2010 media faq

Quick tips for media

By the numbers - cost and attendance.

  • What are the competition dates for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and who will participate?

    Nearly 1,400 athletes and officials from 44 countries will participate in the Games to be held March 12 to 21, 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler, BC.

  • What is the accommodation situation in Vancouver and Whistler?

    Visit www.2010destinationplanner.com for a range of accommodation options, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and private home rentals.

    Visitors can also access accommodation options through tourismvancouver.com, HelloBC.com, and whistler.com.

  • Are event tickets still available?

    Tickets are still available at www.vancouver2010.com for many events including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. Tickets are $15; groups of 20 or more can save up to $10 per ticket. Last-minute tickets will also be available at venue box offices.

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Location, location, location - venues and transportation.

faq
  • Which facilities will be used for the Games and where are they located?

    Find a complete list of competitive and non-competitive venues at: www.vancouver2010.com/venues.

  • Where will the Paralympic Cauldron be located?

    From March 12-21, the cauldron will burn on the plaza at Thurlow and Cordova in downtown Vancouver.

  • Where will the medal ceremonies be held?

    Medals will be awarded in the Paralympic sports of alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing at Whistler Medals Plaza. From March 19 to 21, Whistler event medals will also be awarded in-venue so the plaza can prepare for the Closing Ceremony.

    Spectator access is free to the Victory Ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza and via an at-venue queue, located in Village Stroll directly outside the plaza. Spectator access is limited to 5,000 people nightly. Gates open at 5:30 pm. Headliners include:

    March 13: singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards
    March 14: award-winning indie rock band The Weakerthans
    March 15: francophone composer/performer Antoine Gratton
    March 16: rockers The Trews
    March 17: singer/songwriter Justin Hines
    March 18: Juno winner Serena Ryder

    Ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling medals will be awarded in-venue in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia (also known as the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre) and the Vancouver Paralympic Centre.

  • Where can I find a schedule of events?

    The official schedule for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is charted at www.vancouver2010.com. 

  • Where will the opening and closing ceremonies be held?

    Both the Opening and the Closing Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be held at BC Place in downtown Vancouver, BC. BC Place can seat about 60,000spectators, and offers the latest in sound, lighting and special-effects technology. 

  • Where is the Olympic Village located?

    In Vancouver, BC, the Olympic and Paralympic Village is located near the city centre on the edge of False Creek, just minutes from the nightly victory ceremonies at BC Place.

    In Whistler, BC, the Olympic and Paralympic Village is in the Cheakamus Valley located at the southern entrance to Whistler.

  • Where are the provincial pavilions and Live City sites located?

    • Canada Pavilion: Georgia & Beatty, Vancouver, March 12-21

    • Saskatchewan Pavilion: Whistler Gold Course Clubhouse, Whistler, March 17-20

    • CentrePlace Manitoba Pavilion: Georgia & Beatty, Vancouver, March 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21

    • Canada’s Northern House, 602 West Hastings, Vancouver, until April 18

    • Royal Canadian Mint, Vancouver Public Library, March 12 to 21

    • Robson Square Signature Celebration Site, March 12 to 21

    • BC Pavilion, 4th floor Vancouver Art Gallery, March 12 to 21

    • LiveCity Downtown Celebration Site (including CentrePlace Manitoba pavililion and Canada Pavilion 2010), March 12 to 14, 18 to 21

  • Will I be able to get around the city easily?

    Visit the TravelSmart 2010 website to help plan your travels or visit Vancouver2010.com for timetables, news updates and reports on road and traffic conditions during the Games.

    The most convenient way to travel between the airport and downtown Vancouver is the new Canada Line rapid transit rail line: running every seven minutes during peak hours, the train costs only $3.75 per person and takes just 26 minutes to get from terminus to terminus.
    Vancouver’s efficient public transit options include bus, rail and ferry service. If you already hold tickets to an event, remember that your ticket includes access to public transit for that day.

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Who's who - contact people and groups

  • Where can I find short bios of interesting characters as potential interview partners for Games-related stories?

    E-mail your specific request to: mediarelations@vancouver2010.com.  For a Canadian athlete, the Canadian Olympic Committee offers a search tool with bios, photos and contact info. Visit www.olympic.ca and click on “Athletes” in the top corner to browse or find a specific athlete.

  • How do I find a contact at the Canadian Tourism Commission?

    To find the names and numbers of CTC contacts in Canada or our nine international markets, please see: mediacentre.canada.travel/ctc-international-contacts. 

  • Can I travel to other parts of Canada with assistance from the Canadian Tourism Commission or other tourism offices? And where can I find a list of available press trips to BC and other provinces?

    Yes, there is a “Visiting Journalist Program.” For various other trips, media should contact each province or territory’s media relations representative to let them know what you would like to experience. 

  • What other stories can I research in the immediate vicinity of the 2010 Winter Games region?

    There is a wealth of excellent story ideas on the CTC Media Centre website; you can search by area of interest or by a specific topic. 

  • Where can I see a list of all Canada video footage pooled from all provinces/territories?

    For an extensive collection of footage from across Canada, consult the CTC’s "B-roll" page.

  • How can I get access to images and video of Canada?

    Visit www.destination2010.ca/images-footage or access the CTC Media Centre’s photos & footage page.

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Full credit - accreditation and media office locations.

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Athabasca Sand Dunes, Saskatchewan - Background Image