Final Vancouver 2010 progress report delivered in Copenhagen to the 121st
Session of the International Olympic Committee

COPENHAGEN , Denmark , Oct. 7 /CNW/ - With just 128 days remaining before the start of the 2010 Winter Games, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) presented its final progress report to members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today in Copenhagen .

"We have achieved many milestones over the past year. As Olympic and Paralympic athletes from around the world set their sights on being prepared to give their very best in Canada in February and March 2010 , they can be confident that we, too, are well prepared," said John Furlong , VANOC's CEO.

Furlong last reported to the full IOC Session in Beijing , China in August 2008 . In today's update to IOC members on the past year of activities and milestones, Furlong highlighted:

    
    Venues and Operations

    -   The Vancouver 2010 sport venue program was officially completed in
        February 2009 with the opening of the Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic
        Centre, the venue for curling at the Games. Construction and upgrades
        on all sport competition venues were completed on time and within the
        $580-million budget Cdn.
    -   All facilities and upgrades have been planned to leave lasting
        legacies for their communities.
    -   VANOC conducted operational testing at 17 sport events held at its
        venues where approximately 2,400 athletes from more than 30 countries
        competed. Total estimated on-site spectator attendance was
        approximately 70,000.
    -   The acquisition of buses for the Olympic period is almost complete
        and contracting for VANOC's Vancouver depot and parking sites is
        nearing completion.
    -   VANOC has secured 100 per cent of its contractual Games-time
        accommodation requirements in Vancouver and Whistler for its
        constituent groups and is finalizing arrangements for workforce
        accommodations.
    -   By July 2009, VANOC had a full-time workforce of 1,302. By Games
        time, the number will grow to more than 55,000, including 1,400 paid
        staff, 3,500 temporary staff, 25,000 volunteers, 10,000 contractors,
        and 15,000 ceremony participants.

    Ticketing

    -   Within five weeks of being invited to submit requests for tickets to
        the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in October 2008, Canadian
        residents submitted requests for more than $345 million in tickets.
        During Phase 2 of Olympic ticket sales, Canadians again purchased
        tickets in record numbers, with more than 22,000 orders for 130,000
        tickets processed in the first four hours.
    -   The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad will feature more than 600
        ticketed and free performances and exhibitions in 50 venues in Metro
        Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor.

    Torch Relay

    -   The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will cover 45,000 kilometres
        and visit every province and territory in Canada, making it the
        longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history. The Olympic Flame
        will travel within a one-hour drive of more than 90 per cent of the
        Canadian population. The white torch's curved design was unveiled in
        Whistler, BC, during the one-year countdown to the Games.
    -   The lighting of the Olympic Flame in Olympia, Greece will take place
        in 15 days and the torch relay will start on October 30, 2009 in
        Victoria, BC.

    Look of the Games/Olympic Spirit

    -   The graphic identity of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games was
        introduced in September 2008, drawn from Canada's natural and urban
        environments and rich cultural diversity. The elements of the design
        will become a key part of the Games-time experience.
    -   With Glowing Hearts/Des plus brillants exploits was introduced as the
        official Games motto also in September 2008.

    Sustainability

    -   The 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment, convened by
        the IOC and held in partnership with the United Nations Environmental
        Programme (UNEP), discussed the opportunities and issues for
        sustainable sport. At the conference, VANOC announced a target of
        neutralizing 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from the
        Games.
    -   The Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report 2007-2008 received a
        commendation for innovative reporting by an independent network of
        investors and public interest organizers.
    -   Over 140 individual works of art by more than 90 Aboriginal artists
        will be showcased at the venues, with over 40 becoming part of the
        Games permanent legacy.

    Infrastructure

    -   In March 2009, the first phase of the integrated transportation plan
        was announced. Travelling smart by "knowing before you go" and
        preparing for "life as unusual" will be the key to a successful
        transportation experience.

    Although not budgeted VANOC Games infrastructure, the following long-term
    transportation projects will contribute significantly to the success of
    the Games
    -   The Sea to Sky Highway improvement project has continued to increase
        the road's safety, reliability and capacity. As of July 2009, the
        project was 95 per cent complete, with all bridged and structures
        finished.
    -   Originally scheduled to open in November 2009, the new 16-station,
        19-kilometre Canada Line started carrying passengers as early as
        August 2009, connecting a number of key 2010 Winter Games' venues,
        including the Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver and the
        Richmond Olympic Oval.
    -   In August 2009, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the
        Official Airport of the 2010 Winter Games, added a new link to its
        transportation network with the opening of the Canada Line.

    Upcoming Milestones

    -   Fall 2009: Phase 3 ticket sales (in Canada) and launch of the ticket
        resale site
    -   Fall 2009: Launch of www.vancouver2010.com in its Games-time version
    -   October 14: Release of Phase 2 of the integrated transportation plan
    -   October 15: Unveiling of the Olympic and Paralympic medals
    -   October 22: Official Olympic Flame lighting ceremony in Olympia,
        Greece
    -   October 30: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay starts in Victoria, BC
    -   January 22 to March 21, 2010: Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
    -   February 12 to 28, 2010: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
    -   March 3, 2010: Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay starts in
        Ottawa, ON
    -   March 12 to 21, 2010: Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

    VANOC's full progress report is available at www.vancouver2010.com.
    

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 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

For further information: Media Contacts: Suzanne Walters, VANOC Communications, Tel: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]; Erin Mikaluk, VANOC Communications, Tel: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]