The Whistler Sliding Centre

Venue Description

The Whistler Sliding Centre will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and will also serve as a legacy which will be enjoyed by local residents, visitors and high-performance athletes.

The venue is situated on Blackcomb Mountain, complementing the many other adventure-oriented activities that the area offers. After the Winter Olympics are over, the facility will operate as a centre for high-performance development, youth and recreational club programming, and tourist and public admissions (passenger rides and tours), building upon the legacy of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Venue capacity: 12,000
Elevation: Men’s luge handles: 939 metres
Bottom: 787 metres
Highest vertical drop: 152 metres

Timeline
Construction began in June 2005, with the track being operationally complete in winter 2007-08. The formal public opening took place in fall 2008.

Post-Games Use

The Whistler Sliding Centre will be operated under the direction of the Whistler Legacies Society, supported by an endowment trust that was created by the federal and provincial governments as part of their 2010 Winter Games venues investment. The Whistler Sliding Centre will showcase sliding sports by hosting international competitions and developing sliding sports opportunities in the local communities. Its location, near several of the resort’s world-class hotels, will attract many tourists, providing a sustainable revenue stream towards the centre’s long-term operations and legacy.

Venue Events

Bobsleigh

Two-man
Four-man
Women's

Luge

Men’s Singles
Women’s Singles
Doubles

Skeleton

Men’s
Women’s

Venue Details

VANOC investment
The Whistler Sliding Centre was built at a cost of $104.9 million, funded jointly by the governments of Canada and British Columbia.

Sustainable attributes

• Smart site selection — adjacent to previously developed areas within a major ski area (such as ski trails, parking lots)

• Site designed to minimize required vegetation clearing and to reduce facility footprint (such as soft edging and tree islands)

• Long-term operations and revenue generation opportunities through athlete training facility and visitor use

• First construction contract (2005) awarded to local Whistler business

• Energy efficiency initiatives to minimize refrigeration plant energy use include:
  – ammonia refrigeration system — ammonia is one of the most energy-efficient refrigerants producing no chlorofluorocarbons (which contribute to ozone-layer depletion and global climate change)
  – track shading and weather protection system
  – tree retention to cast shade
  – track painted white to minimize heat absorption
  – capture and reuse of waste heat from refrigeration plant

Scope of work and plans for 2010
The venue features a new 1,450-metre competition-length concrete sliding track, refrigeration facilities, support buildings and access road. The Whistler Sliding Centre will host Sport Events for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Over the 13 days of sliding competition, athletes will compete for a total of eight Olympic medals.

UBC Thunderbird Arena

Venue Description

The University of British Columbia (also known as UBC) is located on campus , which also happens to be ocean side, on Vancouver’s west side. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) forged an agreement with UBC to locate a new competition arena for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on the site of the existing Thunderbird Winter Sport Complex.

Venue capacity: 7,200
Elevation: 90 meters

Timeline
The refurbishing of one existing ice sheet and additional construction began in April 2006 and was complete by June 2008 — This project was on budget and four months ahead of its originally scheduled completion date.

Post-Games Use

After the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the UBC venue will become a recreational and high-performance multi-sport legacy facility. The new training arena will be easily convertible for ice sledge hockey training and competition use.

Venue Events

Ice Hockey

Men’s Tournament
Women's Tournament

Ice Sledge Hockey

Men’s Tournament

Venue Details

VANOC Investment

VANOC’s investment in the UBC Thunderbird Arena is $38.5 million. The University of British Columbia is responsible for the remainder of construction costs.

Sustainable Attributes

• Targeting green building standards equivalent to LEED Silver.
• Redevelopment of an existing facility, including refurbishment and re-use of major components of existing ice plant.
• Waste heat recovery from ice plant used to heat building and domestic water.
• Flexible facility design to accommodate varied uses.
• Aboriginal art will be installed at the venue as part of the Vancouver 2010 Venues Aboriginal Arts Program. The Program will feature traditional and contemporary artwork by First Nations, Inuit and Metis artists from across Canada.

Scope of Work and Plans for 2010
The redevelopment of the UBC Thunderbird Arena includes the refurbishing of the existing competition arena and the construction of two new ice sheets: one which will be used for the competition arena, and one that will be used for future training.

Pacific Coliseum

Venue Description

The Pacific Coliseum at Hastings Park is home to one of Vancouver's major event sites. An annual fair that attracts up to 60,000 people a day and the location is served extremely well by public transportation.

Venue Capacity: 14,239
Elevation: 26 m

Timeline
Completion of major capital upgrades was achieved by fall 2007.

Post-Games Use
As the largest building within the Hastings Park complex, the Pacific Coliseum will continue to serve as a venue for diverse events such as ice shows, basketball, hockey, boxing, concerts, large assemblies, and many types of trade and consumer shows.

Venue Events

Figure Skating

Ladies’ Singles
Men’s Singles
Ice Dance
Pairs

Short Track Speed Skating

Men’s 500 m
Ladies’ 500 m
Men’s 1,000 m
Ladies’ 1,000 m
Men’s 1,500 m
Ladies’ 1,500 m
Ladies’ 3,000 m Relay
Men’s 5,000 m Relay

Venue Details

VANOC Investment

Improvements to the Pacific Coliseum are estimated at $20.4 million. The governments of Canada and British Columbia are jointly funding the upgrades to the existing facility.

Sustainable attributes

• Renovation of existing facilities, entirely contained within existing footprint
• No increase to the percentage of impervious land surface on the project site after renovations
• Equipment upgrades, including energy efficient fixtures, are expected to improve indoor air quality
• Arena seating upgraded — old seats auctioned off as sport fundraiser

Scope of work and plans for 2010
The upgrades to Hastings Park are part of long-term restoration plans that began in 1994. Structural and cosmetic renovations will revitalize the Pacific Coliseum to address 2010 Winter Games and community needs. The replacement of nearly 16,000 seats and the expansion of the ice surface to international size have been completed. The balance of the building and technical changes for the Pacific Coliseum include ice plant improvements and upgrades to washroom facilities, concession space, building heating/ ventilation/air conditioning/lighting and dehumidification systems.

Vancouver Olympic Centre (Paralympic Centre)

Venue Description

The venue is located in a lively Vancouver community that includes the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park. Great views of the local mountains can also been seen from the Olympic Centre.

Venue Capacity: 6,000
Elevation: 74 metres

Timeline
Construction of the arena started in March 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008.

Post-Games Use

After the 2010 Winter Games, the curling venue will become a multi-purpose community recreation centre that will include an ice hockey rink, gymnasium, library and six to eight sheets of curling ice. Attached to the Olympic Centre, and being constructed with the new curling venue are a community centre and a new aquatic centre with a 50-metre pool and leisure pool. After the Winter Games, the venue will be managed by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

Venue Events

Curling:

Men’s Tournament
Women’s Tournament

Wheelchair Curling

Mixed tournament

Canada Hockey Place

Venue Description

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey tournaments will be staged in two venues — Canada Hockey Place and the UBC Thunderbird Arena. Canada Hockey Place is home to the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks. The Arena is one of the most active entertainment venues in North America. Since its opening in September 1995, it has attracted the biggest names in show business to its stage and welcomed more than 10 million visitors.

Venue Capacity: 18,630
Elevation: 8 meters

Post-Games Use

Canada Hockey Place (Also known as GM Place Prior to the Olympics and after) hosts approximately 100 events each year, ranking it among the busiest facilities in North America.

2010 Paralympic Games Scheduling

The Paralympic Games of 2010 will be held in the following month of March 2010 after the Winter Olympic Games in February. And as such the sports and venues will be as follows.

Alpine Skiing

Men’s Downhill Standing, Men’s Downhill Sitting, Men’s Downhill Visually Impaired - March 13th
Men’s Giant Slalom Sitting, Men’s Giant Slalom Visually Impaired - March 19th
Men’s Giant Slalom Standing - March 18th
Men’s Slalom Sitting, Men’s Slalom Visually Impaired - March 21st
Men’s Slalom Standing - March 20th
Men’s Super-Combined Standing, Men’s Super-Combined Sitting, Men’s Super-Combined Visually Impaired - March 16th
Men’s Super-G Sitting, Men’s Super-G Visually Impaired - March 15th
Men’s Super-G Standing - March 14th
Women’s Downhill Standing, Women’s Downhill Sitting, Women’s Downhill Visually Impaired - March 13th
Women’s Giant Slalom Sitting, Women’s Giant Slalom Visually Impaired - March 19th
Women’s Giant Slalom Standing - March 18th
Women’s Slalom Sitting, Women’s Slalom Visually Impaired - March 21st
Women’s Slalom Standing - March 20th
Women’s Super-Combined Standing, Women’s Super-Combined Sitting, Women’s Super-Combined Visually Impaired - March 16th
Women’s Super-G Sitting, Women’s Super-G Visually Impaired - March 15th
Women’s Super-G Standing - March 14th

Biathlon

Men’s 12.5 km Individual Standing, Men’s 12.5 km Individual Sitting, Men’s 12.5 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 17th
Men’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Standing, Men’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Sitting, Men’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Visually Impaired - March 13th
Women’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Standing, Women’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Sitting, Women’s 3km x 2 Pursuit Visually Impaired - March 13th
Women’s 12.5 km Individual Standing, Women’s 12.5 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 14th
Women’s 10 km Individual Sitting - March 14th

Cross Country Skiing

Men’s 10 km Individual Standing, Men’s 10 km Individual Sitting, Men’s 10 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 18th
Men’s 15 km Individual Sitting - March 14th
Men’s 1km Sprint Standing, Men’s 1km Sprint Sitting, Men’s 1km Sprint Visually Impaired - March 21st
Men’s 1x4km + 2x5 km Relay All Classes - March 20th
Men’s 20 km Individual Standing, Men’s 20 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 15th
Women’s 10 km Individual Sitting - March 14th
Women’s 5 km Individual Standing, Women’s 5 km Individual Sitting, Women’s 5 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 18th
Women’s 15 km Individual Standing, Women’s 15 km Individual Visually Impaired - March 15th
Women’s 1km Sprint Standing, Women’s 1km Sprint Sitting, Women’s 1km Sprint Visually Impaired - March 21st
Women’s 3x2.5 km Relay All Classes - March 20th

Ice Sledge Hockey

5th-6th Game - March 19th
7th-8th Game - March 19th
Bronze Game - March 20th
Gold Medal Game - March 20th
Men’s Eight Team Tournament - March 13th, 14th,16th
Playoffs - March 17th
Semifinal A - March 18th
Semifinal B - March 18th

Wheelchair Curling

Bronze and Gold Medal Games - March 20th
Mixed Ten Team Tournament - March 13th through March 18th
Semifinals - March 20th
Tie Breakers - March 19th

For an indepth chart and look at the scheduling or if evets change or inclement weather please look at 2010 scheduling.

Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch Relay is the transfer of the Olympic flame from Ancient Olympia, Greece where the first Olympic Games were held thousands of years ago to the stadium of the city hosting the current Olympic Games. The flame arrives just in time for the Opening Ceremony.

For the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the flame will first be lit in Olympia in late 2009. It will then travel from Greece, over the North Pole to Canada's high Arctic and on to the West Coast and Vancouver. The Olympic Torch will be carried by thousands of Canadians of all ages and cultural backgrounds: on foot, dog sled, snowmobile, horse, plane and virtually every means of transport known to the people of Canada.

The torch relay is said to be the longest in winter Olympic history and will travel across all of Canada on its journey to Vancouver.

For the first time in Olympic history the Olympic flame will be lit indoors, as BC Place is a covered stadium. This has caused some speculation on how this will be accomplished, as such a large flame burning for the required 15 days would cause environmental issues inside the stadium. A possible solution to the problem includes installing a special ventilation system to house the flame. It has yet to be officially stated how this problem will be solved.

On 16 May 2008, over $150 million in major renovations to the stadium were announced, including seat replacement, renovations to washrooms and concessions, and the replacement of the Teflon covering with a new retractable roof. These major renovations will be done in two phases. The first phase which includes upgrades to seating, washrooms and concessions and luxury suites is scheduled to be completed prior to the 2010 Olympic Games. The proposed retractable roof is being planned for after the games in 2011; however, upgrades are planned for the existing roof prior to the Olympics opening. It has yet to be officially stated how this problem will be solved.