Monday, February
07, 2005
Whistler - Five more to go! February 12, 2005 marks 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 Saturday.
The
day's events include 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 will feature the "passing
of the torch" from five visiting Olympians/Paralympians to five
young athletes. Olympian guests include 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, will also
be on hand to share their thoughts on the five-year countdown
milestone. The ceremony will be followed by a cake-cutting at 3:45
pm. All activities at the Vancouver 2010 Whistler Info Centre are
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 is showcased that evening at
the Whistler Arts Council/VANOC co-produced "Cultural Cabaret". The
stage at Whistler's Millennium Place will feature 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 staged in Vancouver and Whistler
from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic
Winter Games from March 12 to 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 Municipality of Whistler, Canadian Olympic Committee,
Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Lil'wat and Squamish First
Nations.
-2010-
Media
Contacts:
Maureen Douglas
VANOC Whistler
Telephone: 604.966.2555
Sam
Corea
VANOC Communications (Vancouver)
Telephone: 604.806.1019