Hockey Canada Announces 2010 Roster

With some 44 days remaining until the 2010 Opening Ceremonies Hockey Canada has released the line-up for the 2010 Team Canada Ice Hockey Team.

Click here for the complete list.

Anybody Buying Tickets? Anybody Selling Tickets?

VANOC has just launched their official Fan-to-Fan Marketplace for 2010 tickets.

If you have some extra tickets that you won't be able to use or if you didn't get the tickets you want this Fan-to-Fan Marketplace is your only way to gaurantee that your ticket purchases are 100% legitimate.

Legitimacy is handled in the following manner. Only tickets bought from VANOC can be listed there. Secondly, once tickets are sold, the original tickets become null and void and the purchaser picks up a new set of tickets, with a new barcode, from a VANOC Ticket Outlet.

Sellers are allowed to list tickets for any price they choose, so long as it is not less than face value. Both sellers and purchasers pay a 10% fee to VANOC.

To see what's available and at what prices you will have to create a ticketing account and sign in. Once you've searched a particular event be sure to scroll down until you see the Fan-to-Fan Marketplace section.

Vancouver2010 Tickets

My Tickets Arrived...

Well today was a pretty exciting day for me... I received a special package in the mail from COVAN (the French spelling of VANOC)!

The package was my Olympic Tickets for the Vancouver 2010 games as well as an Official Spectator Guide will all sorts of fun facts, schedules, maps, and more!

Here's a picture of the package...


I'll update you on more details from the Official Spectator Guide over the coming weeks...

Vancouver 2010 Video Game Style...

Made by SEGA available for XBOX360, PS3, and Games for Windows.

Whistler Victory Ceremony Performers Announced!

VANOC has just released the list of performers for the Whistler Victory Ceremonies and it's going to be quite the party in Whistler this February!

Some highlights include The Fray, Usher, One Republic, and Feist!

Click here to see all the announced acts.

2 Months to Go!

As of today, there are only 59 days until the Opening Ceremonies marking the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Check our forum out for up-to-date news and info on the Vancouver Games as well as accommodation options for Vancouver, Whistler, and their surrounding communities.

2 New 2010 Ticketing Opportunities @ 10AM

VANOC has just released two more amazing Olympic opportunities for 2010...

1) Figure Skating Training Sessions
Watch the world's best figure skating athletes practice at the Pacific Coliseum before they go head-to-head in competition. Tickets are only $30*, while supplies last.

Date / Time / Training Session

Feb 13 07:00–13:00 Pairs/Men
Feb 15 07:00–13:00 Men/Pairs
Feb 18 07:00–13:00 Men/Ice Dance
Feb 20 07:00–13:00 Ladies/Ice Dance
Feb 21 07:00–12:00 Ice Dance/Ladies
Feb 22 07:00–13:00 Ice Dance/Ladies
Feb 24 07:00–12:10 Ladies

Please note: use of training time is at the discretion of the athletes and their coaching staff. Athlete appearances are not guaranteed.

2) Paralympic Closing Ceremony
This unique, large-scale celebration will celebrate the world's greatest Paralympic athletes while capturing the spirit and personality of Whistler, British Columbia and Canada. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony will take place on March 21, 2010 at Whistler Medals Plaza, a beautiful outdoor venue in the heart of Whistler. Tickets are only $60*, while supplies last.

Purchase these online TODAY, starting at 10AM PST from Vancouver2010.com/tickets.

Vancouver 2010 Victory Ceremony Acts Announced!

Big names will be coming to Vancouver for the 2010 Victory Ceremonies including some of the biggest Canadian acts as well as many major International stars including Nelly Furtado, Loverboy, The Bare Naked Ladies, and INXS to name a few.

Click here to see all the victory ceremony acts.

NBC's 2010 Promo

The Look of 2010

Book Your Olympic Bus Network Tix

Today officially marks the start of the booking window for your Olympic Bus Network Tickets.

If you are or will be in the Metro Vancouver area during the 2010 Games and have tickets for events at Cypress or in Whistler then you can start to book your travel on the Olympic Bus Network.

It is highly advisable that you book this ASAP as there will NOT be parking at Olympic Venues.

Click here to read more.

Robotic Lighting to Electrify 2010 Sky

During the 2010 Olympics the cities of Vancouver & Whistler will be host to a whole number of Cultural festivities including a Robotic Lighting Display over the mouth of False Creek.



The night sky, which at that time of the year starts shortly after 5PM, will be lit up by 10,000 watt lights that should be viewable from as far away as 15 kilometers!

Read more here.

Final Ticket Phase On Now

The final ticket phase started yesterday at 10AM PST. As of the entry of this blog post there are still many tickets available including some medal qualification rounds in both Curling & Ice Hockey!

Make sure you secure your chance to officially be a part of the Games.

Vancouver2010.com

Vancouver 2010 Employee & Volunteer Uniforms

The Hudson's Bay Company, modernized as "HBC", has designed the outfits that you'll be seeing a whole lot of come February 2010 in Vancouver & Whistler.

Check this video out:



More info here.

Olympic Ticket Prices

Sounds like there's some misinformation regarding ticket prices for the 2010 games in Vancouver so we'd like to dispel some of that.

Ticket prices start as low as $22CDN!

For Vancouver victory ceremonies at BC Place stadium, the same location of the Opening & Closing ceremonies, all tickets are only $22!

For sport events you can find tickets for as low as $25CDN!

For a complete list of ticket prices click here.

Please note, in this 3rd and final round of ticket sales all price categories may not be available.

Vancouver Convention Centre Aerial Video

Here's a neat video of the Vancouver Convention Centre that will house the accredited media for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games:

Olympic Ticket Site Fails Miserably

Unfortunately the 2010 website suffered some epic failures today resulting in barely any tickets being sold and the entire opening being postponed for one week by VANOC and Tickets.com.

Read more here.

You're next 'last' chance starts November 14 @ 10AM PST. ;)

Your Last Chance for Olympic Tix Starts Tomorrow at 10AM

Your Last Chance for Olympic Tix Starts Tomorrow at 10AM PST!

According to Vancouver2010.com there will be lots of great opportunities:

More than 100,000 tickets to all city events including gold medal hockey, curling, Opening and Closing and nightly Victory Ceremonies events will be available to the Canadian public on a first-come, first served basis. Paralympic tickets for high-demand events such as the Opening Ceremony, ice sledge hockey and alpine skiing will also be available.

Read more here.

Final Phase of Olympic & Paralympic Tickets Goes on Sale on Saturday

The third and final phase of Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games tickets will go on sale to Canadian residents this Saturday, November 7 at 10:00 am*.

What will be available? More than 100,000 tickets to Olympic sport and ceremony events in city venues, plus thousands of great seats to cheer on our Paralympic athletes in ice sledge hockey, alpine skiing and more!

Step 1: Select your sports and choose your events.

Step 2: Buy your tickets at vancouver2010.com/tickets

Step 3: Experience the 2010 Winter Games in person this February!

Important:
• In order to ensure access to the Vancouver 2010 ticketing website, previously registered customers are advised to sign in to their ticketing account before 12:00 pm Thursday, November 5 to ensure their username, address and password are up to date and functional.
• If you haven't requested or purchased Olympic or Paralympic tickets in earlier phases, save yourself time by registering your ticketing account before 12:00 pm this Thursday.
• In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games we proudly accept only Visa.

For more info, click here.

100 days to go...

today marks a major countdown milestone as there are now only 100 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games!

Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay Begins!

The first torchbearers, former Canadian speed skater Catriona Le May Doan (R) and her compatriot tri-athlete Simon Whitfield, light the Olympic Torch following its arrival in Victoria, British Columbia, October 30, 2009.
Photograph by: Reuters, Reuters


What started in 1998 as the selection of Vancouver by the Canadian Olympic Committee as it's preferred city, turned in the International Olympic Committee endorsing Vancouver as the host for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in July of 2003, has now reached the final countdown, notably marked by the Olympic Torch Relay.

In less than 105 days Vancouver and Whistler will host the world starting with the lighting of the Olypmic Flame at the Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium with some 60,000+ attendees!

You can follow all the Olympic Torch Relay details at Vancouver2010.com.

Olympic Flame will be lit Tomorrow!

On Thursday, October 22, 2009 the Olympic Flame will be lit marking the start of the final countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Over the next week or so the flame will make it's way to the start of the 45,000km torch relay race that you will be able to follow at home, in real-time, from October 30, 2009 through to February 12, 2010 when the torch will arrive back in Vancouver for the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies at BC Place Stadium.

Photo from VancouverSun.com, taken during rehearsals in Greece.

To follow all the details of the 2010 Torch Relay visit the interactive map on Vancouver2010.com.

Vancouver 2010 has also launched other features of their new, game-time website that will host everything you need to know in 2010 including schedule details, sport results, and more.

2010 Theme Song "One Dream" by Sarah McLachlan

150 Days until the Opening Ceremonies!

In only 150 days, or 5 months, the world will be watching.

Make sure you find your accommodation beforehand in our FREE forums.

IOC - Best of Us - Ad 1

NBC's Today Show :: Six Months to 2010

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

YVR's New Observation Lounge

Canada Line :: Video Tour

Here's a video of the Canada Line.

Canada Line Opens Today

In 30 minutes the official, inaugural rides of the Canada Line will begin.

This $2B rapid transit project, not officially tied to the Vancouver 2010 Games bid or budget, will modernize transportation along the North-South corridor from Richmond, Vancouver International Airport, and the City Center.

Congrats Vancouver.



Picture from News1130.com of Dignitaries riding the train earlier today.

2010 Team Canada Sweaters Leaked

Check out more images here.

Six Months to Go!

In only 6 months the world will officially be watching the 2010 Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver's BC Place Stadium.

Read more here.

Vancouver World's Most Livable City?

Here's a little Conde Nast Traveller video on Vancouver.

Coming to Vancouver through YVR...

If you're coming to Vancouver by air you'll get to experience Vancouver International Airport or YVR as it's known.

YVR has spent millions of dollars over the last ten years expanding, renovating, and enhancing itself.

As we approach 2010 the airport really is in a great state and will be a wonderfully, welcoming port of entry for visitors.

Check out this video explaining a bit of the architecture used in the terminal.

Last Chance for Olympic Tickets is in Less than 24 hours!

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 10AM Pacific Standard Time, Canadians will likely have their final chance at tickets for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

More than 150,000 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

To get yours please visit vancouver2010.com and have your VISA ready!

If you are not a resident of Canada please contact your local Olympic Committee to attain tickets.

Less than a week until your next ticket opportunity...

Saturday, June 6th, 2009 is likely your last major opportunity to purchase standalone tickets to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver & Whistler, Canada.

More than 150,000 tickets will be available for purchase including tickets to every major event. Opening Ceremonies, Gold Medal Hockey Games, Speed Skating, Nightly Medal Ceremonies and more!

Tickets will go on sale at 10AM PST. Don't be late!

Visit vancouver2010.com for more info.

150,000 more tickets available on June 6

This is one day you don't want to sleep in on! June 6th, 2009.

If you're a Canadian resident this is your second chance to secure tickets to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.

There's even going to be some tickets for both the "sold out" Opening Ceremony and Gold Medal Hockey Games!

Click here to read more.

Paralympic Tickets Still Available

There is still 2010 Paralympic ticket availability on Vancouver2010.com!

Tickets start as low as about $15, so get them while they last!

These athletes are in many ways much more impressive than the athletes which participate in the Olympic games.

100th Official Member

Winter2010Rentals has garnered it's 100th member.

You can also become a member without charge and post your FREE listings for either a condo or home you have or the accommodation you need. It's all 100% FREE.

Visit our homepage to learn more or you can go straight to our listings forum.

Vanoc Venue Video

Paralympic Tickets on Sale TODAY!

In one hour tickets go on sale for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games!

Get your tickets at Vancouver2010.com

Paralympic Tickets Available Tomorrow :: 10AM PST

Tomorrow, May 6 at 10AM PST is you're first chance to get tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

The tickets are much more reasonable than for the Olympic Games with athletes that are just as impressive.

Get your tickets here.

7-days Until Paralympic Tickets Available

In just seven days tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be available!

Paralympic athletes are the true heroes of the Olympic Games if you ask me. And if you don't believe me just watch this video from Canada's Rick Mercer:



For more Paralympic ticket info click here.

Cultural Olympiad Announcements & Tickets

The first 20 projects of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad have been announced and tickets are available!

Read all about these exciting events here.

One More Chance for 2010 Tickets...

There will certainly be opportunities to purchase tickets from scalpers during the 2010 Olympic games though this practice, despite being legal in British Columbia, is highly frowned upon by the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.

So June 6th is theoretically the last official day to get 2010 tickets directly from VANOC. Tickets will be available at 10AM PST on a first-come, first-served basis.

Phase 2: June 6, 2009

Tickets remaining after Phase 1 will go on sale to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Canadian residents who missed the initial request period can purchase tickets directly through vancouver2010.com or by calling the Vancouver 2010 Ticketing Call Centre at 1-800-TICKETS (1-800-842-5387).

To purchase tickets you can try calling the numbers above or visiting vancouver2010.com on June 6th, 2009.

New Translink Website

For the 2010 Olympic Games all attendees are going to be encouraged to use public transportation to get to and from events.  The Greater Vancouver Regional District's (GVRD) transportaton authority, Translink, has updated their website.

Click here for more info.

Olympic Video Games

Check out this Mario game for Nintendo Wii and DS (developed by Sega).

For more info visitolympicvideogames.com.

Vintage Vancouver 2010 Bid Video

So maybe it's a stretch to call 7 years ago "vintage" but it's still a ways back in history.

This was the original Vancouver 2010 Olympic bid video.

Vancouver 2010 Ceremonies Preview

David Atkins Enterprises out of Australia has been tasked with producing the ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Here's a short video highlighting some of the ceremonies he's put on in the past:

VANOC Paralympic Games Video

Torch Relay - Official VANOC Video

More Olympic Tix Available!

Despite earlier news reports suggesting that the tickets for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games had been completely sold out a new press release from VANOC is telling us that we need to mark a big red X on June 6th!

Additional tix will be available on a first come, first served basis at 10AM PST.

Read more here.

RBC & Coca Cola - Carry the Torch

Every wished you were a part of a historic event lie the Olympic Torch Relay?  Well RBC and Coke are offering you that opportunity.

Here's their commercials.

Short Version:

Long Version:

Coca Cola Version:

Classic Canadiana - Petro Canada Olympic Glasses

In 1988 Petro Canada sold Olympic Glasses to help raise support for Canada's Olympic athletes.  They're at it again and here's their new commercial:

Cultural Olympiad Animation Promo

Let's face it... not everyone will have tickets to the official Olympic Winter Games, but what we are abe to attend, without too much difficulty, are the cultural festivities that are tied to the games.

Here's a Cultural Olympiad Promo Video:

Summa Donna Vancouver 2010

If there's one thing Vancouver is known for it is certainly NOT for partying.  

Yes we had considerable excitement in 1994 when the Vancouver Canucks made it to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals versus the New York Rangers, but other than that, we're actually pretty boring.  I mean take a look at the scenery... we're too busy chilling at the beach, mountain biking down the coastal mountains, golfing year round, and dodging rain drops to do too much partying.  

Yet the IOC has somehow gotten a different perspective than "No Fun City" as is often touted.  So they've encouraged VANOC to tone down the partying side of the 17-day Vancouver 2010 Olympics, especially considering the current global economic climate.

Read there full article here.

p.s. Simma Donna refers to Simmer Down Now, an SNL sketch.

New 2010 Map!

In order to help you to find what you want to find we've created a new Google Map that lists all of the competition venues, celebration sites, media centres, athletes' villages, and more!

We're going to be added many more "Olympic Locations" to the map as time goes on so check back often.

View the map here.

City to Host Transportation Plan Open House

The City of Vancouver recently released its Host City Olympic transportation plan for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, which includes locations of Olympic lanes, parking restrictions, pedestrian corridors and more within Vancouver.

The City will be holding an open house on March 30, 2009 - with information booths and staff available - to answer any questions that residents and businesses might have about the plan, including details on how the downtown pedestrian corridors will function during the 2010 Winter Games.

Monday, March 30, 2009
4 - 7 pm

Main floor Promenade
Vancouver Public Library – Central Branch
350 West Georgia Street

More information on temporary changes to the City’s road network during the 2010 Winter Games is also available on the City’s Host City website at Vancouver.ca.

Keeping Rental Dreams Realistic

With less than one year to go until the Vancouver Whistler 2010 Winter Olympic Games there is still time to rent your place, but there is one major caveat; Be Realistic!

The world has changed a lot in the last twelve months since many would be short-term Olympic landlords saw the dollar signs in their eyes.  Global credit markets have seized.  Global real estate prices have plummeted.  Global stock exchanges have crumbled.  Olympic sponsors have vanished. Olympic rental asking prices have remained stable.

Hmmm... what's wrong with this picture?!  Well, it's all wrong, but the one part that hasn't changed is the one part that must if you want any hope in renting your place for 2010.  Neither the team at Winter2010Rentals.com, nor anyone else is going to pay $500 per night to stay in your cramped basement suite in Abbotsford to enjoy the games, we're not going to spend $50,000 per month to stay in your 2 bedroom condo in East Vancouver, and we're certainly not going to fork over $15,000 per week to stay in a one bedroom condo in Whistler Village.

We suggest you start by lowering your sights somewhat, and from there make sure it's clear that you have set an "asking" price where the negotiations can start.  You may get your entire asking price and more, or you might get somewhat less, but make sure you remain flexible so you're not left out in the cold.

To post your accommodation for free please visit our rental forums.  

[If you have already posted your listing on our website, consider adjusting your pricing to better reflect the current market conditions.]

Vote for your Top 10 Canadian Olympic Moments

The Royal Canadian Mint and Canada's Olympic Broadcasting Media Consortium are asking you to vote for your top 10 Canadian Olympic Moments.

If you had to choose the most outstanding achievement of a Canadian winter Olympian, what would it be? What is your favourite goosebump-raising, spine-tingling Olympic memory? Is it Cindy Klassen’s five medals at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games? Or maybe it’s a throwback to Grenoble 1968 when Nancy Greene won gold and silver in alpine skiing?

The Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments finalists, as selected by an independent voting panel are (in chronological order):
•Nancy Greene — gold medal and silver medal, alpine skiing, Grenoble 1968
•Gaétan Boucher — two gold medals and one bronze medal, speed skating, Sarajevo 1984
•Marc Gagnon — gold medal, short track speed skating, Salt Lake 2002
•Catriona Le May Doan — gold medal, speed skating, Salt Lake 2002
•Men's Hockey Team — gold medal, Salt Lake 2002
•Women's Hockey Team — gold medal, Salt Lake 2002
•Jamie Salé and David Pelletier — gold medal, figure skating, Salt Lake 2002
•Beckie Scott — gold medal, cross-country skiing, Salt Lake 2002
•Cindy Klassen — one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, speed skating, Torino 2006
•Clara Hughes — gold medal, speed skating, Torino 2006

Read more and place your vote by visiting here.

1st image: Marc Gagnon (Getty Images), 2nd image: Nancy Drew (Getty Images)

Celebrate the Possible

Vancouver's Athletes Village Claims First Victim

The Vancouver city official in charge of overseeing the Athletes Village has resigned, reports suggest.

Jody Andrew's departure has been abrupt and there is no word yet of who is in line to replace him.

Read more on his departure here.

More information on the beleaguered Olympic Village here.

First 2009 Olympic Wramp-Up Sporting Events in Whistler

Millions of European Nordic-sports fans are expected to tune in daily to the happenings at the Whistler Olympic Park where the first 3 of 16 sporting events that will happen this year are taking place this week.



The events will be cross-country skiing (January 16–18), Nordic combined (January 16–17) and ski jumping (January 23–25).

Over 700 volunteers and workers will take part in making this an event to remember.

Read more here.

2010 Vancouver Athletes Village Commentary

Photo by eyesplash mikul

We feel it necessary to comment on the myriad of articles hitting the presses in ever increasing numbers over the past while, most of which seem to be painting a very dire picture of what could happen with the Vancouver Athletes Village.

First off, when the plan was formulated, no one could have fathomed that a global credit crisis of the magnitude we are all seeing would have come to fruition.

Secondly, no one would have thought that the Vancouver real estate market would have slowed down as quickly as it has.

That being said, the numbers being referenced for potential liability for the City of Vancouver, should the proverbial excrement really hit the fan are completely sensationalized and the reporting of them is at best irresponsible. So to make a little better sense of the numbers please consider the following:

• $1B - total approx. cost of the Olympic Village
• $200M - approx. value of the 250 condos already pre-sold with 20% deposits
• 10% - approx. drop in real estate prices from the peak value in May 2008
• Millennium Group of Companies had to put up other properties as security for the South East False Creek Lands the Olympic Village is being constructed on (SEFC valued at $150M)
  

You may have seen numbers of anywhere from $800M to $1B being what the city could be liable for.

Yes... if the condos being built can not be sold for as little as $1, then the city would be on the hook for a large chunck of change, likely in the neighbourhood of $800M. Though the city would gain the property securitized from the Mellinnium Group of Companies and the liklihood of the condos not being marketable at any price is nil.

So if we assume that the prices for the condos end up being 20% less than previous projections, on average, we can assume that there is a max potential shortfall of approximately $200M between the City of Vancouver and Millenium Group of Companies. A far cry from the $1B numbers being thrown around by juvenile reporters. (I might point out that it seems that most of the sensationalist articles are coming from the CanWest news service that did not win the bid to broadcast the Olympics... hmmm.)

My understanding is that this shortfall would primarily fall on Mellinnium Groups shoulders, though in all liklihood the city would be out at least $50-100M.

That being said a fantastic new neighbourhood will be born... so will the city really lose anything?

2010 Torch Relay Videos

Here are two videos regarding the 2010 torch relay.

The first is a commercial from RBC encouraging Torch Relay volunteers:


The second is from VANOC:

CTV/Rogers Unveils 2010 Broadcast Team

CTV/Rogers unveiled their broadcast team for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games today. More than 140 people will make up the team headed by Brian Williams, formerly of the CBC.

The hosts & reporters are many well known English & French language personalities.

For the complete story and list of persons doing what please click here.

Believe in 2010 Athletes

The Rogers-CTV Globemedia consortium has just launched an advertising campaign inspiring Canadians to believe in our 2010 athletes.

The BELIEVE ads, which are airing on CTV now, are narrated by veteran actor Donald Sutherland and are set to the music of Howard Shore -- the Oscar-winning composer who wrote the music for the acclaimed Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

You can read more about the campaign and watch the commercials here.