Renting a home for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver or Whistler?
The Winter olympic games like the Summer Olympics are held once every four years. The last Winter Olympics were held Torino in Italy in 2006. On July third 2003, the Canadian city of Vancouver was awarded the Winter Olympics and subsequently the mayor of Vancouver, Sam Sullivan received the Olympic flag in the closing ceremony of the Torino games. This flag is currently on display at the Vancouver city Hall where it will remain till the Opening rite of the 2010 Winter olympic games.
Vancouver Rentals -an ideal location
Vancouver which is often ranked as one of the top towns in the world to live in is famous for its attractive natural views, temperate climate, cleanliness and vibrant multi-cultural society. This makes getting to Vancouver comparatively simple for players and spectators.
It is determined that 5500 sportsmen and officers from more than 80 participating nations will be attending the Winter Olympics while 1350 sportsmen and officials from over 40 nations will attend the Paralympics Games. As well as these sportsmen and officials, more than 10,000 media personnel from various countrywide and global agencies will also come to Vancouver to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Countries need to qualify at least one sportsman or team to be a participant in the games. The list of participating counties includes nations possessing a long tradition of winter sports like Austria, Norway, Denmark, USA and Great Britain and also several others nations like Kenya and Thailand who aren't typically known for their winter sports exploits. In fact, the games will feature many firsts like the first time participation of the Western African nation of Ghana.
Sporting Events
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will feature 80 six medal events in 15 sporting disciplines. These sports include Skiing ( alpine skiing, cross country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic mixed, freestyle skiing, and snowboard ), Skating ( speed skating, figure skating, and short track speed skating ), Bobsleigh ( bobsleigh and skeleton ), Luge, Biathlon, Ice Hockey, and Curling. Roughly 1.6 million tickets have been issued for the varied events of the 2010 Winter Games.
many of the 2010 Winter Games venues are found in central Vancouver and include the Canada Hockey Place ( Ice hockey ), Vancouver Olympic Center, ( Curling and Wheel chair Curling ) the Pacific Coliseum ( Figure Skating ) and the UBC Thunderbird Arena ( Ice Hockey and ice sledge hockey ). Venues in Whistler include the Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Creekside and the Whistler Olympic Park.
Gongs won in Whistler will be awarded nightly at the Whistler Olympic party plaza with about 8000 people attending.
The hosting of the ceremonies in an indoor locale will also help the organizers in conceptualizing, creating and hosting an impressive show which is rumoured to feature state of the art lighting, projection, sound and CGI effects as well as all sorts of performers, dancers and athletes who will showcase the vibrant history and culture of Canada.
Excellent Public Transport system
The Canada Line, a new fast rail service linking the Vancouver waterfront to Richmond and Vancouver global airfield will also become functional in mid- 2009 well in time for the games. Additionally the Olympic Bus Network will provide access to the games venues found in Whistler. VANOC wants the Games to be environmentally sustainable and are inspiring spectators to only make use of Vancouver's glorious public transport to get access to the numerous events of the Games.
As a consequence of which there's currently a room block in place for many Vancouver hostels and hotel inventory will only become available nearer to the Games.
These rates further change according the scale of the home being offered and the vicinity of the home to the Games.
This damage deposit can range between $1000 to an astronomic $3000 per week. Though this deposit is refundable it significantly adds to the price of your accommodation at the 2010 Winter Games.
If however you need to avoid those steep charges and want to book your vacation rental from a well established trusted source you might want to have a look at the rental houses being offered for the 2010 Winter Games by regarded, highly ranked and TRUSTED vacation rental websites.
vacation home rental internet sites also offers a wide variety of holiday rentals but there are internet sites where the owners and the renters are authenticated unlike the other channels who offer houses which aren't attested or confirmed. This increases the transparency of the rental process as both the owner and the renter are warranted that they are entering a genuine agreement. There are a couple TRUSTED SITES for 2010 Winter game rentals that take the inquiry to the next level by employing a Vancouver law office to help the rental contract for you and confirm the home and true owner exist.
The rental fees are then held in this account to be dispersed to the owner only after the renter has left the premises. This process guarantees that you aren't sending your rental money to an unknown unverified entity that will misuse the funds and trick you out of your money. This rental process instituted by protects the interests of both the renters and the householders.
Owners should look for websites that are actively spending money advertising their homes to renters.
The base line here is if you are only one of tons of houses on a domain for 2010Rentals and the site in not being promoted with Facebook, Google, Yahoo, AdWords etc... In countries beyond BC look elsewhere!
About the Author
Buford Jones in active in the Indianapolis real estate market and foucuses on Fishers Indiana homes and Fishers IN real estate.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Security Costs at the 2010 Olympics by Mike Ward
The city of Vancouver is bustling with preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Intensive construction efforts directed to improve transportation, provide housing for athletes and venues for competitions have been underway for several years. Major projects such as the Sea to Sky Highway, and the Canada Line skytrain addition are just a few examples. The immense activity during a mega event such as an Olympic Games is mind boggling. For 17 days between February 12th and 18th the streets, buses, and skytrain will be congested constantly with people moving every which direction all day and night. Crowded stadiums filled with high profile VIP’s and athletes would be a tantalizing target for terrorist attacks. The logistics and costs to setup city wide surveillance and security are massive and several multi-million dollar studies are underway to strategize how best accomplish this goal.
The Vancouver Olympic Committee is expecting to spend somewhere around $177 million dollars on security for the games, however the number is likely to increase. Olympic watchdog’s “2010 Watch†spokesman Chris Shaw questions the validity of this claim. In 2002 the US spent over $500 million in Salt Lake, while the Athens Olympics ran a bill of $1.5 billion US dollars. How could a number like $177 million be realistic when other cities have spent so much more? Most of the money, approximately two thirds, will be spent on providing additional police and security personnel during the games. The next biggest expense will be surveillance equipment, voice stress analyzers, security cameras, and explosives sensing equipment. CCTV networks utilizing highly advanced hardware and software will give security officers an astounding amount of information. These networks will be able to recognize people’s faces and be able to rapidly cross check their identity with government records or hotel registrations. Rapid access to this information could give the police the edge they need to prevent a major terrorist disaster.
One concern is that the cameras will remain in place after the games, as they have in recent venues such as Salt Lake City and Sydney, and that they would infringe upon individual privacy. Indoor and outdoor cameras numbering in the thousands will be installed everywhere from Downtown Vancouver to Whistler. Others question whether or not the cameras will actually do anything to prevent even a small scale terrorist attack. Even if the presence of security cameras does not actually prevent a crime they would certainly help the Vancouver Police Department identify and apprehend perpetrators and this can help reduce crime in the long run.
About the Author
About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and surveillance cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.
The Vancouver Olympic Committee is expecting to spend somewhere around $177 million dollars on security for the games, however the number is likely to increase. Olympic watchdog’s “2010 Watch†spokesman Chris Shaw questions the validity of this claim. In 2002 the US spent over $500 million in Salt Lake, while the Athens Olympics ran a bill of $1.5 billion US dollars. How could a number like $177 million be realistic when other cities have spent so much more? Most of the money, approximately two thirds, will be spent on providing additional police and security personnel during the games. The next biggest expense will be surveillance equipment, voice stress analyzers, security cameras, and explosives sensing equipment. CCTV networks utilizing highly advanced hardware and software will give security officers an astounding amount of information. These networks will be able to recognize people’s faces and be able to rapidly cross check their identity with government records or hotel registrations. Rapid access to this information could give the police the edge they need to prevent a major terrorist disaster.
One concern is that the cameras will remain in place after the games, as they have in recent venues such as Salt Lake City and Sydney, and that they would infringe upon individual privacy. Indoor and outdoor cameras numbering in the thousands will be installed everywhere from Downtown Vancouver to Whistler. Others question whether or not the cameras will actually do anything to prevent even a small scale terrorist attack. Even if the presence of security cameras does not actually prevent a crime they would certainly help the Vancouver Police Department identify and apprehend perpetrators and this can help reduce crime in the long run.
About the Author
About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and surveillance cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Vancouver 2010 Mascots Review by A Nutt
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is Canada's time to showcase its exceptional athletic achievements. The spectacular cultural performances show the world that Canada is a community of immense diversity filled with talented people.
Mascots have become important and popular representatives of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They bring warmth, fun, and excitement to the games. Tourists from all over the world delight in the antics of these lovable mascots.
Each host Country and region designs their mascots to represent the culture and ideals of that country. The mascots are often the storytellers of the games and symbolize the values of the athletes. The host province of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is British Columbia but contributing provinces and territories include Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and the Yukon. The four host First Nations include: Lil'wat First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Squamish First Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.
The role of the mascot has made significant advancements. Imagination and creativity are poured into mascot designs resulting in a tremendous line of collectables, toys, and other mascot paraphernalia. Canada and the province of British Columbia have carried on the tradition of creating mascots that emanate pride, celebration, diversity, inspiration, and the Olympic spirit.
Vancouver 2010 Mascots
1. Miga is a snowboarding sea-bear inspired by the First Nations' legends of the Pacific Northwest. Miga is part sea-bear and part orca whale and has been described as mischievous and outgoing. Snowboarding is Miga's favorite winter sport. She is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia. The Kermode bear is a rare white or cream-colored sub-species of the black bear located along the central West Coast of British Columbia. According to First Nations' legend, Kermode bears were turned white by Raven to remind people of the Ice Age. Orcas are revered by West Coast First Nations as travelers and guardians of the sea.
2. Quatchi is a young Sasquatch who comes from the deep Canadian forests. The Sasquatch is a well known character in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi enjoys exploring new places and making new friends. Quatchi is a bashful and kind Sasquatch. He has a long brown beard and blue earmuffs. His large size makes him a bit uncoordinated. Quatchi's favorite sport is hockey and his dream is to become a famous goalie. He is eager and understands that working hard is a key component of realizing your dreams.
3. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi's name comes from the Salish word Sumesh which means guardian spirit. He has wings of a Thunderbird that allow him to fly and the furry legs of a bear. The bear often represents strength and friendship. Sumi is a leader dedicated to protecting and conserving our water, land, and the critters that make it their home. Sumi loves every sport of the Paralympic games.
4. Mukmuk is a small and sociable Vancouver Island marmot. Mukmuk gets his name from the word 'muckamuck,' which is Chinook dialect for 'food.' Mukmuk loves to eat and cheer for the athletes during races and games. His favorite foods are berries and mountain flowers. He is an honorary member of the mascot team.
These sweet and cuddly mystical creatures symbolize the strength and transformation of the athletes while showcasing First Nation culture. Audiences will find the mascots of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games entertaining, educational, and memorable.
About the Author
Manufacturer of the World's Most lovable mascot, mascots, Costumes and Characters. We are also specialists in Custom Mascots if you've got an unparalleled love for your team to match your sports passion.
Mascots have become important and popular representatives of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They bring warmth, fun, and excitement to the games. Tourists from all over the world delight in the antics of these lovable mascots.
Each host Country and region designs their mascots to represent the culture and ideals of that country. The mascots are often the storytellers of the games and symbolize the values of the athletes. The host province of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is British Columbia but contributing provinces and territories include Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and the Yukon. The four host First Nations include: Lil'wat First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Squamish First Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.
The role of the mascot has made significant advancements. Imagination and creativity are poured into mascot designs resulting in a tremendous line of collectables, toys, and other mascot paraphernalia. Canada and the province of British Columbia have carried on the tradition of creating mascots that emanate pride, celebration, diversity, inspiration, and the Olympic spirit.
Vancouver 2010 Mascots
1. Miga is a snowboarding sea-bear inspired by the First Nations' legends of the Pacific Northwest. Miga is part sea-bear and part orca whale and has been described as mischievous and outgoing. Snowboarding is Miga's favorite winter sport. She is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia. The Kermode bear is a rare white or cream-colored sub-species of the black bear located along the central West Coast of British Columbia. According to First Nations' legend, Kermode bears were turned white by Raven to remind people of the Ice Age. Orcas are revered by West Coast First Nations as travelers and guardians of the sea.
2. Quatchi is a young Sasquatch who comes from the deep Canadian forests. The Sasquatch is a well known character in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi enjoys exploring new places and making new friends. Quatchi is a bashful and kind Sasquatch. He has a long brown beard and blue earmuffs. His large size makes him a bit uncoordinated. Quatchi's favorite sport is hockey and his dream is to become a famous goalie. He is eager and understands that working hard is a key component of realizing your dreams.
3. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi's name comes from the Salish word Sumesh which means guardian spirit. He has wings of a Thunderbird that allow him to fly and the furry legs of a bear. The bear often represents strength and friendship. Sumi is a leader dedicated to protecting and conserving our water, land, and the critters that make it their home. Sumi loves every sport of the Paralympic games.
4. Mukmuk is a small and sociable Vancouver Island marmot. Mukmuk gets his name from the word 'muckamuck,' which is Chinook dialect for 'food.' Mukmuk loves to eat and cheer for the athletes during races and games. His favorite foods are berries and mountain flowers. He is an honorary member of the mascot team.
These sweet and cuddly mystical creatures symbolize the strength and transformation of the athletes while showcasing First Nation culture. Audiences will find the mascots of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games entertaining, educational, and memorable.
About the Author
Manufacturer of the World's Most lovable mascot, mascots, Costumes and Characters. We are also specialists in Custom Mascots if you've got an unparalleled love for your team to match your sports passion.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Experience the Romance of Whistler by J. D. Arca
Located a two hour drive from Vancouver, British Columbia (five hours from Seattle) Whistler has long been known as a world famous winter wonderland popular with skiers. It's now starting to become a more popular destination with tourists, but it's still one of the world's destinations where you can experience a romantic vacation away from it all with your partner. If you are considering a city based vacation, Whistler also offers you the chance to spend a few days getting away from it all if you are holidaying in one of the nearby cities of Vancouver or Seattle.
Accommodation is still quite limited in Whistler but as host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games there will be an increasing amount of hotels available. There are currently no large resorts in the area but a number of hotels are available. The weather in Whistler is cold in the winter which usually lasts from November to April but it's always warm in many spa facilities to be found in the pedestrian village and which offer everything from a massage to relax tired muscles to botox injections.
Whistler is a dream vacation for those who love the snow and want to find some winter romance. It's also a fabulous place for a honeymoon (you could even consider getting married there if the idea appeals to you!) - and celebrities are also starting to appreciate the seclusion of this unspoiled part of Canada. There are plenty of ski runs to cater for all abilities of course, but the fun doesn't end there. If it can be done on snow, it's probably going on in Whistler! There's ice climbing and snow mobiling for the more energetic, whilst the more leisurely tourist can enjoy such gentle activities as glacier tours - and what could be more romantic than snuggling up with your partner on a sleigh ride? Wildlife in British Columbia is abundant so if photography is a passion of you and your partner, then there are plenty of opportunities in Whistler - with the wild animals and flowers - and not to mention the breath-taking mountain views.
No longer just a winter resort that closes once the snow thaws, there are now many activities you can enjoy during the summer - making it perfect for couples who are looking for a vacation that offers them a variety of outdoor activities. Aside from the usual horseback riding, and kayaking that you will find at many other destinations, Whistler also offers you the unforgettable experience of bungee jumping or how about the romance of following a wagon trail? If you and your partner enjoy a round or two of golf, Whistler also has its own golfing facilities.
As the 2010 Olympic Games draw nearer, and even more so once they are finished, Whistler will be firmly on the map as a tourist destination, but for the moment it is one of the most romantic vacation areas for couples, especially during the more unpopulated off-season summer months. Whether you choose to take part in some of the many outdoor activities together, or just relax in the beautiful surroundings, the mountains of Whistler offer a chance for a romantic break at any time of year.
Plan a perfect romantic getaway to top romantic vacation destinations by shortlisting an itinerary ahead to prevent hassles.
Article by J. D. Arca.
About the Author
The author is a freelance writer based in Canada.
Accommodation is still quite limited in Whistler but as host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games there will be an increasing amount of hotels available. There are currently no large resorts in the area but a number of hotels are available. The weather in Whistler is cold in the winter which usually lasts from November to April but it's always warm in many spa facilities to be found in the pedestrian village and which offer everything from a massage to relax tired muscles to botox injections.
Whistler is a dream vacation for those who love the snow and want to find some winter romance. It's also a fabulous place for a honeymoon (you could even consider getting married there if the idea appeals to you!) - and celebrities are also starting to appreciate the seclusion of this unspoiled part of Canada. There are plenty of ski runs to cater for all abilities of course, but the fun doesn't end there. If it can be done on snow, it's probably going on in Whistler! There's ice climbing and snow mobiling for the more energetic, whilst the more leisurely tourist can enjoy such gentle activities as glacier tours - and what could be more romantic than snuggling up with your partner on a sleigh ride? Wildlife in British Columbia is abundant so if photography is a passion of you and your partner, then there are plenty of opportunities in Whistler - with the wild animals and flowers - and not to mention the breath-taking mountain views.
No longer just a winter resort that closes once the snow thaws, there are now many activities you can enjoy during the summer - making it perfect for couples who are looking for a vacation that offers them a variety of outdoor activities. Aside from the usual horseback riding, and kayaking that you will find at many other destinations, Whistler also offers you the unforgettable experience of bungee jumping or how about the romance of following a wagon trail? If you and your partner enjoy a round or two of golf, Whistler also has its own golfing facilities.
As the 2010 Olympic Games draw nearer, and even more so once they are finished, Whistler will be firmly on the map as a tourist destination, but for the moment it is one of the most romantic vacation areas for couples, especially during the more unpopulated off-season summer months. Whether you choose to take part in some of the many outdoor activities together, or just relax in the beautiful surroundings, the mountains of Whistler offer a chance for a romantic break at any time of year.
Plan a perfect romantic getaway to top romantic vacation destinations by shortlisting an itinerary ahead to prevent hassles.
Article by J. D. Arca.
About the Author
The author is a freelance writer based in Canada.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
2010 Winter Olympics by Doug King
I live here in Vancouver the site of the 2010 winter Olympics. I am totally excited about this fabulous sporting event. Providing the world stage for this amateur event is a huge accomplishment for the organizing committee. I just wish more people felt the same way.
The local media is of course all over this event and all the preparations that are going on to make it all come together. What I can't seem to get my head around is all the negativity that seems to be surrounding the coverage. Granted lots of money have to be spent to ramp up the facilities required to put the Olympics on. But the naysayers seem to be forgetting that not only is all this money being spent in the local economy stimulating many local businesses but we will also have all these venues left for future generations to enjoy. They won't go away after the two-week event. These facilities will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
I know that some of the previous Olympics have not been a smashing financial success. But I bet that very few of those host nations in the end regret having done all that they had to do to put on the show. The boost to the local economy and the dollars that follow no doubt made up for any front-end investment in the event. And let's not forget the Olympics are about the athletes not the opportunity to profit from the event.
Of course there are financial risks. Especially in these tough economic times. Isn't stimulus spending the order of the day though? It seems to me that the Olympics are the perfect place to stimulate our local economy. The Olympic village being built to house the athletes is an example of this. Due to the global credit crunch the city is being forced to underwrite the cost of construction. The media seems to think this a complete outrage. What they miss reporting on is these condo units are going to be for sale on the open market once the Olympics are done. In that neighborhood condos sell for an outrageously high amount of money. The city can't help but not only just make their money back but make a tidy profit as well.
I am confident that when the opening ceremonies start the detractors will be largely silenced. Pride in our hosting the Olympics will be overwhelming. I suspect even the media will be jumping on the bandwagon and be reporting on the amazing job that Vancouver and Whistler is doing putting on the games. Olympic fever will trump even cost concerns at least until the events are over.
No doubt on the day following the closing ceremonies the headlines will return to cost overruns and financial mismanagement. Even without any real possibility so soon of an accounting of all that happened. The true cost and revenue generated can't possibly be known for at least a few years following the event. Tourist numbers and dollars will likely grow for several years after.
Security is obviously a huge issue around these types of events and the cost is very high. I admit this might be turn out to be an outrageously high expense. It is a sad testament to the times we live in. But even with these added costs I am confident the games will be a success both financial and as an event that will put Vancouver on the map.
Having said all this I would still like to see the Olympic games brought back down to reality. Do we really need those opening and closing ceremonies that have become larger events then the athletic events themselves? The money and efforts they consume has risen to the point of being absurd. The Olympics is supposed to be an amateur sporting event not the commercial spectacle that it has become. I am certain the athletes would welcome the focus returning to the games and away from the circus it has become.
About the Author
I recently produced the feature film The Harvest Project, the tag line is " What would you do to save the life of someone you love". You can see more at http://wwwtheharvestprojectmovie.com
The local media is of course all over this event and all the preparations that are going on to make it all come together. What I can't seem to get my head around is all the negativity that seems to be surrounding the coverage. Granted lots of money have to be spent to ramp up the facilities required to put the Olympics on. But the naysayers seem to be forgetting that not only is all this money being spent in the local economy stimulating many local businesses but we will also have all these venues left for future generations to enjoy. They won't go away after the two-week event. These facilities will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
I know that some of the previous Olympics have not been a smashing financial success. But I bet that very few of those host nations in the end regret having done all that they had to do to put on the show. The boost to the local economy and the dollars that follow no doubt made up for any front-end investment in the event. And let's not forget the Olympics are about the athletes not the opportunity to profit from the event.
Of course there are financial risks. Especially in these tough economic times. Isn't stimulus spending the order of the day though? It seems to me that the Olympics are the perfect place to stimulate our local economy. The Olympic village being built to house the athletes is an example of this. Due to the global credit crunch the city is being forced to underwrite the cost of construction. The media seems to think this a complete outrage. What they miss reporting on is these condo units are going to be for sale on the open market once the Olympics are done. In that neighborhood condos sell for an outrageously high amount of money. The city can't help but not only just make their money back but make a tidy profit as well.
I am confident that when the opening ceremonies start the detractors will be largely silenced. Pride in our hosting the Olympics will be overwhelming. I suspect even the media will be jumping on the bandwagon and be reporting on the amazing job that Vancouver and Whistler is doing putting on the games. Olympic fever will trump even cost concerns at least until the events are over.
No doubt on the day following the closing ceremonies the headlines will return to cost overruns and financial mismanagement. Even without any real possibility so soon of an accounting of all that happened. The true cost and revenue generated can't possibly be known for at least a few years following the event. Tourist numbers and dollars will likely grow for several years after.
Security is obviously a huge issue around these types of events and the cost is very high. I admit this might be turn out to be an outrageously high expense. It is a sad testament to the times we live in. But even with these added costs I am confident the games will be a success both financial and as an event that will put Vancouver on the map.
Having said all this I would still like to see the Olympic games brought back down to reality. Do we really need those opening and closing ceremonies that have become larger events then the athletic events themselves? The money and efforts they consume has risen to the point of being absurd. The Olympics is supposed to be an amateur sporting event not the commercial spectacle that it has become. I am certain the athletes would welcome the focus returning to the games and away from the circus it has become.
About the Author
I recently produced the feature film The Harvest Project, the tag line is " What would you do to save the life of someone you love". You can see more at http://wwwtheharvestprojectmovie.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
Whistler Canada Turns The Snow Green by Paul Ashton
As autumn passes to winter it only takes a flurry of snow for skiers to drwam of days filled with downhill runs through ideal powder conditions followed by evenings in front of roaring fires with family and friends.
What could be better? How about a resort that takes environmental issues seriously without compromising what skiers love about their sport. In North America, dozens of resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, have already initiated major changes that will put the resorts on a renewable energy plan.
In the United States the Sustainable Slopes Annual Report notes that 68 resorts are now purchasing renewable energy. Among the resorts purchasing renewable energy are Killington Resort in Vermont, Oregon's Mt.Bachelor Resort and the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. Each of these resorts has set as their goals 100 percent renewable energy. In other words, they replace the energy used by their operations. Breckinridge in Colorado is purchasing wind energy, while Jiminy Peak in Western Massachusetts is the first North American resort to build its own wind turbines in order to supply their own energy.
Whistler Blackcomb in the Canadian Alps has been particularly aggressive in moving to 100 percent renewable energy. It is especially notable because Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America. Vail is half the size of Whistler in area.
Since 1997 Whistler ski resort and Blackcomb resort have gradually integrated their facilities. While the two mountains are connected at ground level, by the time this is published skiers will be able to traverse the mountains at the 6000 foot level. These and other improvements made by Intrawest, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, have made the ski resort one of the largest premier ski holiday destinations in North America.
Largely for this reason the Winter Olympics in 2010 will be held at Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler Mountain will host alpine skiing events as well as bobsled, luge, biathlon, cross country and ski jumping events. To facilitate the Olympic games Intrawest has invested over $600 million to improve the Sea to Sky highway drive from Vancouver to Whistler so that visitors will be able to reach the ski area in two hours. For Whistler Blackcomb enthusiasts the best news is that 90 percent of the area will remain open to skiers during the Olympics.
While all of these developments are good news for skiers, the decision to take Whistler Blackcomb green is like icing on the cake. Whistler committed to the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, and construction has already begun to bring it to fruition. The Hydro Project is a renewable energy project that will offset entirely the total annual energy consumption of the whole resort. With an anticipated production of 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydroelectricity each year, the Hydro Project will be able to power both the winter ski holiday and summer operations. That includes all 38 lifts as well as 269 snowguns, 17 restaurants and all the surrounding buildings and the services each provides.
Whistler Blackcomb has been vetting and planning this project for six years. The commitment of the operating management and the thorough and careful project assessment and planning helped to move things along quickly. But Whistler also has conditions conducive to a small hydroelectric plant. Fitzsimmons Creek has all the water necessary and its vertical drop is crucial. Fortunately, the creek is not a fish-bearing stream, nor is it used recreationally. The ski area has been using Fitzsimmons Creek for years as part of their snow-making operation. All of this helps to make the area ideal for the project development and for the greening of the entire ski area.
With its Hydro Project, Whistler Blackcomb joins other ski holiday resorts worldwide that have made the commitment to go green and reduce their carbon footprints. In the last year the number of ski resorts that have earned environmental management certification has increased by 75 percent.
Getting a certificate requires an extremely high standard of environmental management. Patrick Thorne, the author of the Green Resort Guide notes that he has been awarding more and more 5 star ratings to ski resorts committed to reducing the environmental impact of their operations.
Thorne also notes that just a few years ago any discussion about going green was met with a great deal of skepticism from ski resort owners and management. That attitude has almost entirely disappeared. Resorts are much more interested in knowing what they can do to preserve the ski resort environment. Global warming is encroaching upon all aspects of life, and ski resort managers are as aware of the rapid changes as anyone else.
Skiers have a lot of good reasons to look to Whistler Blackcomb and other green resorts for their ski holiday. Just as ski resort managers are paying attention to preserving the environment, so too are the skiers who visit those resorts. It is a good guess that besides assessing the usual enticements in deciding where to ski, asking how green the resort is will become more and more a routine consideration in that selection for the 2010 ski holiday season in Canada, the US, Europe and anywhere there's skiing.
About the Author
More details about ski holidays in Whistler and other ski holidays Canada information can be found at yourandorra.com/ski_canada
They also have for Europe Swiss ski details.
What could be better? How about a resort that takes environmental issues seriously without compromising what skiers love about their sport. In North America, dozens of resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, have already initiated major changes that will put the resorts on a renewable energy plan.
In the United States the Sustainable Slopes Annual Report notes that 68 resorts are now purchasing renewable energy. Among the resorts purchasing renewable energy are Killington Resort in Vermont, Oregon's Mt.Bachelor Resort and the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. Each of these resorts has set as their goals 100 percent renewable energy. In other words, they replace the energy used by their operations. Breckinridge in Colorado is purchasing wind energy, while Jiminy Peak in Western Massachusetts is the first North American resort to build its own wind turbines in order to supply their own energy.
Whistler Blackcomb in the Canadian Alps has been particularly aggressive in moving to 100 percent renewable energy. It is especially notable because Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America. Vail is half the size of Whistler in area.
Since 1997 Whistler ski resort and Blackcomb resort have gradually integrated their facilities. While the two mountains are connected at ground level, by the time this is published skiers will be able to traverse the mountains at the 6000 foot level. These and other improvements made by Intrawest, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, have made the ski resort one of the largest premier ski holiday destinations in North America.
Largely for this reason the Winter Olympics in 2010 will be held at Whistler Blackcomb. Whistler Mountain will host alpine skiing events as well as bobsled, luge, biathlon, cross country and ski jumping events. To facilitate the Olympic games Intrawest has invested over $600 million to improve the Sea to Sky highway drive from Vancouver to Whistler so that visitors will be able to reach the ski area in two hours. For Whistler Blackcomb enthusiasts the best news is that 90 percent of the area will remain open to skiers during the Olympics.
While all of these developments are good news for skiers, the decision to take Whistler Blackcomb green is like icing on the cake. Whistler committed to the Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project, and construction has already begun to bring it to fruition. The Hydro Project is a renewable energy project that will offset entirely the total annual energy consumption of the whole resort. With an anticipated production of 33.5 gigawatt hours of hydroelectricity each year, the Hydro Project will be able to power both the winter ski holiday and summer operations. That includes all 38 lifts as well as 269 snowguns, 17 restaurants and all the surrounding buildings and the services each provides.
Whistler Blackcomb has been vetting and planning this project for six years. The commitment of the operating management and the thorough and careful project assessment and planning helped to move things along quickly. But Whistler also has conditions conducive to a small hydroelectric plant. Fitzsimmons Creek has all the water necessary and its vertical drop is crucial. Fortunately, the creek is not a fish-bearing stream, nor is it used recreationally. The ski area has been using Fitzsimmons Creek for years as part of their snow-making operation. All of this helps to make the area ideal for the project development and for the greening of the entire ski area.
With its Hydro Project, Whistler Blackcomb joins other ski holiday resorts worldwide that have made the commitment to go green and reduce their carbon footprints. In the last year the number of ski resorts that have earned environmental management certification has increased by 75 percent.
Getting a certificate requires an extremely high standard of environmental management. Patrick Thorne, the author of the Green Resort Guide notes that he has been awarding more and more 5 star ratings to ski resorts committed to reducing the environmental impact of their operations.
Thorne also notes that just a few years ago any discussion about going green was met with a great deal of skepticism from ski resort owners and management. That attitude has almost entirely disappeared. Resorts are much more interested in knowing what they can do to preserve the ski resort environment. Global warming is encroaching upon all aspects of life, and ski resort managers are as aware of the rapid changes as anyone else.
Skiers have a lot of good reasons to look to Whistler Blackcomb and other green resorts for their ski holiday. Just as ski resort managers are paying attention to preserving the environment, so too are the skiers who visit those resorts. It is a good guess that besides assessing the usual enticements in deciding where to ski, asking how green the resort is will become more and more a routine consideration in that selection for the 2010 ski holiday season in Canada, the US, Europe and anywhere there's skiing.
About the Author
More details about ski holidays in Whistler and other ski holidays Canada information can be found at yourandorra.com/ski_canada
They also have for Europe Swiss ski details.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Paralympics Games. Special Sports for Very Special People by Joe and Irma Mac Millan
Paralympics games follow the Olympic Games by twelve days. After the 2010 Vancouver Olympics athletes are finished doing what they do best, Paralympics from all over the globe will converge on Vancouver and Whistler British Columbia to compete.
So just what are the games about?
What qualifies as a disability?
What sports may we expect?
Where will each sport venue be located?
Now take a look at these titles one by one to enable us to be better informed.
So just what are the games about?
The second world war had a profound effect on people of the world who lived through that terrible conflict. Millions of brave soldiers, sailors and airmen lost their lives in the quest to win freedom for the rest of us.
For every death, many more were wounded and a great number were disabled for life. Thousands were in wheelchairs. Countless numbers of these brave souls had lost limbs.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann was born in Poland in 1899. By 1939 he was a leading neurologist working at a Jewish hospital in the beautiful city of Breslau on the Oder river. He was forced to flee to England when the Germans invaded Poland.
He strongly believed that sport was a wonderful therapy for building physical strength and the well being of those who were severely injured. The British government founded the National Spinal Injuries Center in a city near London and asked him to be the director of the center.
He organized different games the disabled could play. Each year a few more athletes would enter the games by 1953 approximately 145 were entered.
The Olympics directors were beginning to take notice of these games and beginning in Rome in 1960 the Paralympics Games were held after the Olympic Games and it has been that way ever since. Guttmann was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his outstanding leadership. The Paralympics Winter Games were first held in Sweden in 1976 and have been a regular feature of the Olympic games format since the 1992 games in Albertville.
What qualifies as a disability?
There are six basic groups within the Paralympics qualification movement. Those are spinal cord injuries, visual impairment, amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and another group with disabilities that are outside the box and do not fit into any other category.
Each sport has its own classification rules. Athletes are governed by officials know as classifiers who will observe the athletes both in and out of their sport. If an athlete improves, he/she may be reclassified up or down. The system continues to evolve and is always open to review.
What sports may we expect?
There are four sports competitions for the 2010 Vancouver winter Paralympics.
Alpine Skiing.
With the invention of the Mono Ski the sport has gained popularity very quickly. Now disabled skiers who cannot stand are able to sit and with the special short crutches with skis attached they are able to steer and keep their balance.
Cross Country
With the Paralympics Games held at Ornskoldsvik Sweden in 1976 the sport of cross country skiing got its start. At first only the classic form was permitted. Now some 30 years later many changes have taken place opening the door to a great number of skiers with a variety of disabilities. Wheelchair Curling
The sport had its beginning at the Paralympics Winter Games in Torino Italy. Played very similar to regular curling except the athletes sit in wheelchairs, either propel the stones with only arm action or use a pusher called a cue, down the ice to the concentric rings. The task of pushing the stone is more demanding than regular curling because the athletes must play while the chair is stationary.
Ice Sledge Hockey
The exciting sport of Ice Sledge Hockey had its introduction at the 1994 Paralympics Games in the beautiful town of Lillehammer, Norway. The sledge is usually made of aluminum with two steel blades. The players carry two double ended sticks. These have a pick on one end and a curved blade which they use to shoot the puck. The pick allows the player to gain traction to propel their sledge along the ice.
Biathlon Skiing and Shooting
The main difference between Olympic Biathlon and Paralympics Biathlon is the shooting position. It's always from the prone position in the latter sport. The categories are the same as in Cross Country Skiing. The equipment for those skiers who have no use of their legs use an apparatus called a Sit-ski. This is a very demanding sport.
The 2010 Vancouver Paralympics Games promise to provide thrills to all of those who chose to attend. Will you be one of the lucky ones who do?
About the Author
Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website One couples guide to the exciting Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.
So just what are the games about?
What qualifies as a disability?
What sports may we expect?
Where will each sport venue be located?
Now take a look at these titles one by one to enable us to be better informed.
So just what are the games about?
The second world war had a profound effect on people of the world who lived through that terrible conflict. Millions of brave soldiers, sailors and airmen lost their lives in the quest to win freedom for the rest of us.
For every death, many more were wounded and a great number were disabled for life. Thousands were in wheelchairs. Countless numbers of these brave souls had lost limbs.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann was born in Poland in 1899. By 1939 he was a leading neurologist working at a Jewish hospital in the beautiful city of Breslau on the Oder river. He was forced to flee to England when the Germans invaded Poland.
He strongly believed that sport was a wonderful therapy for building physical strength and the well being of those who were severely injured. The British government founded the National Spinal Injuries Center in a city near London and asked him to be the director of the center.
He organized different games the disabled could play. Each year a few more athletes would enter the games by 1953 approximately 145 were entered.
The Olympics directors were beginning to take notice of these games and beginning in Rome in 1960 the Paralympics Games were held after the Olympic Games and it has been that way ever since. Guttmann was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his outstanding leadership. The Paralympics Winter Games were first held in Sweden in 1976 and have been a regular feature of the Olympic games format since the 1992 games in Albertville.
What qualifies as a disability?
There are six basic groups within the Paralympics qualification movement. Those are spinal cord injuries, visual impairment, amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and another group with disabilities that are outside the box and do not fit into any other category.
Each sport has its own classification rules. Athletes are governed by officials know as classifiers who will observe the athletes both in and out of their sport. If an athlete improves, he/she may be reclassified up or down. The system continues to evolve and is always open to review.
What sports may we expect?
There are four sports competitions for the 2010 Vancouver winter Paralympics.
Alpine Skiing.
With the invention of the Mono Ski the sport has gained popularity very quickly. Now disabled skiers who cannot stand are able to sit and with the special short crutches with skis attached they are able to steer and keep their balance.
Cross Country
With the Paralympics Games held at Ornskoldsvik Sweden in 1976 the sport of cross country skiing got its start. At first only the classic form was permitted. Now some 30 years later many changes have taken place opening the door to a great number of skiers with a variety of disabilities. Wheelchair Curling
The sport had its beginning at the Paralympics Winter Games in Torino Italy. Played very similar to regular curling except the athletes sit in wheelchairs, either propel the stones with only arm action or use a pusher called a cue, down the ice to the concentric rings. The task of pushing the stone is more demanding than regular curling because the athletes must play while the chair is stationary.
Ice Sledge Hockey
The exciting sport of Ice Sledge Hockey had its introduction at the 1994 Paralympics Games in the beautiful town of Lillehammer, Norway. The sledge is usually made of aluminum with two steel blades. The players carry two double ended sticks. These have a pick on one end and a curved blade which they use to shoot the puck. The pick allows the player to gain traction to propel their sledge along the ice.
Biathlon Skiing and Shooting
The main difference between Olympic Biathlon and Paralympics Biathlon is the shooting position. It's always from the prone position in the latter sport. The categories are the same as in Cross Country Skiing. The equipment for those skiers who have no use of their legs use an apparatus called a Sit-ski. This is a very demanding sport.
The 2010 Vancouver Paralympics Games promise to provide thrills to all of those who chose to attend. Will you be one of the lucky ones who do?
About the Author
Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website One couples guide to the exciting Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.
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