Whistler Headache : Transportation

Whistler's primary concern regarding the Olympic Games is going to be transportation. The full-time, non-Olympic transit system in the resort municipality consists of 25 buses. During the Winter Olympics that number within the resort area will swell to 125.

And these numbers do not include the substantial amount of buses that will probably be used to transport people up and down the Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver. Buses may ultimately be the only vehicles, other than emergency, allowed on the to be completed thoroughfare as to achieve the 1hour 30minute time frame quoted for the IOC during the bidding for the 2010 games.

These concerns were addressed at the primary Whistler civic consultation meeting held last night.

Other issues that Whistler will be dealing with and continuing to work out right up until the Opening Ceremonies include accommodation and security.

REAL 2010

With less than two months to go until the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics are underway the organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games are preparing for the counterfeiters to unleash their furry on this next event.

In anticipation of that furry they've launched a campaign called REAL 2010 encouraging fans, spectators, companies, etc. to quite simply buy real, genuine products.

In addition to this, VANOC held a three-day anti-counterfeiting training conference in Vancouver which was attended by businesses and law enforcement officers from Canada and the U.S..

The conference was run by Kestenberg Siegal Lipkus, a Toronto law firm, and co-sponsored by the Vancouver Police Department and the RCMP.

West Van becomes Official Host Venue City...

...thanks to 6 generous local families who were asked to help the city come up with the minimum financial contribution needed to be officially recognized by VANOC.

The group of six donated $1M to the City of West Vancouver who in turn are passing it on to VANOC to gain their official status. The families will not be receiving anything more than a tax-receipt, which in their postal code is highly coveted, for their generous donations.

The City of West Vancouver has acknowledged their high civic tax burden through this and decided some time ago that they would not pay out of the city coffers for the Olympics.

The money donated will probably be partly returned to the city as a part of the Cultural Olympiad festivities that will take place in West Vancouver.

The city is already home to the Freestyle Skiing & Snowboarding events up on Cypress Mountain.

More from the Vancouver Sun.

Bombardier Selected for Torch

The Canadian firm Bombardier, best known throughout the world for their transit systems and regional jet aircraft, has been selected to design and build the Olympic Torches that will be used in the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays.

The selected torch design will be unveiled early next year.

Twelve-thousand Canadians will carry the torch over 35,000 kilometres - the longest single-country relay - bringing it through up to 1,000 communities in over 100 days.

Source: CKNW AM 980

New Seabus in Time for 2010

TransLink, British Columbia Transportation minister Kevin Falcon and Malcom Barker of the Washington Marine Group announced on Monday a signed agreement for a new $25M SeaBus.

The third SeaBus will join the other two in service between North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay and Downtown Vancouver's Harbour.

Malcolm Barker said the ship will be of the greenest of green vessels and "will be built on time and on budget" in Victoria.

The vessel will initially go into service Summer 09 alleviating one of the existing SeaBuses so that it may undergo a refit. The refit will be completed in time for the 2010 Olympic Games allowing for peak service every 10 minutes vs. the current closest interval of 15 minute between ships.

Quick Facts : Whistler Olympic Park

• First time in Olympic Winter Games history that all four Nordic disciplines (biathlon, ski jumping, Nordic combined, cross-country skiing) are occurring at the same venue
• The only snowmaking system at the venue is for the ski jump landing hill
• The venue has approximately five kilometres of paved rollerski trails and six kilometres of lit trails to enhance training opportunities
• The venue will host 30 per cent of the Olympic medal events and 50 per cent of the Paralympic medal events
• Athletes will ski an average speed of just under 25 kilometres per hour during cross-country ski races, reaching maximum speeds near 60 kilometres per hour
• During the men’s 50-kilometre race, the athletes will climb approximately 2,000 vertical metres (more than twice the vertical of the men’s alpine downhill course at Whistler Creekside). The winning time for this race is expected to be approximately 2 hours, with an average speed of almost 25 kilometres per hour
• Sustainability initiatives include an on-site waste water treatment plant to use leading technology (tertiary membrane filtration and ultraviolet disinfection) for high-quality discharge to local surface water. During Games-time, as with other outdoor venues, temporary wastewater collection infrastructure will be in place to accommodate high user numbers.

VANOC Wants YOU!

There's no denying that ticket prices to the highly sought after Olympic events will be hard to come by and some may be quite expensive. An alternative that may get you into the odd event is to volunteer for VANOC. They're looking for a few good men and women.

So you didn’t quite make it as an athlete, but you’re as passionate as ever to leave your mark. This is your ticket to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

By getting involved as a volunteer, you could be joining a team of 25,000 who’ll be welcoming the world to Canada. We’re looking for a team that shares our values of excellence, teamwork, creativity, sustainability and trust. If these words speak to you, read on. We’d love to tell you more about what it takes to join our team.

From Vancouver2010.com:

• We're looking for volunteers who are available before, during and after the 2010 Winter Games. We encourage everyone to apply, but please keep in mind that the more time and flexibility you have, the more opportunities there may be for you to get involved.
• With an expected 25,000 volunteers, accommodation is an important consideration. Although pre-arranged accommodation is not a pre-requisite, we would strongly recommend it.
• You must be 19 years old on or before September 1, 2008 to apply for a volunteer role.
• We’ll be using electronic communication (such as the volunteer website and e-mail) to pass along important information. You’ll need a valid e-mail address and access to the internet to access this information. If you don’t have an e-mail address or access to the internet, view our Frequently Asked Questions for suggestions on your options.
• Your computer must be Javascript enabled. For instructions on how to do this, visit the Technical Help section of our Frequently Asked Questions.
• You must complete and pass an RCMP background check, as well as any other relevant security clearances to be considered for a volunteer role.
• There are many areas of the Games that need your help. Check out our list of Functions for a closer look at our departments.
• We’re also looking for Sport Event volunteers. Sport Events are major national or international events, such as World Cups or World Championships that will take place locally in 2008 and early 2009. VANOC will be testing operations at these events. Each sport discipline will be tested at least once leading up to the Games, so there are many chances for you to get involved. You’ll be asked if you’re interested in volunteering for Sport Events on the volunteer application form. Don’t forget to click ‘Yes.’

Ready to fill out and submit an application as a part of your Olympic Legacy? Click Here.

Quick Facts : Whistler Sliding Centre

• One of only 15 international competition sliding tracks in the world
• Highest vertical drop of any track in the world: 152 metres
• Track G-force is expected to reach 5.02 Gs (men’s luge)
• Highest speed reached in inaugural 2007-08 season: 147.9 kilometres per hour (four-man bobsleigh)
• A thin ice surface measuring between two and five centimetres is produced and maintained by hand
• The track measures 1,450 metres from start to finish, with an elevation change of over 150 metres
• 350 tons of concrete were used to construct the track
• The track has 36 on-track cameras and 42 “timing eyes”
• Energy-efficiency initiatives, designed to minimize refrigeration plant energy use, include an ammonia refrigeration system. Ammonia is one of the most energy-efficient refrigerants, producing no chlorofluorocarbons (which contribute to ozone-layer depletion and global climate change).

Shortage of Hotel Rooms in Vancouver & Whistler

There are not enough traditional hotel rooms in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver & area) or the Sea to Sky Corridor (Whistler & area)! This is both a challenge and an opportunity.

There will be an estimated 26000 hotel rooms in 2010. VANOC has reserved 21000 of those. 5500 Olympic Games athletes and officials are expected. 1350 Paralympic Games athletes and officials are anticipated. 10000 media representatives and broadcasters are forcasted. 3000 recreational vehicle spaces exist. Here's where the numbers get interesting though...

The Olympic Family anticipates 50000 guests and 350000 spectators and tourists!

Take a moment to either list a wanted add on our free forums or if you have some non-traditional accommodation that you would like to offer to a spectator or tourist you can also list that ad here.

Likely at this point if a visitor is calling a hotel inquiring about accommodation they are being put on a waiting list. They will have to explore the options of bed and breakfasts, recreational vehicles, family and friends, and private rentals of houses and condominiums. Winter2010Rentals.com has a dedicated, 100% free forum for this purpose at forum.Winter2010Rentals.com.

Ticket Countdown

At the entry of this blog their are 111 days until the ticket process begins for Vancouver 2010.

• More than 100,000 tickets will be available for $25
• Half of all Games tickets will be priced at $100 or less
• Tickets go on sale in October 2008

With more than 350,000 spectators anticipated for the 2010 Olympic Games tickets will go quickly, especially to some of the more in demand events, despite their higher prices. To ensure you have an opportunity to purchase tickets to the games you will need to sign up ASAP. To do so it would be wise to start receiving VANOCs news and info.

For persons not from Canada you will have to purchase from your local Olympic Committees designated organization. For the United States you will be able to acquire tickets from JetSetSports or CoSport.

PLEASE NOTE: Until the ticketing program has been launched, aside from vancouver2010.com and Vancouver 2010 Official Sponsors, any individual or group claiming to have access to 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets is making that claim falsely. Once tickets have been made available, buyers should be aware that tickets bought from any unauthorized source may not be valid and may not be accepted for entry to 2010 Winter Games venues.

British Olympic Official Visits

The British minister responsible for the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London, Tess Jowell, will be visiting Vancouver next week to get a first-hand look.

She will have meetings with several officials including those from local and provincial government and VANOC.

She will also participate in a round table discussion on opportunities for Canadian businesses for the London 2012 games.

News : Game Plan 2008

With the games fast approaching, only 611 days away at time of entering this blog, VANOC will be hosting a series of informational sessions called Game Plan 2008 to help give persons living and working in and around Games Venues a more clear idea of how their lives will be affected.

“Citizens living and working near a Games venue have a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic experience,” said Terry Wright, VANOC executive vice president of services and Games operations. “Game Plan 2008 offers the community an overview of current Games planning and a first look at how Games venues will operate before, during and after 2010. We look forward to beginning the process of providing those who live, work and play near the venues with the information and tools they need to have an exciting and memorable 2010 Winter Games experience.”

The first Game Plan 2008 presentation will be held in Whistler on June 17th. The first half of the meeting will focus on Whistler venues, transportation, public safety, security and municipal operations. The second half of the meeting will provide an opportunity for community members to speak directly with venue specialists and other planning teams as well as view more detailed information displays.

A session will be in Richmond on June 18th and several more will be held in Vancouver throughout June and July.

Whistler - Maurice Young Millennium Place - June 17th - 5pm
Richmond - Richmond City Hall - June 18th - 6:30pm
Vancouver - TBA

Further Game Plan sessions will be held throughout 2009 and leading up to the games in 2010.

News : Female Ski Jumpers vs. VANOC

Last fall, female ski jumpers launched a campaign to get their sport into the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver & Whistler.

VANOCs response was quite simple at that time. Its not our decision, it's the IOCs, and their decision is based on the fact that Women's Ski Jumping does not have a) a sufficient number of world-class competitors nor b) a sanctioned World Championships.

Since then the female ski jumpers filed a Statement of Claim on May 21, 2008 in the British Columbia court system.

On May 30, 2008, VANOC responded to that Statement of Claim with a Statement of Defence with the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Their response is available from the Court Registry.

The primary point in their response is that they are simply not the correct defendant as their role in the 2010 Olympic Games is simply to Organize and Stage them. They simply do not determine which sports may or may not be a part of the games. Period.

Open : Whistler Sliding Centre & Olympic Park

The two centres will be opening their doors this summer to the public for tours.

“Tours are a great opportunity for the public to get a first-hand look at some of the most spectacular facilities of the Games and to learn about the sports they will host,” said Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC executive vice president, sport and Games operations. “Visitors will leave with a great sense of anticipation for the thrilling competitions that will take place there this winter, and in 2010. This is also a great chance for residents to familiarize themselves with the world-class facilities that are now in their own backyard, and what will be an important part of their community for years to come.”

Self-guided walking tours of the Whistler Sliding Centre will begin on July 3 and continue until the end of August. Admission for these tours is $5.

Beginning June 15, free, self-guided walking, car or bike tours of Whistler Olympic Park will be available during park hours. Visitors interested in guided tours or tours of the ski jumps, however, must book in advance at www.whistlerolympicpark.com or by calling 604.964.2455. Both The Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park are wheelchair accessible.

VANOC press release.

Official Supplier : Garrett

Garrett Metal Detectors is an Official Supplier of the 2010 Winter Games. Garrett will provide 1,650 metal detection products including 550 walk-through and 1,100 hand-held metal detectors for security use at 2010 Winter Games venues. The 2010 Winter Games will mark the 11th time that Garrett has provided security products to Games venues since supplying walk-through and hand-held metal detectors to the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

Garrett.com

Official Supplier : Sleep Country

Sleep Country Canada is the Official Supplier of bed frames, box springs and mattresses for the 2010 Winter Games. The sponsorship provides VANOC with over 5,800 sleep sets for athletes and officials who will be housed in the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver and the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler.

SleepCountry.ca

The 2010 Version of Park 'n' Ride

With accommodation expected to be in extremely tight supply during the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver & Whistler, BC non-traditional housing for participants, media, and spectators is expected to boom. In Canada, the term Park 'n' Ride usually refers to small parking lots in close proximity to transit connections or highway arteries. During the Olympics this term may hold a slightly different meaning.

Campgrounds and other non-traditional accommodation types are expected to boom. We already told you about the City of North Vancouver's request for proposals for the docking of cruise ships at it's ports to house thousands of persons at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue within steps of the SeaBus Transit link to downtown.

Now it's becoming clear that many people are inquiring and making reservations at Campgrounds during the Olympic Games. With rates as low as $51 per night for a full-service camp site it seems a bargain. Some campgrounds are even in close proximity to public transit as an added bonus.

Fraserway RV Rentals is exploring the idea of setting up a temporary RV park in Pemberton for the games period but still have to arrange power and sewerage services.

Opening Their Home for the Olympics

While some are planning to "cash in" with an Olympic Rental others are planning to remain "cash neutral" for the experience.

One family, the Hamills of Vancouver's WestSide plan to offer a guest suite in their home free of charge to the family of an athlete whom otherwise might not be able to attend the games given the cities room shortage that will inevitably push up prices during Olympic fever.

The Hamills even plan to pick up the family from the airport and are even willing to show them around the town about and take them out for dinner to achieve this Olympic experience they crave.

VANOC is hoping that more families than just the Hamills catch this Olympic Spirit.

Official Supplier: General Mills

General Mills is the Official Supplier of Cereal and Unprepared Grocery Products for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Its sponsorship supports the 2010 Winter Games, and the Canadian Olympic teams for the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Games.

GeneralMills.com

Official Supporter : Jet Set Sports

Jet Set Sports is the Official Hospitality Services provider to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

JetSetSports.com

Official Supplier: Vincor Canada

Vincor Canada is the Official Supplier of Wine for the 2010 Winter Games. Vincor has produced a special series of Esprit wines under its Jackson-Triggs label, with a portion of the proceeds going to Vancouver 2010 and the Canadian Olympic Team. Vincor wines will also feature prominently in Games-time hospitality plans.

VincorInternational.com

Beijing : Attending the Games

If your summer plans this year include attending the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games than you should make sure you read the rules before setting off. There's only one problem, they're only in Mandarin.

But be advised they include items such as these:

• No prohibited drugs
• No pornography
  
• No persons suffering from a mental disorder or insanity
• No protesting
• No sleeping in public places such as airports, train stations, sidewalks, etc.
• No removal of state secrets... this one, the way its worded, is the scary one... be VERY careful
  

Some things you are allowed to do:

• One dog or cat per person is allowed into China
• Food for your consumption for the duration of your stay

More on this can be found here and you're also encouraged to do some extensive googling as if you do get in trouble finding a qualified human rights lawyer may be challenging since many of those involved in representing the protesters from Lhasa in March are having some 'challenges' with the government.

National Partner : Petro Canada

Petro-Canada is a National Partner and the Official Oil and Gas Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Petro-Canada fuels are currently being used at many Games venues during the construction phase. They will be used exclusively at Games time to run all VANOC fleet and motor coach vehicles.

Petro-Canada.ca

Official Supplier: Nortel

Nortel is the Official Supplier of Converged Network Equipment for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

Nortel.ca

Official Supplier: Haworth

Haworth is the Official Supplier of Office Furniture for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, and the Canadian Olympic Committee. Haworth outfitted the Vancouver 2010 headquarters with workspaces offering access to natural daylight without compromising functionality or aesthetics. By focusing on creating adaptable workspaces and building performance, and with its beautiful, functional product design, Haworth assisted VANOC in meeting its sustainability goals -- both for its facilities and workforce.

Haworth.com

Official Supporter : Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is an official supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. It has exclusive sponsorship rights in Canada in the Motor Vehicle Insurance product category, and will insure VANOC's entire fleet of vehicles in the pre-Games and Games-time periods.

ICBC.com