The Way to 2010

Translink has put up a new section to their website titled "The Way to 2010".

The pages include an interactive map showing venues, the sporting events they will hold, and bus options to get there.

Read more here or visit the Translink page directly.

Official Supplier :: Port Metro Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver, or how they now appear to be named, Port Metro Vancouver has signed on as an official supplier with the deal being valued between $3 & 15M.

Read more here.

Olympic Tickets to Include Transit

Vancouver is a great city, but traffic has never been it's forte. VANOC is planning for this, and the fact that many of the attendees of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics will be from out of town and therefore without vehicles. Transit will be included in all tickets. Whether purchasers of the tickets use that public transit is another question, but in some cases they'll have no choice.

The average transit cost will be approx. $10. Most transit costs will range from $4-18 of the ticket price.

Those watching sport at Cypress will have to purchase a ticket on the Olympic bus network for $12 round trip.

Whistler spectators travelling from Vancouver will be paying $25 round trip.

Read more here.

Olympic Ticketing Guide

In less than one week tickets to the 2010 Olympic Games can be applied for from the organizers of the Vancouver/Whistler games.

Today the organizing committee, VANOC, has released a comprehensive ticketing guide that helps show how truly affordable much of the games will be. Of course hot-tickets will demand a premium not only now, but certainly in resales (if they're permitted!).

Some 400,000 tickets will be priced at only $25 and over half of all available tickets will be priced less than $100 each.

For a comprehensive article on the ticketing guide please read here.

Stay tuned for more info as the week goes on!

With Glowing Hearts

The organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games have officially unveiled the motto of the games as "With Glowing Hearts".

The world will be welcomed to Vancouver & Whistler with this motto that sums up the hearts of Canadians. The motto comes straight from our National anthem "With Glowing Hearts... we see thee rise, the true, North, strong and free..."

Read more about the choosing of this phrase that you'll be hearing a lot of over the next couple years here.

Official Supplier :: Deloitte

Deloitte has been named by VANOC as their official supplier of professional services.

Visit their website here.

Sea to Sky Youth Participation Plan

If you value team, trust, excellence, sustainability and creativity then you uphold what VANOC values and they'd like you to join with them as a volunteer.

They've just launched an initiative focused on volunteer groups of 15-19 year olds, 10+, and an adult chaperon for each group from the Sea to Sky corridor to involve people in exciting Olympic opportunities as we approach 2010.

Read more here.

Olympic Legacies Lost on Squamish

Back when the Vancouver 2010 Bid Committee was putting together their plans for what the 2010 Winter Olympics would look like Squamish, the city situated virtually half-way between Vancouver and Whistler, was front and centre.

Squamish was planned to be the potential hub for media, a transportation hub between Vancouver & Whistler, potential site of the Paralympic sport of Ice Sledge Hockey, and more.

But that all changed once VANOC took over from the Bid Committee. Virtually everything that was said to be planned has either been changed, relocated, or cancelled entirely leaving Squamish virtually in the dark. The "heart of 2010" as they once billed themselves is certainly not beating for the Olympics.

Read more here.

VSO Records National Anthems

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has brought together the entire 78-piece orchestra to record some 200 National anthems over the course of three days for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

Here are two samples: Canada & Algeria.

Visit our FREE forums for more info.

Spirit Train Encounters Protests

If there's one thing we learned from the Beijing 2008 Olympics its that the Olympic Movement can attract protests. Canada will be no exception to this rule, although should see less emotional fervor than China did.

The Countdown Clock outside the Vancouver Art Gallery has seen at least 3 unscheduled 'paintings' and of course there have been other signs of protest as well.

On Sunday, the inaugural day for the CP Spirit Train protesters were out from the First Nations. Apparently members of the FN plan to protest at each stop of the train across the country.

Read more about the first Maple Ridge protests here.

Canadian Pacific Olympic Spirit Train

We first told you about the Canadian Pacific Railway Spirit Train back on May 11, 2008 and it was hard to believe it would come so soon. But here we are and the Spirit Train launches on Sunday.

Canadian Pacific has set up a website with tons of information on the Spirit Train, including it's route, dates of locations, info on athletes, photographs, and more. Visit the website here.

More Ticket Info from VANOC

VANOC has released more information about the Olympic Experience Packages (OEPs) discussed in this previous post.

For an in-depth article please visit our free forum. (No registration required for viewing)

Some example OEPs:

City packages: (25 in total)
City OEP1: $1,032
Feb. 12, Opening ceremony.
Feb. 13, Women's hockey preliminary.
Feb. 14, Speed skating, 3,000 metre final.
Feb. 14, Vancouver victory ceremony at BC Place Stadium.

City OEP2: $457
Feb. 13, Short-track speed skating, women's 500 metre qualification, women's 3,000 metre relay qualification, men's 1,500 metre qualification/ final.
Feb. 14, Figure skating, pairs short program.
Feb. 15, Women's hockey preliminary.
Feb. 16. Vancouver victory ceremony at BC Place Stadium.

Whistler packages (eight in total)

Whistler OEP 2: $220
Feb. 12, Men's ski jumping.
Feb. 13, Men's alpine skiing, downhill.
Feb. 14, Men's luge singles final.

Mixed (City and Whistler events) packages (17 in total)
Mixed OEP 1: $750
Feb. 12, Opening ceremony.
Feb. 13, Women's freestyle skiing, qualification and final.
Feb. 14, Men's Nordic combined event.
Mixed OEP 2: $850
Feb. 12, Opening Ceremony.
Feb. 13, Biathlon, women's 7.5 k sprint.
Feb. 14, Women's hockey preliminary.

Local packages, eight in total (five city and three Whistler-specific), which package four to six events spread over weekends and evenings.

Local City OEP 1: $1,267
Feb. 12, Opening ceremony.
Feb. 17, Men's preliminary hockey.
Feb. 18, Women's snowboarding, halfpipe qualification/ semifinal/ final.
Feb. 18, Vancouver victory ceremony at BC Place Stadium.
Feb. 20, Women's curling qualification.
Feb. 20, Women's hockey semifinal.

Local City OEP2: $352
Feb. 13, Women's freestyle skiing, moguls qualifications and final.
Feb. 17, Men's hockey preliminary.
Feb. 19, Vancouver victory ceremony at BC Place Stadium.
Feb. 20, Men's curling qualification.
Feb. 24, short-track speed skating, women's 1,000-metre qualification, men's 500-metre qualification and women's 3,000 metre relay final.

Local Whistler OEP 1: $335
Feb. 13, Men's ski jumping, normal hill individual final.
Feb. 17, Men's luge doubles, runs 1 and 2 final.
Feb. 20, Cross-country skiing, men's 15 + 15 k pursuit.
Feb. 21, Alpine skiing, men's giant slalom, qualification/ final.
Feb. 26, Biathlon, men's 4 x 7.5 k relay.
Feb. 27, Bobsleigh, men's four-man runs 1 and 4 final.

Visit here for more examples.

The 2010 Creative Process

Here's a neat video about the 2010 graphic identity creative process.

Click here to enjoy it.

New 2010 Website Officially Up and Running

As referenced yesterday in this post the Vancouver 2010 website has officially been re-launched. Check it out here.

Massive Public Art Initiative for Vancouver

The largest ever public art initiative in the city will be gracing Vancouver in time for the 2010 Olympics. More than $5M will be spent and International design contests held to have fantastic art pieces designed and placed throughout the city.

Several high-profile art sites will see pieces including too of the highest prices paid going for the entrance to Stanley Park and another in front of the Public Library fronting Georgia Street. Their costs will be $800K and $900K respectively.

All of the art sites will be permanent and other improvements as a part of our cultural legacy will include lighting improvements in communities that will see significant foot traffic during the games.

Read more on our FREE forums here.

Positive Construction Venue Report

VANOC has received a positive venue construction report and management is ready for the spotlight of the 2010 games and all the pressures that entails.

For a complete release on the board meeting please visit the press release.

New Ticket Info

Today marks the start of an intensive information campaign by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) to inform people about their Olympic Ticket options for Vancouver 2010. Starting October 3, 2008 expectant spectators can submit applications for tickets to the games.

The best value and easiest way to get tickets for this sought after winter spectacle will be by purchasing Olympic Experience Packages (OEP). OEPs will range in price from $140 to $1267 CDN and include a minimum of 3-sessions over 3 to 6 days. There will be more than 50 different OEP options. The OEP packages will offer spectators an easy way to build a customized package for their very own multi-day, multi-sport Winter Olympics Experience.

More information will be available tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the full VANOC press release here.

Re-Launch of Vancouver2010.com

Today marks the re-launch of the Vancouver2010.com website.

In conjunction with a strong public relations campaign aimed at educating the public about ticket purchasing for the games VANOC is re-launching it's website.

Check it out here.

NOTE: As of 10AM PST it has not yet been updated. Looks like they're behind schedule.

Check out our FREE Rental Forum in the meantime and list your haves or wants.

UPDATE: The press release is now out although I'm not yet seeing much change in the site other than the countdown photo being updated.

UPDATE2: As of 10:30PM the existing Vancouver 2010 website has been taken down with a temporary placeholder put up instead. Stay tuned for more details...

UPDATE3: As of 6AM on Sept 18, 2008 the new site has been uploaded. Looks great. Check it out here.

Look of the City Going Before Council

Vancouver city councilors had the opportunity last night to review and vote on an initial $650,000 plan that would see the purchase and installation of thousands of Olympic banners around the city.

Locations would include all three False Creek bridges, 12th Avenue, Cambie, Robson Street, Georgia, and more.

A further increase in this budget to $1.25M is expected to be voted on in the spring of 2009.

Read more here.

Source: Cirque de Soleil Won't Be Apart of 2010

Although there's been much speculation that Cirque de Soleil, arguably Canada's best export next to Maple Syrup, would play an exciting role in both the Opening & Closing Ceremonies.

Unfortunately a source has laid that rumour to rest for now citing creative control restraints by VANOC and the IOC as the main reason though officially both sides are claiming that scheduling conflicts of committment as the reason.

Read more here.

Skaters hit the ice in Richmond

As completion milestones continue to be set a big one was accomplished last week and a lesser one, although more emotionally significant set yesterday.

The major milestone last week was the installation of the ice at the Richmond Oval. Though the building is still several months away from completion, currently estimated for December 2008, the ice is now in. It won't be long before the finishing touches are complete. Viewing the oval from the exterior it looks almost complete save for some landscaping and construction debris.

The emotional milestone that took place yesterday was the first skating at the rink which was undertaken by none other than several members of the Canadian Olympic Team including medal winners Clara Hughes, a Summer and Winter Olympian, and Jeremy Wetherspoon.

More on the historical skate here.

Photo credit: Canada.com

VANOC Will Deliver Athletes Top Hotel Service

Nejat Sarp, VANOC's vice president of services and villages, wants to bring a "Service One" resort hotel mentality to the Vancouver 2010 Games Athletes Village.

Athletes will only have to call one number for all of their needs, no matter what they are; laundry, wake-up call, food... same number.

Sarp has come from a hotel background and wants to bring that same level of service to the athletes villages. He wants athletes to be able to focus on their task at hand, sport.

Read more about his plans here.

Nightly Medal Ceremonies will Offer Great Value!

VANOC plans to make the nightly medal ceremonies the most affordable part of the 2010 Olympic Games.

More than 10,000 tickets each night will be free of charge and a further 20,000 seats will be priced at only $22.  Allowing everyone that comes to Vancouver to cheer on and support the athletes in their accomplishments.

More from VANOC.

Vancouver 2010 Tickets... best chance with Packages

Officials have revealed that the best opportunity for tickets to be purchased for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be through ticket packages or what VANOC is called Olympic Experience Packages.

VANOC will be launching an intensive, three-week PR campaign to educate those desiring tickets of the options upcoming. This campaign will also see a re-launch of VANOC's website.

Olympic Experience packages will included tickets to multiple events over multiple days. Package purchasers will be seated at events prior to purchasers of individual events.

VANOC will begin accepting applications October 3, 2008, secured by none other than your VISA credit card (the official supplier of all Olympic Games). This first round of applications will end on November 7, 2008. All applications received during this period will be treated equally. It will not be first-come, first serve.

VANOC has vowed to make at least 70% of seats at venues available to the general public. Their official plan is currently before the IOC.

The ticket sale process begins in 20 days! Click here for more info from VANOC.

More info from Derrick Penner.

Official Supplier :: Acklands-Grainger

VANOC has announced that Acklands-Grainger is the official supplier of industrial safetey and material handling equipment for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

More from VANOC.