Olympic Winter Games: February 12 to 28, 2010
Paralympic Winter Games: March 12 to 21, 2010

Looking for a way to experience Olympic excitement in Vancouver during 2009? You're in luck. There are several Olympic milestones taking place in the year prior to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Past Events

The 2009 Cultural Olympiad: February 1 to March 21, 2009
Cultural Olympiad 2009 features some 400 free and ticketed events including music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film, outdoor spectaculars and digital media experiences. Streets will buzz with digital graffiti, fire artists, high-tech face painters as well as an inaugural Lunar Festival at the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza.

Launched in 2008, the multi-year Cultural Olympiad celebration features an expanded program in 2009 (February 1 to March 21, 2009). The program culminates with the 60-day Cultural Olympiad 2010 (January 22 to March 21, 2010), which begins before and continues throughout the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

For the complete list of Cultural Olympiad 2009 events, visit www.vancouver2010.com/culturalolympiad.

One-year Countdown Celebration, featuring Sarah McLachlan: February 12, 2009
365 days and counting . . . Celebrate the official one-year countdown to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with a glowing heart and an all-star cast of Canadian talent: Vancouver's own Sarah McLachlan, Joel Plaskett and the Alberta Ballet. The concert takes place at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets start at $59 and are available through www.vancouver2010.com/culturalolympiad.

World-class sport events happening in 2009
Several World Cup and World Championship sport events are taking place in Vancouver during 2009. Visitors can see future Olympic hopefuls compete in the Olympic venues at a very reasonable ticket price - a great way to experience the sporting excitement early!

ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2009
Date: February 2 to 8, 2009
Location: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver

FIS Freestyle World Cup
Date: February 5 to 7, 2009
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

FIS Snowboard World Cup
Date: February 12 to 15, 2009
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championship
Date: February 21 to 28, 2009
Location: Vancouver Paralympic Centre, Vancouver

BC World Cup Sledge Hockey
Date: February 23 to March 1, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver

World Junior Curling Championships
Date: March 5 to 15, 2009
Location: Vancouver Olympic Centre, Vancouver

ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships
Date: March 12 to 15, 2009
Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

Upcoming Events

BC World Cup Women's Hockey
Date: August 31 to September 6, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena and Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver

Additional events are taking place in Whistler. See the full list on vancouver2010.com.

Contact the venue or organizing body about ticketing information for the above events.