2010 Ticketing Update

Some of the dates for the ticketing process have been updated by VANOC.

The key dates as we see them are:

• December 1 - credit cards charged on or after this date
• December 10 - email notification of ticket allotment
  
• December 12 - additional tickets available for purchase

Read more here.

Massive 2010 Road Closures Expected

Read more here.

Vancouver 2010 Torch Route Announced

It will take 100 days and travel nearly 45,000 kilometers as it criss-crosses across Canada. The relay will start in Victoria, travel through the Queen Charlotte Islands before visiting each and every territory and province of Canada.

Read more here.

Johnson & Johnson Passes on IOC Renewal

The current financial meltdown continues to claim casualties, the most recent is one of the top-level IOC sponsors, Johnson & Johnson.

Read more here.

Ticket Requests Set Records

It's no surprise that Canadians are passionate about winter sport, afterall some folks from other countries aren't even aware that Canada has a summer (as short as it may be in some parts of the country). But the desire for Olympic sport has far surpassed expectations.

In the period from October 3 through November 7 nearly $350M worth of tickets were applied for. 120 of 170 events will have there ticket purchases determined through lottery.

A couple highlights:

• Total value of tickets requested by Canadian residents from October 3 to November 7: $345 million

  • Value of tickets requested on November 7 alone: $135 million

• An estimated 120 of 170 sessions will be allocated by lottery

• The Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as all figure skating, short track speed skating, speed skating and men's ice hockey (from quarter-finals onward) are among the sessions that will go to lottery

• More than 140,000 tickets were requested for the men’s gold medal hockey game

• More than 84,000 tickets were requested for the Opening Ceremony

• More than 27,000 tickets were requested for the men’s halfpipe snowboard session

Read more here.

Last Day to Complete Your 2010 Ticket Application

Today is the last day to complete your ticket application for the 2010 Olympics prior to the lottery period.

There will still be an opportunity for events that have tickets remaining, but all or most of the hot tickets will be gone after this period.

To see all of the posts we have made about tickets click here.

To read entire articles on tickets, what's available, and how the process seems to be going click here.

Happy Ticketing!!!

Athletes village to get $100-million loan

The city of Vancouver is providing up to $100M to the developer of Millennium Water, what the world will know as the Athlete's Village during the 2010 Olympics.

The funds will be a loan to help cover cost overruns and other shortfalls.

Read more here.

BC Proclaims Paralympic School Week

Paralympic School Week, Nov. 3-9, is a new and innovative program that will bring the spirit and the values of the Paralympic Movement to classrooms across Canada. The Vancouver 2010 Education Program aims to unite all 365 school districts across the country in this unique opportunity for K-12 students to learn about the Paralympic Movement which explores the significance of human interdependence, equity and fairness. The week also provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate wide-ranging examples of the achievements and successes of people with disabilities engaged in sport, culture or sustainability.

Read the entire press release here.