Olympics News and Info

Figure skating: Russians ‘ditch Aboriginal costumes’ – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Moscow (AFP) – A top Russian skating pair whose ‘Aboriginal’ ice dance routine hurt feelings in Australia have decided to ditch their costumes for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, Russian world champion ice dancers considered favourites at next week’s battle on ice in Vancouver, caused an uproar in Tallinn, Estonia last month with their ‘Aboriginal’ act.

Their routine included costumes of dark, skin-toned bodysuits punctuated by bright red loin cloths, white body paint and eucalyptus leaves.

A stunned Australia said, however, that the music, movement and body decorations worn by the champion pair have nothing in common with Australia’s 60,000-year-old Aboriginal culture.

“On the eve of the Olympics, our guys have decided not to push their luck and go to war with the creators of the boomerang,” the populist daily Komsomolskaya Pravda said.

“Oksana and Maxim have announced that they will perform in different costumes but have not given up the dance itself,” said the newspaper, without providing further details.

Domnina and Shabalin had earlier defended their routine, which proved a hit with the crowds in Estonia.

“Our coach offered us this music and we decided to try it. We researched it on the internet and got a lot of information,” 27-year-old Shabalin said at the time.

“It’s wasn’t our purpose that it be especially Australian, just a dance from many thousands of years ago.”

Last month, reports of the duo’s dance number unleashed a torrent of anti-Russian vitriol on the internet, with some commentators claiming the faux pas was not surprising because most Russians are rude and insensitive.

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The Vancouver 2010 Experience – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Tips and information to enhance the Olympic spectator experience

Vancouver, BC― Being a part of an Olympic Games is an exciting and inspirational moment for all. With five days to go before the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, organizers want to ensure spectators, as well as athletes have all the information they need to fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Attending the Games is different than any other large-scale international sport or cultural event and to help spectators optimize their experience, a summary of key information and tips has been issued by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). 

This summary will assist ticketholders in determining what they should wear, what they should bring and how they will travel throughout Metro Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). The information identifies city specific and mountain specific tips to ensure spectators “know before they go” and have an extraordinary experience.

Spectator tips for what to wear and what to bring to venues:

In the city:

1. Be sure to dress for cold and wet weather. Metro Vancouver has a beautiful, temperate climate but it can be unpredictable. Be prepared for changing conditions by wearing waterproof, layered clothing that protects against wind and cold. You may be in a chilly indoor environment for several hours, or required to wait outside for up to an hour while we unload the venue from the previous event.

2. Folding, collapsible umbrellas are permitted. Umbrellas that are small enough to go under your seat (under 60 centimetres when closed) will be permitted inside the venues. Rain ponchos will also be available for sale at most venues.

In the mountains (Whistler and Cypress Mountain venues):

1. Remember to wear windproof, waterproof hats, scarves, gloves or mittens. At mountain venues you may be outside for extended periods of time with limited or no access to shelter.

2. Wear comfortable and well-insulated winter boots with good traction. At mountain venues, you may be required to walk on slippery, snow-covered slopes. Remember to wear waterproof, appropriate shoes at city venues as well.  

What to bring:

For all venues:

1. Carry the smallest bag possible. There is limited space within the venue seating area and no bag check available. If you have a bag smaller than a bread box (15 cm x 15 cm x 30 cm), or no bag at all, you can use the public screening area express lane into the venue.
2. Do you have your tickets with you? Are they for the correct venue, session, date, and time?
3. Have you checked our list of prohibited and restricted items? The list is available in the spectator guide that was delivered with your tickets, as well as on maps available at Vancouver 2010 information kiosks in downtown Vancouver, at tourism offices and online at www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/.
4. Bring your Visa card or cash. Visa debit, Visa credit cards and Canadian currency are the only accepted forms of payment at Olympic venues. Visa is the only card accepted to obtain cash at automatic teller machines (ATMs), as well.

In the mountain (Whistler and Cypress Mountain venues) specifically:

1. Blankets and stadium cushions are permitted inside the venue. However, please ensure they do not include any metal components. This would delay your security screening process and getting to your seat as quickly as possible.
2. Water is permitted at all mountain venues. We want to ensure spectators have access to potable water during competition. City venues are equipped with water fountains, as well as concession stands. Most mountain venues also have food and beverage services; however you may also bring in plastic water bottles that have the seal intact.
3. Snacks and beverages are permitted on the Olympic bus network. Due to the length of time required to travel up to Whistler venues, spectators are allowed to bring snacks and beverages on the bus trip. Outside food and beverages, however, will not be allowed into the venue.

How to get there:

For all venues:

1. Please remember there is no parking at any of the venues. 
2. “Know Before You Go” and consider all the options for a travel experience that is sensible and sustainable. Walking, cycling or rideshare/car pooling will ensure you get to your destination, while contributing to a greener, more sustainable Games. Visit www.travelsmart2010.ca to explore all the possibilities!
3. Avoid missing your event: reserve your seat on the Olympic bus network. The Olympic bus network is the only way for spectators to be transported to Cypress Mountain and the fastest way to get to Whistler venues from Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor. After each competition, spectators will be transported back to their originating departure point. Seats can be booked at www.obn2010.com
4. An Olympic sport or ceremony event ticket is your ticket to ride. The spectator ticket entitles you to ride all TransLink systems around Metro Vancouver on the day of your event. Use SeaBus, SkyTrain or extensive bus networks to access venues. For Sea to Sky residents and guests, your ticket provides access to BC Transit services on the day of your event. Proof of residency is required in Squamish for access to the system.
5. Plan to arrive early. Avoid missing a minute of the action! At city venues, gates open two hours before the start of competition and three hours ahead of time in the mountains. With a team of close to 200, including producers, announcers, DJs, and field talent, we ensure each competition venue, from cross-country skiing to curling and snowboarding, has its own unique feel based on the traditions of the sport. Spectators will experience more than 900 roving entertainers around the city and mountains.
6. Prepare for security screening. All spectators will be asked to pass through a magnetometer (metal detector).  Help expedite the process by emptying pockets of all metal objects.

For the Cypress Mountain venue specifically:

1. All Cypress Mountain ticket holders must travel on the Olympic bus network. Go to www.obn2010.com to book your seat on the bus network.
2. Departure hubs:

• Capilano University
• Simon Fraser University
• Lonsdale Quay

1. The trip to Cypress will take between 30 and 60 minutes.

2. Be prepared to walk from the bus drop-off point at the venue. Remember to wear weatherproof shoes with good traction as spectators will need to walk 1.6 kilometres to two km on gravel to reach the stadiums. Additional details and venue maps can be found in the spectator guide delivered with your tickets and online at www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/.

Whistler venues (Whistler Creekside, Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park and The Whistler Sliding Centre) specifically:

1. There is no public parking in Whistler.
2. From Metro Vancouver: Ticket holders travelling to Whistler from Metro Vancouver on the day of their event will travel on the Olympic bus network.
3. From the Sea to Sky corridor: Ticket holders staying in the Sea to Sky corridor can ride public transit to Whistler events.
4. From Squamish: There is no public transit for Metro Vancouver ticket holders from Squamish.
5. Travel time to Whistler on the Olympic bus network will take approximately three hours.

For the most up-to-date information available now and during the Games, visit www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/. The section reviews transportation options, venue specific recommendations and directions, ceremonies and celebration information, as well as providing detailed lists of prohibited and restricted actions and items. Spectators can also sign up for immediate alerts and notifications via e-mail. A new feature now available for maximum usability and convenience is a spectator guide phone application, which can be downloaded onto Samsung mobile phones.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Great Britain: British Olympic chiefs bail out winter athletes – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

London (AFP) – British Olympic chiefs on Friday bailed out winter sports athletes bound for the Vancouver Games after the national ski and snowboard federation was placed into administration.

The British Ski and Snowboard Federation, which trades as Snowsport GB, said last month that it needed a 200,000 pounds (324,120 dollars) cash injection to keep operating, a sum that was not forthcoming.

“It is with disappointment that the British Olympic Association (BOA) has learnt today that one of its member governing bodies, Snowsport GB, has been placed into administration,” the BOA said in a statement.

The federation’s financial problems had led to fears that snowboarder Zoe Gillings and skier Chemmy Alcott, two of Britain’s leading medal hopes in a country that has had rarely enjoyed sporting success on the slopes, wouldn’t be able to compete in the February 12-28 Games in Canada.

But the BOA moved swiftly to guarantee that they would indeed be featuring in Olympic competition.

“With the overall concern for Team GB’s skiers and snowboarders preparing for the competition of their lives at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the BOA will immediately put in place a contingency plan to ensure that the interests of the athletes are protected,” it said.

“The BOA will make sure that the 14 skiers and snowboarders selected to represent Team GB can attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“In addition the BOA will ensure that the athletes and their accredited coaches and support personnel have the resources and logistical support necessary to compete at their highest level in Vancouver.”

The BOA explained that with the endorsement of the International Ski Federation (FIS) it had mobilised a current dormant subsidiary company, Team GB Ltd, to act as the National Governing Body for Ski and Snowboarding.

“In this capacity, Team GB Ltd will trade under the name of BSS (British Ski and Snowboarding) and will ensure that FIS registration and FIS race entries continue for all accredited athletes without undue disruption.”

The BOA added, however, that the BSS was merely a bridging the gap and that after the Games there will be a full consultation process to determine how the skiers, snowboarders and all interested parties wish to see the governing body for the sport functioning.

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said: “It is with great regret that one of our governing bodies has gone into administration, particularly at such a critical time for our Olympic team.

“The National Olympic Committee has immediately sought to implement a solution to this dilemma. The athletes and coaches can rest assured that we will work around the clock to support them and help ensure that those involved in the sport can find the best possible structure for it going forward.”

Snowboarder Gillings called the BOA’s move “welcome good news”.

“It’s been a difficult time for a lot of snowsport athletes, and I’m very hopeful that this will be a very positive step forward for skiers and snowboarders alike,” she said.

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Great Britain: British Olympic chiefs bail out winter athletes – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

London (AFP) – British Olympic chiefs on Friday bailed out winter sports athletes bound for the Vancouver Games after the national ski and snowboard federation was placed into administration.

The British Ski and Snowboard Federation, which trades as Snowsport GB, said last month that it needed a 200,000 pounds (324,120 dollars) cash injection to keep operating, a sum that was not forthcoming.

“It is with disappointment that the British Olympic Association (BOA) has learnt today that one of its member governing bodies, Snowsport GB, has been placed into administration,” the BOA said in a statement.

The federation’s financial problems had led to fears that snowboarder Zoe Gillings and skier Chemmy Alcott, two of Britain’s leading medal hopes in a country that has had rarely enjoyed sporting success on the slopes, wouldn’t be able to compete in the February 12-28 Games in Canada.

But the BOA moved swiftly to guarantee that they would indeed be featuring in Olympic competition.

“With the overall concern for Team GB’s skiers and snowboarders preparing for the competition of their lives at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the BOA will immediately put in place a contingency plan to ensure that the interests of the athletes are protected,” it said.

“The BOA will make sure that the 14 skiers and snowboarders selected to represent Team GB can attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“In addition the BOA will ensure that the athletes and their accredited coaches and support personnel have the resources and logistical support necessary to compete at their highest level in Vancouver.”

The BOA explained that with the endorsement of the International Ski Federation (FIS) it had mobilised a current dormant subsidiary company, Team GB Ltd, to act as the National Governing Body for Ski and Snowboarding.

“In this capacity, Team GB Ltd will trade under the name of BSS (British Ski and Snowboarding) and will ensure that FIS registration and FIS race entries continue for all accredited athletes without undue disruption.”

The BOA added, however, that the BSS was merely a bridging the gap and that after the Games there will be a full consultation process to determine how the skiers, snowboarders and all interested parties wish to see the governing body for the sport functioning.

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said: “It is with great regret that one of our governing bodies has gone into administration, particularly at such a critical time for our Olympic team.

“The National Olympic Committee has immediately sought to implement a solution to this dilemma. The athletes and coaches can rest assured that we will work around the clock to support them and help ensure that those involved in the sport can find the best possible structure for it going forward.”

Snowboarder Gillings called the BOA’s move “welcome good news”.

“It’s been a difficult time for a lot of snowsport athletes, and I’m very hopeful that this will be a very positive step forward for skiers and snowboarders alike,” she said.

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Artists’ Paradise – Cultural Olympiad Features : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

From the outside, The Paradise Institute is an unobtrusive five-metre by 11-metre wood structure with two small sets of stairs leading up to doors on the side. Its interior is a life-sized balcony of velvet-lined seats fronted by a dimly lit model of a red-carpet lined classical theatre. Once viewers are inside, they are given a set of headphones and the sensory experience begins.

A film noir plays at the front of the theatre as its soundtrack intermingles with rustles and coughs typically heard at a cinema. A woman whispers intimately, “Do you want some popcorn?” in the viewer’s ear as a gunfight scene plays on the screen.

This cutting-edge Canadian work by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, easily two of Canada’s most internationally established, contemporary artists, is heading to Vancouver as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

Since unleashing their collaborative creative powers in the mid-1990s, the duo have exhibited their intelligent, high-tech installations in every major cultural centre on the map — including the Venice Biennale, where The Paradise Institute won the special jury prize in 2001.

Cardiff and Miller, who are a couple as well as a creative team, currently split their time between Grinrod, a rural BC farming village that only has one post office and one general store, and Berlin, the hip cultural capital of Germany. Cardiff says this bi-national equation adds another level to their creativity.

“We have different elements to our work,” she says. “Different places feed you in different ways.”

Nearly a decade after they won at the Venice Biennale, Cardiff is still very proud of their award-winning piece, which is currently based at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design on Vancouver’s Granville Island as part of CODE Live. It’s currently on loan from the National Gallery of Canada.

“We don’t get to see it much, so it’s always nice to go back and look at older work. Sometimes we get surprised and wonder how we thought of it,” says Cardiff from her BC home. “The last time I saw Paradise Institute, it still held up for me. Which was a good test because some artworks don’t. We were really pushing the edge and experimenting on a lot of different levels.”

“The Paradise Institute” will be on display from February 4 to 21 at Emily Carr University of Art and Design; 1399 Johnston St, Vancouver; Open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. Free.

More information about this and other CODE Live events

Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts among road closures in downtown Vancouver this week – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

This week’s challenge: reduce downtown vehicle traffic by 25 per cent

Vancouver, BC ― Two major downtown Vancouver routes will close on Friday as the final phases of the city’s transportation management plan are implemented to respond to traffic demands for the official opening of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 12.

With nine days to go, Games-related traffic is continuing to grow in Vancouver as the world starts to arrive for the Games, including tens of thousands of media, athletes and officials. To carry them to and from their destinations, hundreds of motorcoaches and fleet vehicles are now in operation at the Main Media Centre along the city’s waterfront and at Games venues.

To help reduce Games-time vehicle traffic in the city by at least 30 per cent, commuters, delivery drivers and residents are invited to take part in this week’s TravelSmart 2010 Challenge. The challenge helps prepare everyone ahead of time to manage road closures and significantly reduced on-street public parking.

Significant changes in effect this week:

• Olympic lanes and parking/stopping restrictions begin in Vancouver on Thursday, February 4

  ― coinciding with the beginning of athlete training at the venues

• Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts

  close on Friday, February 5

• Temporary truck routes now in effect in Vancouver
• Deliveries permitted in downtown 24 hours a day, however the preferred hours are midnight to 6:00 am

• Midlothian Avenue

  now closed  (near the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre at Hillcrest Park)

This Friday’s vehicle traffic reduction goal is 25 per cent. The overall vehicle traffic reduction goal is at least a 30 per cent reduction by February 12 and throughout the Games

In Whistler, day lots are no longer available for public parking and vehicle permits will be required to travel north of Squamish as of February 11 between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. Travellers are encouraged to book with a commercial motorcoach to get to Whistler. A list of carriers is available at www.travelsmart2010.ca. Service enhancements have also been put in place for Squamish residents. Residency tests will be applied for access to these enhancements.

The TravelSmart 2010 Challenge promotes incremental reductions in vehicle traffic as phased-in road closures go into effect in Vancouver on each Friday leading up to the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

How are we doing?

“We’re moving in the right direction every week with this challenge and we need even more people to leave their vehicles at home and `know before they go.’ We only have nine days left before the Games are here. To ensure travel success next week and for the rest of the month, we need people to step up and plan ahead so they won’t be disappointed or surprised,” said Terry Wright, executive vice president, services and Games operations for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

“There are lots of travel options for commuters and residents and there’s never been more transit service operating for extended hours. If we all work together, Vancouver and the world will have a great Games experience here in 2010,” added Wright. “This may mean taking public transit or cycling to the office. Teleworking or changing work hours to avoid the Games-time peak travel times into downtown Vancouver between 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm are also great options.”

To track the progress of the challenge in reducing vehicle traffic on an incremental basis, the City of Vancouver is conducting data monitoring on behalf of the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) each Friday and reporting on the vehicle traffic reduction results publicly the following week.

Last Friday, the overall number of drivers travelling in the downtown was four per cent below normal levels (compared to one per cent on January 22 and four per cent on January 15).

A high number of commuters took public transit or sustainable modes of transportation. There were 122,000 trips on the Canada Line ― one of the highest ridership numbers since the new rapid transit line opened last August. There were also 20,000 trips on the SeaBus indicating continued high transit usage in Vancouver. On the same day, 2,900 cyclists rode into downtown Vancouver across the Burrard, Cambie and Granville bridges.

Commuters are also heeding the TravelSmart message and are avoiding peak travel times into downtown Vancouver between 7:00 am and 9:00 am, as well 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

To date, more than 250 companies have signed up and shared their Games-time travel plans for their employees and deliveries with the OPTT. These organizations will be recognized in full-page ads in The Vancouver Sun and The Province on February 6 and 7.

These organizations were also entered in weekly draws leading up to the Games for a chance to win 50 tickets to nightly Victory Ceremonies at BC Place, where Olympic athletes will stand on the podium to receive their medals and top Canadian entertainment will rock the crowd. This week’s companies that won sets of 50 tickets each are: SAP Canada and Mindfield Group. For more information on how to build a Games-time travel plan, contact: travelsmart@translink.ca.

Safety Reminder for Pedestrians and Drivers:

In light of recent road closures for vehicle traffic as part of the Games integrated transportation plan, the OPTT is reminding the general public to take extra care in their travels, no matter what mode of transport they choose.

Vehicles and cyclists are reminded to slow down, be prepared for new traffic measures and drive with extra care given changes to the road network and the increase in foot traffic in the downtown core.

Closed roadways may still be used by venue traffic therefore pedestrians should stay off roadways and remain on safe, dedicated pedestrian routes such as sidewalks, seaside paths and specially designated Games-time pedestrian corridors.

Important reminders on how to TravelSmart:

For the most up-to-date transportation information available now and during the Games, visit www.travelsmart2010.ca. The website portal directs users to the appropriate OPTT member website for the information they are seeking, such as the City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, or VANOC.

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.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Victory Ceremony podiums at 2010 Winter Games a testament to the mountains athletes have climbed en route to Olympic and Paralympic success – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Unique design echoes peaks and ridges of mountains in Vancouver, Whistler
Custom-made ceremony costumes youthful and organic to reflect Canadian culture

Vancouver, BC ― Vancouver and Whistler’s rugged snow-topped mountains are the inspiration behind the dynamic sculptural podiums where the world’s best athletes will stand before the world to receive their hard-won medals at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The natural wood and acrylic glass podium design for the Vancouver 2010 medal presentations, known as Victory Ceremonies, was unveiled today in downtown Vancouver, along with the dramatic “haute-couture-meets-sport” costumes medal presenters and athlete escorts will wear. All the ceremony elements are designed to complement each other and have a youthful, modern and West Coast style reflecting the Host Region and Look of the Games.

The individual and team podiums ― 23 in all ― have a fluid and organic design, echoing the undulating peaks and ridges of the Coast Mountain Range. Each one is assembled from more than 200 pieces of precision-cut wood hewed from the forests of British Columbia, renowned internationally for their towering red cedars and Douglas firs.

“When the best winter athletes in the world step onto these magnificent podiums in mere days, they will also be standing on the shoulders of countless people who’ve helped them achieve their dreams,” explained John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

“Hundreds behind-the-scenes have been involved ― communities across British Columbia who donated the wood, designers who envisioned the look, and dozens of newly trained wood workers in Vancouver’s inner city who carefully constructed these podiums with pride at the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication Shop,” he continued. “Their work will make each Victory Ceremony at the 2010 Winter Games truly memorable for the athletes, their families and the millions watching here in Canada and around the world.”

The podiums range in size from 4.8 metres to 15.3 m in length, 1.7 m to five m in depth and half a metre tall at their highest point ― the spot reserved for gold medallists. The lightest podiums, built of Western Red Cedar, weigh approximately 200 kilograms while others range up to 260 kg. They will be used in 86 Olympic and 64 Paralympic Victory Ceremonies and are easily accessible for all athletes.

Wooden trays, matching the design aesthetic of the podiums, will showcase the Vancouver 2010 medals as they are presented to the athletes by the 51 volunteer flower and medal bearers. The ergonomic trays have a non-slip surface to protect the undulating medals, which all feature a unique hand-cropped portion of larger Aboriginal artworks. The trays and podiums were designed by VANOC’s late design director Leo Obstbaum and Vancouver-based industrial designer James Lee.

“Built from wood donated by communities, First Nations, businesses, and individuals across the province, each one of these podiums has a story to tell about the people and places that make up British Columbia and about the forest industry that is the heart of so much of our culture and history,” said the Honourable Gordon Campbell, premier of British Columbia. “We hope all the athletes feel this connection and are inspired by this close connection to the people of British Columbia when they step up to receive their medals on these incredible platforms.”

The donated rough lumber was converted into panels and then cut into hundreds of complex jigsaw puzzle-like shapes using sophisticated computer controlled machinery at the University of British Columbia’s state-of-the-art Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. These pieces were carefully assembled into the podiums at the RONA Vancouver 2010 Fabrication (Fab) Shop.

“RONA is extremely proud of our 2010 Winter Games partnership and the carpentry trainees from our Fab Shop. They’ve really done themselves proud with their workmanship and attention to detail on these amazing podiums,” said Claude Bernier, RONA’s executive vice president of marketing and customer innovations. “Our involvement in the podium project is a good example of our shared commitment with VANOC, to ensure that all Canadians feel part of the 2010 Winter Games.”

During the Vancouver 2010 Victory Ceremonies, which will take place in competition venues, as well as at nightly ceremonies held at BC Place (Olympic only) and Whistler Medals Plaza, a highly choreographed celebration will take place in the athletes’ honour.

Flanking the podiums will be members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in their famous red serge uniforms and Stetson hats. Carrying the medals and athlete bouquets on trays, as well as escorting the athletes, will be volunteers dressed in dramatic custom-made costumes in an organic palette of blues representing the Sea to Sky Games.

The three costumes, which fuse high fashion with the functionality of sport apparel, were designed by Yumi Eto and produced by leading fashion boutique Aritzia in collaboration with VANOC.

“The Vancouver 2010 Victory Ceremony costumes are designed with great style, are functional and dramatic. They add to the excitement of these historic events while paying respect to the athletes,” said Brian Hill, president and CEO of Aritzia LP, an official licensee of the 2010 Winter Games. “Our design team worked closely with VANOC to choose a colour palette and aesthetic that reflects who we are as Canadians ― youthful, modern and multicultural ― and we think this look will be embraced by all who are watching.”

The medals will be presented to the athletes by officials from their respective international sport federations and then the staggered flags will rise as the national anthem of the gold medallist triumphantly plays. Afterwards, the athletes will be feted during rock concerts by some of the top bands and solo acts in North America at the nightly Victory Ceremonies held at BC Place and Whistler Medals Plaza. 

For more information, visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Editors Note:

Podium and costume photographs are available at www.vancouver2010.com/mediacentre. Podium wood cutting, finishing and assembly B-roll video is available for download at www.gov.bc.ca/for. Costume fitting B-roll video is available at www.vancouver2010.com/flame.

About the Government of British Columbia
The Government of British Columbia is the proud Host Province for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information on British Columbia’s contribution to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, visit www.yougottabehere.com.

About RONA
RONA (TSX: RON) is the Canadian leading distributor and retailer of hardware, home improvement and gardening products. RONA operates a network of more than 620 franchised, affiliated and corporate stores of various sizes and formats. Over 25,000 employees in all the regions of Canada work under its various banners. The RONA store network accounts for over 14 million square feet of space and annual retail sales of $5.6 billion. For more information, visit www.rona.ca.

About Aritzia

Aritzia is a boutique for young, style-forward women between the ages of 15 and 35. In 1984, Aritzia’s first retail location opened in Vancouver, BC. After 25 years in business, it is now regarded as a leading fashion boutique in North America. Based in Vancouver, the company currently employs over 2,200 people with 43 stores in select, major cities across Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.aritzia.com.

About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Know Before You Go: What Olympic spectators need to know about clearing security at venues – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Top tips to enhance spectators’ Olympic experience

Vancouver, BC― With less than two weeks to go before the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, spectators are being encouraged to plan ahead and “Know Before You Go.”  Today’s spectator tips: what Olympic spectators need to know about clearing security at a venue.

Attending the Olympic Games is different than any other event and to help spectators get ready, a series of spectator experience tips will be issued leading up to February 12th to make sure everyone has a truly enjoyable Games experience. Future tips will include what to wear, how to get there and what to bring.

More information is available at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide and in spectator guides that were delivered with tickets.

Spectator tips for clearing security at Olympic venues:

1. Arrive early: Don’t miss the start of competition. Know before you go and leave plenty of time to clear the security screening. Entering an Olympic venue will take longer than traditional events.

• City Venues: Gates open two hours before the start of competition

• Mountain venues: Gates open three hours before the start of competition at Whistler and Cypress Mountain venues.

• Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Gates open four hours early.

2. Check tickets: Make sure your ticket has the correct session code. Treat your tickets like cash. Lost or stolen tickets cannot be replaced or refunded.

3. Bring the smallest bag possible: If you have a bag smaller than a bread box (15 cm x 15 cm x 30 cm or 6 in x 6 in x 12 in), or no bag at all, you can use the express lane to enter the venue. Spectators carrying larger bags will follow the standard lane. Lanes will be clearly marked.

4. Be prepared: Read the spectator guide or check the list of permissible items at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide. All spectators will be asked to pass through a magnetometer (metal detector). Help expedite the process by emptying pockets of all metal objects.

5. Follow instructions: Public information marshals will be welcoming spectators to expedite their entry into the venue and communicate key information to assist everyone in moving smoothly.

For the most up-to-date information available now and during the Games, visit

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide. The section reviews transportation options, venue specific recommendations and directions, ceremonies and celebration information as well as providing detailed lists of prohibited and restricted actions and items.  Spectators can also sign up for immediate alerts and notifications through their mobile phones or e-mail accounts. Information is also available in the spectator guides that were delivered with tickets and on maps available at Vancouver 2010 information kiosks downtown, partner locations and at tourism offices. 

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.