inuit word for friend.

2010 Olympic Logo

Apr-23-2005: A 9-member panel for the 2010 Winter Olympics has chosen an inukshuk as the official logo, a traditional stone sculpture used by Canada's Inuit. Called "Ilanaaq" (pronounced ih-lah-nawk), it is the Inuit word for "friend."

The logo was unveiled April 23, 2005 in Vancouver and was designed by local graphic designers.

Controversy ensued as the logo does not reflect the local aboriginal peoples of Canada's West Coast; the Inuit are native to Canada's far north.

Native Agreement

Jun-21-2003: The Squamish and Lil'wat Nations announced plans for new cultural centre near Whistler. It will showcase native history and heritage.

Jacques Rogge Visit

Jan-14-2005: The President of the IOC is visiting Canada from January 31 to February 3, 2005. It is his first visit since the games were awarded.