2005 News

2010 Info Centre In Whistler Hosts Five-Year Countdown Celebration

Feb. 17, 2005

Whistler - Five more to go! February 12, 2005 marked the five-year countdown to the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with a celebration in Whistler. The Vancouver 2010 Info Centre in Whistler Village is hosting "Countdown to 2010" from 12 pm to 5 pm on last Saturday.

The day's events included hands-on sport demos, children's activities, live music with local favourites the Gordo Trio and Suzanne Wilson, street comedy with Sand Northrup and Michele Bush and a special Countdown Ceremony at 3 pm. The ceremony featured the "passing of the torch" from five visiting Olympians/Paralympians to five young athletes. Olympian guests included former National Women's Hockey Team member Nancy Drolet; World Champion ice-dancer Victor Kraatz; Paralympian Kelly Smith and snowboarder Tara Teigen.

Whistler Mayor Hugh O'Reilly and VANOC CEO, John Furlong, were also on hand to share their thoughts on the five-year countdown milestone. The ceremony was followed by a cake-cutting at 3:45 pm. All activities at the Vancouver 2010 Whistler Info Centre were free. The Info Centre operates daily from 11 am to 5 pm. Since opening in January 2002, the Centre has received more than 108,000 visitors.

The cultural pillar of the Olympic movement was showcased that evening at the Whistler Arts Council/VANOC co-produced "Cultural Cabaret". The stage at Whistler's Millennium Place featured an array of regional talent including Whistler's après entertainment legends, the Hairfarmers, award-winning aboriginal musician Wayne Lavalee, percussion wonders SWARM, the innovative choreography of Whistler Dance Theatre and the musings of award-winning writer/performer Deborah Williams.

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12-21, 2010. The Nominating Entities of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee are the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipalityof Whistler, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Lil'wat and Squamish First Nations.

Source: www.mywhistler.com