Vancouver hosts the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and we`re excited!
When and Where
Beginning in February 2010, the world will celebrate the Winter Olympic Games and experience the majesty of British Columbia. Victoria will certainly be revealed as a jewel for our spectacular coastal landscape and a touchstone for the stories of our historic past. Victoria is a 1.5 hour scenic ferry ride away, so we encourage visitors to take some time to travel to Vancouver Island, explore Victoria and discover its wonderful array of B&B and boutique inn accommodations. We know you will enjoy our many fascinating opportunities for cultural, culinery and adventurous experiences. To be clear, we are not convenient for accommodating those who will be taking in Olympic events as the travel time to Vancouver is approximately three hours away and involves a ferry ride or flight, but we hope you will spend a couple of days at least exploring the magical scenery and historic charm of British Columbia's capital city, Victoria and the Southern vancouver Island region.
If you are heading to Vancouver Island and Victoria, we hope you will choose Dashwood Manor Seaside Heritage B&B Inn for your bed and breakfast accommodation. Although we are not in Vancouver, we can boast that your guest room will have spectacular views of the Olympics - the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. And, what could be better!
The 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place on February 12th while the Closing Ceremony takes place on February 28th. Both will be held in Vancouver`s 60 000 seat stadium, BC Place. This will be the first time in Olympic Games history that the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be staged in the comfort of an indoor venue. Vancouver also hosts the Paralympic Games the following month, from March 12th through 21st.
2010 Winter Olympic Mascots
Inspired by traditional First Nations creatures, the mascots include: Quatchi - A sasquatch. Sumi - An animal guardian spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty Thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear. Miga - A mythical sea bear, part orca and part kermode bear. Mukmuk - A Vancouver Island marmot.
Olympic Events for 2010 Winter
Vancouver will host the following Olympic and Paralympic sporting events in February and March of 2010:
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+
Events tickets available: 1.6 million
Media: 10,000
Games volunteers: 25,000
Torch Relays
Part of the excitement of the Olympic Games is the lighting of the Olympic Torch and the relays bringing the torch home to the games. The sacred Olympic Flame has been lit in a ritual dating back to ancient times in Olympia, Greece, the site of the first Olympic Games. The 2010 Olympic Flame will be lit on October 22, 2009 and handed over to a representative of Canada in Athens before making its trans-Atlantic flight. The longest Olympic Torch Relay to take place in a single country will begin its route in Victoria, British Columbia. The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 45,000 kilometre, 106-day journey on October 30, 2009. The Olympic Flame will travel by land, air and water during its 106-day journey as it visits more than 1,000 communities in our huge and diverse country. Over 90 per cent of Canadians will be within an hour’s drive and will be able to share in the great moments of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will feature unprecedented Aboriginal participation. Over 300 Aboriginal youth, elders and athletes nominated by their communities will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be torchbearers, flame attendants or honorary elder fire keepers. The Olympic Flame will receive over 100 traditional Aboriginal blessings. These blessings will be part of the flame that lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies.
Beginning in February 2010, the world will celebrate the Winter Olympic Games and experience the majesty of British Columbia. Victoria will certainly be revealed as a jewel for our spectacular coastal landscape and a touchstone for the stories of our historic past. Victoria is a 1.5 hour scenic ferry ride away, so we encourage visitors to take some time to travel to Vancouver Island, explore Victoria and discover its wonderful array of B&B and boutique inn accommodations. We know you will enjoy our many fascinating opportunities for cultural, culinery and adventurous experiences. To be clear, we are not convenient for accommodating those who will be taking in Olympic events as the travel time to Vancouver is approximately three hours away and involves a ferry ride or flight, but we hope you will spend a couple of days at least exploring the magical scenery and historic charm of British Columbia's capital city, Victoria and the Southern vancouver Island region.
trans-Atlantic flight. The longest Olympic Torch Relay to take place in a single country will begin its route in Victoria, British Columbia. The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its 45,000 kilometre, 106-day journey on October 30, 2009. The Olympic Flame will travel by land, air and water during its 106-day journey as it visits more than 1,000 communities in our huge and diverse country. Over 90 per cent of Canadians will be within an hour’s drive and will be able to share in the great moments of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
keepers. The Olympic Flame will receive over 100 traditional Aboriginal blessings. These blessings will be part of the flame that lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies.