The Paralympic Flame will arrive at BC Place for the opening of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games on March 12. This will mark the first time Canada has hosted a Paralympic Winter Games.
The Paralympic Flame will visit Squamish on March 7, 2010.

November 3, 2009

With nearly 100 days to go until start of 2010 Winter Games,
VANOC completes search for Sea to Sky workforce accommodation

Vancouver, BC — Accommodation for more than 6,000 people needed to stage the 2010 Winter Games in British Columbia’s Sea to Sky region has been secured by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The accommodation solutions range from a cruise ship to billeted rooms in private homes between North Vancouver and Pemberton.

“This is an important milestone for the Organizing Committee to reach and frees up any remaining accommodation inventory for visitors with approximately 100 days to go before the start of the Games,” said Jacqui Murdoch, VANOC’s vice president of services and accommodation. “It’s an economic generator for the community and it’s a goal we couldn’t have reached without the amazing support of residents in the region who volunteered to open their homes to people from around the world and to community leaders who helped support our other accommodation solutions.

“In particular, we’re thankful for the support of the District of Squamish, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler,” she added. “The Sea to Sky community is playing a huge role in our ability to stage spectacular Games here in 2010.”

The accommodation will house volunteers, VANOC staff and contractors from outside the region coming to work at Games’ venues, including the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic Park and Whistler Creekside, starting in January and continuing until the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games end in late March.

Workforce Accommodation in the Corridor:

•    The Homestay Volunteer Program, launched by VANOC in February 2009, is providing more than 590 beds during the Olympic Winter Games. The beds will be provided by 390 host families who are already preparing their homes to take in Games-time volunteers. More than 290 beds secured through the program will also house volunteers during the Paralympic Games. Applications will continue to be accepted from additional host families in Whistler until Games time.

•    VANOC has chartered a cruise ship to house 1,100 people dockside in Squamish from late January through to the end of March. The same ship was used in a similar capacity during the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

•    Quest University in Squamish will house 500 people in February and more than 100 people in March.

•    Approximately 2,000 workforce members will stay in hotel rooms and condos in Whistler during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

•    More than 300 workforce members will stay in hotel rooms in Squamish in February.

•    An estimated 1,200 workforce members will stay in a separate zone in the Paralympic Village Whistler in March, along with athletes and officials, during the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

•    Three modular temporary housing units will be placed on the property at 4500 Northlands Blvd. in Whistler. The three units will provide 268 beds for use between January and March. The Whistler Games Service Centre will be located at this site. Along with housing workforce, this location will be used as a uniform and accreditation centre, the homestay reception centre for Whistler and a workforce dining area. VANOC recently received a temporary commercial use permit from the Resort Municipality of Whistler for the Whistler Games Service Centre and related housing.

Earlier this year, VANOC secured the 3,000 rooms needed in the Whistler area during the Games for members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), broadcast rights holders, accredited print reporters and photographers, sponsors, National Olympic Committee members, and International Sport Federation members.

Visitor and spectator accommodation information for Games-time visits to Whistler can be accessed at www.whistler.com. For information on Metro Vancouver visits see www.2010destinationplanner.com .
 
Integrated transportation plan released: TravelSmart and everyone wins in 2010 www.travelsmart2010.ca launched to help public plan ahead
Vancouver, BC — The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) released the second phase of its Games-time integrated transportation plan today providing residents and businesses with the most up-to-date information available on how to start planning now for their day-to-day travel needs during the 2010 Winter Games. The plan requires reducing vehicle traffic by at least 30 per cent in downtown Vancouver, the Lions Gate and Iron Workers’ Memorial (Second Narrows) bridges, the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Wortation plan, which builds on information released in March and rolled out in venue communities on an ongoing basis, includes updated information on peak hours, street and rhistler.

This phase of the integrated transpoad closures, the Sea to Sky Highway checkpoint, transportation plans for the Paralympic Winter Games, Olympic bus network, and advice on the movement of goods and services for businesses. Please see attached backgrounder for details.

The plan is based on the need to transport athletes, officials and all Games participants safely, reliably and efficiently throughout the Host Region, while also taking into consideration the transportation needs of  local residents, businesses and visitors.

“Our message to every resident and business owner is that we need everyone to pull together to make this a success by doing their part,” said Terry Wright, VANOC’s executive vice president of services and Games operations, on behalf of OPTT. “We know the public wants this to work and wants our guests from around the world to have a great experience here and see the region in a positive light.

“This means we need everyone to think of ways to reduce vehicle traffic into downtown Vancouver, on the Lions Gate and Iron Workers’ Memorial (Second Narrows) bridges, on the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Whistler by at least 30 per cent. Also, keep in mind the easiest way to get around will be public transit, which will increase greatly with more buses and trains and enhanced hours of service, as well other sustainable modes such as walking and cycling.”

“The best way to get where you need to go and avoid delays is by planning ahead, avoiding peak travel times and knowing your transportation options now before you step out the door in February 2010,” he added.

Although use of public transit and other sustainable modes of transportation are key to having a successful transportation experience, there will be peak travel times no matter what mode you choose. If trips must be made, travellers are encouraged to avoid peak travel times from February 12 to March 1.

* In Vancouver, this means, whenever possible, travelling into the downtown area before 7:00 am or after 9:00 am and leaving by 2:00 pm; or, for those who want to stay later and enjoy the fun, leaving after 7:00 pm.
* In the Sea to Sky corridor, this means travelling northbound before 6:00 am or after 6:00 pm on the Sea to Sky Highway

To help residents and businesses plan ahead, the OPTT today launched www.travelsmart2010.ca, a website portal with the most up-to-date transportation information available now and during the Games. The portal directs users to the appropriate website containing the information they are seeking, such as the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, or the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Fine-tuning of the transportation plan will continue up until Games time. Over the last year, VANOC has contacted over 900 businesses, residents, associations and organizations, schools and community associations throughout Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky region to share Games-time transportation plans and answer questions from the public. In addition to its stakeholder outreach, this fall the Organizing Committee, together with its partners, will host another series of Game Plan open houses in communities near Games’ venues. Visit www.vancouver2010.com/gameplan for the schedule.

About the OPTT
Members of the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) are VANOC, the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. Planning is also supported by other partners, including Transport Canada and the municipalities of Richmond and West Vancouver.
District of Squamish partners with VANOC to stage successful 2010 Games; sport legacy trust fund created to recognize community’s support, time and resources
 
The District of Squamish and the Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) are partnering to ensure successful Winter Games in 2010 through cooperation and support on services and operational requirements for the Games. In recognition for the support and as an enduring legacy of the 2010 Winter Games, the District of Squamish and VANOC have created a $750,000 trust fund in support of community sport and recreation facilities in the district. Squamish mayor Greg Gardner and VANOC’s Dan Doyle, executive vice president of construction, made the announcement today at the Squamish Rocks 2010 community celebration at the Squamish Adventure Centre.

"We’re thrilled VANOC is recognizing the citizens of Squamish and the important role we’re committed to playing in the lead up to and during the 2010 Winter Games," said Gardner. "The $750,000 Squamish sport legacy trust, which will be disbursed by the district, will be a great legacy of the Games—one that can be used to provide opportunities for youngsters and adults alike in our district to play together and lead active, healthy lives."
Squamish is ideally located between Vancouver and Whistler to provide important services and to benefit from the 2010 Winter Games. The District of Squamish played a key role in the successful staging of numerous sport events at Games venues over the past winter season. Since January 2006, more than 80 businesses in Squamish have received contracts from VANOC totalling $15.6 million overall. These businesses include accommodation, construction, food and beverage, entertainment and service providers. Leading up to and during Games time, Squamish will continue to be a key accommodation hub for VANOC, its partners and service providers, including housing as many as 600 out-of-town Games-time volunteers in local homes through the Homestay Volunteer Program. The District is also working with VANOC to find areas suitable for parking space and support for shore operations should cruise ships be used for accommodation.

"Squamish is a critical community to the staging of the Games. This partnership solidifies our commitment to work closely with Squamish to ensure the Games are of benefit to the community and that residents and businesses can make a real contribution to the Games’ success," said Dan Doyle. "The Squamish sport legacy trust recognizes the past, current and future support, time and resources that Squamish is providing to us in the Sea to Sky region. This year, hundreds of Squamish residents have volunteered their time in hosting international sport events at Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park and other venues, gaining crucial experience and knowledge that will make them extremely valuable members of our team when we host the Games in just eight months time. Also, dozens more residents are opening their homes to take in volunteers from across Canada and around the world so they can be close to the venues they’ll be working at in 2010."