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

On July 2, 2003, the International Olympic Committee selected Vancouver as the host city for the 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 to celebrate winter sporting excellence. The Games, along with the region's spectacular natural playground and its vibrant venues, put Vancouver in the spotlight as a premier sporting destination.

Vancouver hosted the following Olympic and Paralympic events in February and March of 2010:

• Opening and Closing ceremonies (BC Place Stadium)
• Ice hockey (Canada Hockey Place and UBC Thunderbird Arena)
• Figure skating (Pacific Coliseum)
• Speed skating and short track speed skating (Richmond Olympic Oval and Pacific Coliseum)
• Freestyle skiing (Cypress Mountain)
• Snowboard (Cypress Mountain)
• Curling (Vancouver Olympic Centre)
• Ice sledge hockey (UBC Thunderbird Arena)
• Wheelchair curling (Vancouver Paralympic Centre)

Quick facts about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:

• Number of Olympic athletes and officials: 5,500
• Number of Paralympic athletes and officials: 1,350
• Countries participating in Olympic Winter Games: 80+
• Countries participating in Paralympic Winter Games: 40+
• 2010 Olympic Winter Games events tickets available: 1.6 million
• 2010 Paralympic Winter Games events tickets available: 250,000
• Estimated number of media representatives: 10,000
• Estimated number of Games volunteers: 25,000