Interesting Facts on the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

• 2010 Winter Games
• Vancouver Events
• Whistler Events
• A little history…
• Medal Count
• To discover more...

2010 Winter Games

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Vancouver Events

Events in Vancouver include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as well as the curling, short track speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey competitions. Speed skating will take place in Richmond and the snowboard and freestyle skiing events will take place at the Cypress Mountain, located in the adjacent District of West Vancouver.  The Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympic Games will also be held in Vancouver, as well as the ice sledge hockey and the wheelchair curling events.

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Whistler Events

Events in Whistler include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, nordic combined, ski jumping, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Whistler will also host Paralympic Winter Games events, specifically alpine and nordic skiing, and the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies. 

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A little history…

• In 1998: The Canadian Olympic Committee selected Vancouver to present Canada’s Bid for the 2010 Winter Games.
• In November 2002: A Multi-Party Agreement was signed by all parties involved in the 2010 Winter Games. The purpose of this Agreement was to confirm the parties' roles and responsibilities in regards to the 2010 Winter Games.  It was the first time that an agreement between partners was struck during the bid phase.

• In July 2003: Members of the International Olympic Committee selected Vancouver as the Host City of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
• In April 2004: The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Intent to ensure that the experiences and legacies of the 2010 Winter Games provide all Canadians with the opportunity to benefit through sport development, social, cultural and economic opportunities.
• In April 2005: Ilanaaq, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games emblem, was unveiled.
• In February/March 2006: Canadian delegates took part in the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, to discover best practices and lessons learned.
• In July 2006:  Debrief session by the Torino Organizing Committee for the 2006 Winter Games held in Vancouver, BC.  The sessions were developed to provide the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee and 2010 Games Partners, as well as future Organizing Committees, the opportunity to learn from the Torino 2006 Organizing Committee’s experiences.
• In September 2006: The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games emblem, Man Becomes Mountain, was unveiled. 

Visit the Key Dates to see where the Games are headed in the next few years.

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Medal Count

Through the Own the Podium – 2010 initiative, Canada aims to become the number one nation at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and among the top three at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

To discover more…

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