Vancouver 2010 Sports Venues Completed

The opening of the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre, the venue for curling and wheelchair curling events during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, now means that all the sports venues for the 2010 Games are complete. With sports events already underway at many of the venues, and others scheduled over the coming year, the Olympic sites will be well tested before the Games begin next February.
Experience the Legacies
John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee (VANOC), said at the opening of the centre, “After years of teamwork and careful planning, together we’ve reached one of our biggest milestones. It’s wonderful to see athletes now competing and testing these venues while youngsters and adults alike experience the legacies far in advance of the Games.”
New and Renovated Venues
New sports competition venues for the 2010 Winter Games include the Richmond Olympic Oval, the Whistler Sliding Centre, the University of British Columbia Thunderbird Arena, Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park, Cypress Mountain, and the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre – one of the greenest curling venues in the world. Substantial upgrades were also made to existing facilities, such as the Pacific Coliseum and Whistler Creekside. All the facilities and upgrades were planned to leave lasting legacies in their communities. Further enhancements will continue to be made to some venues after VANOC receives feedback from athletes and officials competing at them during sports events this season.
Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre – Green Design
The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre is targeted for the gold standard in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The eco-friendly venue captures rainwater and siphons it into the building to flush toilets and urinals. The toilets, showers and sinks also use low-flow water systems, reducing water usage by up to 30 per cent. The building is wrapped in a high-performance envelope that helps keep temperatures just right inside for the perfect ice sheet. Heat is reused during the ice-making process, and the building is powered by a mixture of electricity, natural gas and solar energy. After the Games, the venue will be transformed into a multi-purpose recreation centre. It will include ice sheets for hockey and curling, a gymnasium, library, and aquatic centre.
VANCOUVER 2010
Vancouver and Whistler will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010. The seven Winter Olympic sports that will be on show in Vancouver are Luge, Skiing, Skating, Ice Hockey, Biathlon, Bobsleigh and Curling.

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