2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Athletes and spectators from around the world gathered in Vancouver and the alpine resort of Whistler in February and March 2010 for 17 days of thrilling competitions, amazing displays of sportsmanship and magical moments when lifelong dreams were finally realized. The event, along with the region’s spectacular natural playground and its vibrant state-of-the-art venues, put Vancouver in the spotlight as a premier sporting destination.

• Vancouver 2010 Olympic Venues
• Five Top Olympic Firsts
• The Symbol of Vancouver 2010 - Inukshuk
• Keeping the Flame Alive: Experiencing the Games in Vancouver

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Venues

• BC Place: Opening and Closing Ceremonies
• Pacific Coliseum - Figure skating and short track speed skating
• UBC Thunderbird Arena - Ice hockey and Paralympic sledge hockey
• Vancouver Olympic Centre/Vancouver Paralympic Centre (Hillcrest Community Centre) - Curling
• Canada Hockey Place (Rogers Arena)- Ice hockey
• Cypress Mountain- Freestyle skiing and snowboarding
• Richmond Olympic Oval - Long-track speed skating

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Five Top Olympic Firsts

Vancouver was unique as an Olympic host city. How unique? Here are the top five ways

1. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games marked the first time in history that Indigenous peoples were recognized as official Olympic hosting partners. The Four Host First Nations (Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations people) were involved in virtually every aspect of the event.
2. The 2010 Winter Games were the first Olympics to use a rigorous set of environmental criteria called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for all new construction.
3. Vancouver was one of the largest cities ever to host a Winter Olympic Games.
4. With its mild climate, Vancouver has the warmest average temperatures of any previous Winter Olympic host.
5. The Games were among the most accessible ever staged, with barrier-free access for persons with disabilities at all venues and facilities.

The Symbol of the Vancouver 2012 - Inukshuk

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) selected a contemporary interpretation of the inukshuk as the official emblem of the 2010 Winter Games. Inukshuks are stone sculptures traditionally used by Canada's Inuit people as directional landmarks across the north, but have become adopted as a symbol of hope, friendship and hospitality throughout Canada. The emblem was unveiled in 2005 and named “Ilanaaq,” the Inuit word for friend. Vancouver’s most photographed inukshuk can be found at English Bay Beach.

Keeping the Flame Alive: Experiencing the Games in Vancouver

Sports-minded visitors still have plenty of ways to emulate the athletes, reawaken the vibe and experience the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on a visit to the city. Dip into these unique Olympic-themed activities:

• Skate at the Richmond Olympic Oval (). The Olympic speed skating venue has been transformed into a state-of-the-art public recreation facility with multiple skating rinks, ball courts and a first class fitness centre open to the public.
• Ski and snowboard the Olympic runs on Cypress Mountain (www.cypressmountain.com) where Canada won its first gold medal of the Games.
• Swim at the Vancouver Olympic Centre (www.vancouverparks.ca). Home the Games’ Olympic and Paralympic curling events, it’s now a community aquatic centre, although some curling sheets remain.
• Pose for a photo at the Olympic Cauldron outside the new Vancouver Convention Centre building.
• Watch a Vancouver Canucks hockey game at Rogers Arena, the main hockey venue during the Games and the site of Canada’s gold medal win in the men’s event
• Take the Canada Line to Olympic Village station and stroll east along the False Creek seawall. You’ll soon find the state-of-the-art Olympic Village development, now Vancouver’s newest waterfront community.
• Head up to Whistler’s venues and try your hand cross-country skiing at the Whistler Olympic Park. Alternatively, speed fans should try the pub-lic skeleton and bobsleigh runs offered at the Whistler Sliding Centre.