BID CITY PROFILE AND FACT SHEET

BID SUPPLIED BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Bid Questionnaire Highlights

Dates  

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will take place during the two-week period from Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 21, 2010 if Vancouver is chosen to host the Games.

The 2010 Winter Paralympic Games will commence two weeks following the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and run from Friday, March 5 to Sunday, March 14, 2010 .

Venues

Vancouver 2010 has undertaken an extensive process to select competition venues for the 2010 Winter Games. For each of the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, Work Groups were established to evaluate the proposed sites.  These work groups are comprised of technical representatives from National Sport Federations and Provincial Sport Organizations. These groups consulted with the International Federations and experts from previous Olympic and Paralympic Games to identify potential venue locations and comment on venue design.  National Team athletes are also being consulted with on the proposed venues, design and operational plans.

Venues in the Vancouver area include:

Existing:

§        BC Place Stadium for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and nightly cultural festival

§        General Motors Place for Ice Hockey

§        Pacific Coliseum and the Agrodome for Figure Skating and Short Track Speed Skating

§        Cypress Mountain for Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding

§        Trade and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver (proposed expansion) for the Main Press Centre

Proposed New Venues:

§        Oval at Simon Fraser University for Speed Skating

§        Arena at the University of British Columbia for Ice Hockey

§        Arena at Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park in Vancouver for Curling

 Venues in the Whistler area include:

         Existing:

§        Whistler Mountain for Alpine Skiing (speed events)

§        Blackcomb Mountain for Alpine Skiing (technical events)

Proposed New Venues:

§        Nordic Centre for Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Cross Country Skiing and Nordic Combined

§        Sliding Track for Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton

§        Arena in Whistler for Paralympic Sledge Ice Hockey

Athletes’ Villages

Vancouver 2010 is proposing two full-service Athletes’ Villages to provide athletes with secure and comfortable accommodation close to Games venues. Overall Village capacity of 4,500 bed spaces is planned in order to ensure that athletes staying in one Village will have an opportunity to visit the other Village.  Each Athletes’ Village will offer:

• Proximity to Olympic venues as well as cultural and entertainment facilities.
• Security and a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
• The latest technology permitting instant access to results, and facilitating exchanges over the Internet and other modes of communication.
• A design, construction and management system using environmentally progressive techniques to conserve energy, water and other resources, reduce wastes, avoid the use of toxic materials and recycle as many materials as possible.
• Accommodation for a maximum of two persons per room as well as appropriate office, storage and treatment space for Team support staff.
• Team support services, a polyclinic, as well as entertainment, recreation and service facilities.

The Vancouver Athletes’ Village is proposed for the South East corner of False Creek on land presently owned by the City of Vancouver . After the Games, Vancouver ’s Athletes’ Village will be converted to affordable and market housing as well as parkland and community facilities.  The Whistler Athletes’ Village is proposed for an area in the Callaghan Valley , and following the Games, the facilities would be used for affordable housing as well as an athlete centre.

Accommodation

Vancouver has a strong tourism industry resulting in a generous inventory of hotels that will be able to accommodate all accredited persons and out-of-town visitors during the Winter Games.

Between the communities of Vancouver and Whistler, there is an inventory of almost 30,000 rooms, more than 20,000 of which are within 20 minutes of the city centres.

The Vancouver area currently has more than 23,000 hotel rooms, and approximately 2,200 additional rooms are expected by 2010.  The majority of these rooms are located within a radius of 10 km of downtown Vancouver and are within walking distance of many of the venues. 

In the Whistler area, there are more than 5,800 hotel rooms and approximately 1,600 additional rooms are expected by 2010.  Almost all of these rooms are within 10 km of Whistler and many are within walking distance of the Alpine venues.

Transportation

A unique and efficient multi-modal system will ensure accessible and effective transportation links for the Olympic Family, athletes, officials, sponsors, media, volunteers and spectators. The transportation requirements will be met through an imaginative combination of road, rail, marine and air.

Airport:

The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will serve as the gateway to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Winter Paralympic Games. YVR is rated number one in North America and number four worldwide for passenger satisfaction on the I.A.T.A. annual survey (15 to 25 million passenger category). It has been designed to be one of the most accessible airports in the world to ensure the safety, comfort and dignity of passengers with disabilities. A Games transportation system consisting of shuttle buses, vans and cars will transport the Olympic Family, media and sponsors to their accommodation in Vancouver or in Whistler.  Spectators will travel from the airport to their accommodation by public transportation, taxis, shuttle buses or private automobiles.

Vancouver Transportation:

Most Vancouver venues are located within 30 minutes travel time from the Athletes’ Village and downtown hotels and some within walking distance.  A combination of vans, buses and motor pool cars will be used to transport athletes and Olympic Family members to and from competition venues and ceremonies.  Media Shuttles will be used to transport media from designated hotels to the Main Press Centre and International Broadcast Centre and competition and ceremony venues. An extensive network of bus, light rail, commuter rail and ferries will transport spectators and volunteers to venues, ceremonies and other events.

A similar transportation network will be available for athletes, Olympic Family, media and spectators residing in Whistler.

Sea to Sky Corridor Transportation:

The Government of British Columbia has confirmed its commitment to undertake a significant improvement program on the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler to be completed before 2010. These improvements will increase capacity, road safety, and reliability and will accommodate the Olympic travel demand and meet the long term needs of communities in the region. The improved highway, in combination with rail and marine services, will meet the requirements of all accredited persons. 

Motor coaches will travel between Vancouver park-and-ride lots and Whistler venues in order to transport spectators and volunteers. Passenger-only ferries will also be used to transport spectators and volunteers from Vancouver to Squamish. Passengers would then transfer to bus or an existing rail link in Squamish for the remainder of the trip to Whistler.

Environment

Vancouver is one of nine metropolitan areas from around the world selected to participate in the International Sustainable Urban Systems design competition to show how Vancouver can achieve sustainability by 2100. The Livable Region Strategic Plan is Vancouver 's regional growth strategy. Since its adoption in 1996, the plan has provided the framework for making regional land use and transportation decisions to help maintain regional quality of life and protect the environment in the face of anticipated growth.

In Whistler, “Moving towards environmental sustainability” is a stated priority supported by a strategic plan, overall limits to growth, advanced wastewater treatment and environmental review for major developments.  An exciting community partnership of leading organizations adopted The Natural Step Framework for sustainability.  The initiative, known as “Whistler.  It’s Our Nature”, is administered by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability.

Security

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will provide the lead in forming an Integrated Police Planning Group with other agencies.  This single body will have the responsibility for coordination of security during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Winter Paralympic Games.  A Central Command Centre, headed by the RCMP, will coordinate all security operations.  Agencies operating under the unified command system (British Columbia Emergency Management System) include the RCMP, Vancouver Police Department, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canadian Forces and other local public safety agencies.

Experience

Vancouver and Canada have an extensive and successful record of hosting international sports events.  From the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver to the 2001 World Freestyle Championships at Whistler, we have accumulated exceptional, international, hosting experience.

Success in hosting events is due in part to world-class facilities, efficient infrastructure and technical expertise. However, it also requires event planning experience, enthusiastic volunteers, vision and dedication.  Canadians are fortunate to embrace these qualities as part of our culture.  We are very proud of our country and our individual communities and seek the opportunity to welcome visitors to enjoy our heritage, history and hospitality.  We exhibit that same sense of dedication with detailed planning and execution of events, ensuring that our guests take home wonderful memories of their time spent with us. 

Weather

During the proposed Winter Games period, the weather at the outdoor competition venues has a strong record of excellent conditions to allow for peak performances by athletes and comfort and safety for spectators. 

Whistler has a long-standing and successful history of hosting Alpine, Freestyle and Snowboarding events. During the last 20 years, Whistler has successfully staged all its scheduled Alpine events during the proposed Olympic period and only one weekend Alpine event was cancelled during the proposed Paralympic period.