2010 Winter Games

2010 Winter Games

The scenic and bustling city Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is the proud host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The International Winter Olympics Committee chooses Vancouver as host of the games in 2010 on April 23, 2005.

Greater Vancouver, with a population of 2.1 million, is Canada's third largest urban area. Located in British Columbia, Canada's western-most province, the region covers nearly 2,900 square kilometres, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the U.S. border to the south, the valley of the Fraser River to the east and the Coastal Mountains to the north. Seattle, Washington is 226 km to the south, while Calgary, Alberta is 975 km to the east. Vancouver's ocean-side location gives it a mild climate year round.

The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Vancouver as the world's most liveable city in 2006. The Mercer Group's 2007 Quality of Living Survey ranked Vancouver third of 215 cities worldwide, and first in North America. The games will officially commence in February 12-28, 2010. The organizers of top-notch sporting events expect 80 countries and 5,500 athletes and coaches and sport officials to joint the highly anticipated event. Some 86 events comprising seven sports are also expected to be shown during the almost month long games.

The Canadian Olympic Association chose Vancouver as the Canadian candidate city over Calgary, which sought to re-host the games and Quebec City, which had lost the 2002 Olympic bid in 1995. On the first round of voting on November 21, 1998, Vancouver-Whistler had 26 votes, Quebec City with 25 and Calgary 21. On December 3, 1998, the second and final round of voting occurred between the two leading contenders, which saw Vancouver win with 40 votes compared to Quebec City's 32. The win allowed Vancouver to prepare its bid and begin lobbying efforts internationally.

Here are quick facts regarding the prestigious event:

• Number of Olympic athletes and officials: 5,500
• Number of Paralympics athletes and officials: 1,350
• Countries participating in Olympic Winter Games: 80+
• Countries participating in Paralympics and Winter Games: 40+
• 2010 Olympic Winter Games events tickets available: 1.6 million
• 2010 Paralympics Winter Games events tickets available: 250,000
• Estimated number of media representatives: 10,000
• Estimated number of Games volunteers: 25,000

To make the 2010 Winter Olympic exciting SEGA Corporation recently announced an exclusive partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the official licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to develop Vancouver 2010 - the Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games. Eurocom Entertainment Software is developing the game for PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Vancouver 2010 is an authentic simulation of a host of events from the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on the adrenalin rush that comes from the extreme speed of winter sports. Including the all-new challenge mode, it will allow players to immerse themselves in the world's greatest sporting event like never before.

In addition to the new challenge mode, Vancouver 2010 also offers revamped online game play and brand new control schemes new to an official video game of the Olympic Games. With this, Vancouver 2010 will be the new benchmark for the Olympic-themed videogames genre and truly allow gamers to experience the "Olympic Spirit". Vancouver 2010 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 is set for release in the winter of 2010. The opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games will be held at BC Place. BC Place is an amazing inflated white dome stadium that can hold just over 59,000 people, and it is located in the downtown core.

As the Host City for the 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver has been given an extraordinary opportunity to welcome the world to our city, and share with all that our city has to offer, including: spectacular, natural beauty, excellent sports and entertainment, innovative leadership in business, the environment and social issues, extraordinary community, cultural diversity, and commitment to excellence in accessibility.