With nearly 100 days to go until start of 2010 Winter Games, VANOC completes
search for Sea to Sky workforce accommodation

VANCOUVER , Nov. 3 /CNW/ - Accommodation for more than 6,000 people needed to stage the 2010 Winter Games in British Columbia's Sea to Sky region has been secured by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The accommodation solutions range from a cruise ship to billeted rooms in private homes between North Vancouver and Pemberton.

"This is an important milestone for the Organizing Committee to reach and frees up any remaining accommodation inventory for visitors with approximately 100 days to go before the start of the Games," said Jacqui Murdoch , VANOC's vice president of services and accommodation. "It's an economic generator for the community and it's a goal we couldn't have reached without the amazing support of residents in the region who volunteered to open their homes to people from around the world and to community leaders who helped support our other accommodation solutions.

"In particular, we're thankful for the support of the District of Squamish, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler," she added. "The Sea to Sky community is playing a huge role in our ability to stage spectacular Games here in 2010."

The accommodation will house volunteers, VANOC staff and contractors from outside the region coming to work at Games' venues, including The Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Olympic Park/Whistler Paralympic Park and Whistler Creekside, starting in January and continuing until the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games end in late March.

Workforce Accommodation in the Corridor:

    
      -  The Homestay Volunteer Program, launched by VANOC in February 2009,
         is providing more than 590 beds during the Olympic Winter Games. The
         beds will be provided by 390 host families who are already preparing
         their homes to take in Games-time volunteers. More than 290 beds
         secured through the program will also house volunteers during the
         Paralympic Games. Applications will continue to be accepted from
         additional host families in Whistler until Games time.

      -  VANOC has chartered a cruise ship to house 1,100 people dockside in
         Squamish from late January through to the end of March. The same
         ship was used in a similar capacity during the 15th Asian Games Doha
         2006.

      -  Quest University in Squamish will house 500 people in February and
         more than 100 people in March.

      -  Approximately 2,000 workforce members will stay in hotel rooms and
         condos in Whistler during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

      -  More than 300 workforce members will stay in hotel rooms in Squamish
         in February.

      -  An estimated 1,200 workforce members will stay in a separate zone in
         the Paralympic Village Whistler in March, along with athletes and
         officials, during the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

      -  Three modular temporary housing units will be placed on the property
         at 4500 Northlands Blvd. in Whistler. The three units will provide
         268 beds for use between January and March. The Whistler Games
         Service Centre will be located at this site. Along with housing
         workforce, this location will be used as a uniform and accreditation
         centre, the homestay reception centre for Whistler and a workforce
         dining area. VANOC recently received a temporary commercial use
         permit from the Resort Municipality of Whistler for the Whistler
         Games Service Centre and related housing.
    

Earlier this year, VANOC secured the 3,000 rooms needed in the Whistler area during the Games for members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), broadcast rights holders, accredited print reporters and photographers, sponsors, National Olympic Committee members, and International Sport Federation members.

Visitor and spectator accommodation information for Games-time visits to Whistler can be accessed at www.whistler.com. For information on Metro Vancouver visits see www.2010destinationplanner.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 Contact: John French, VANOC Communications, Tel: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]