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Community Engagement

For the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to be truly extraordinary, the Whistler community must be highly engaged. Involving the community is something that is being integrated into many areas of Games planning and execution.

Through countdown celebrations, volunteer programs, information sessions and outreach, or involvement in the Master Planning Program, community engagement takes various forms and involves many groups.

For many residents, engagement began well before the Games, with programs like the 2010 Legacies Now ActNow health promotion program, volunteer opportunities with sport events leading up to the Games, and the venue tour program launched in the summer of 2008.

Programs for Whistler residents include a ticket packaging program for Games events and a program for 15- to 19-year-old students to get involved in the Games. A Winter Games Resident Guide will provide information about Games-time activities, programming and scheduling.

The 2010 Information Centre in Whistler Village has been the hub of Games information, events and volunteerism – residents and visitors are encouraged to stop by with all Games inquiries.

Community engagement also includes use and enjoyment of Games venues.

Whistler Olympic Park
Whistler Olympic Park opened in December 2007, with trails for skiers of all ages and skill levels, and amenities including cross-country ski rentals, lessons, and food concession. Located in the Callaghan Valley, 20 kilometres south of Whistler Village, Whistler Olympic Park will host the biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping events during the 2010 Winter Games.

The venue's compact, two-square-kilometre Olympic Games core area includes three stadiums and 14 kilometres of competition trails. Also in the core area is Canada's first Paralympic competition course, giving athletes with physical disabilities a world-class competition venue. Surrounding the core facility are another 25 kilometres of recreational trails and the two Olympic ski jumps.

In its first winter season, the park had 32,000 skier visits and attracted between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators to 11 events, including the Nordic

Combined North American Junior Championships and the Canadian National Ski Jumping Championships. As well, about 100 local and visiting organizations have used the park for group events.

Key Deliverables

Games Resident Guide
Resident Communication Plan
Mountain Ticket Program
ActNow Participation

Paralympic Games School
Attendance Program
Venue Tour Program
Torch Relay

EXPERIENCE THE NEW WHISTLER VENUES

The 2010 Winter Games were the first ever to have all mountain competition venues completed two full years before the event. This allows for a long season of pre-Games international sport events for the athletes, and a chance for the community to participate as spectators and volunteers, to tour the venues and to get to know the sports.

Whistler Creekside
World Cup Alpine Skiing – February 2008
IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals – March 2009

Whistler Olympic Park
Whistler Olympic Park opened for public Nordic skiing and sport events in December 2007 and averaged 5,000 visitors per month; and it opened for summer tours in July 2008.
FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup – January 2009
FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – January 2009
FIS Ski Jumping World Cup – January 2009
IBU Biathlon World Cup – March 2009
IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country World Cup – March 2009

The Whistler Sliding Centre
The Whistler Sliding Centre opened for summer tours in July 2008.
FIBT Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup – February 2009
FIL Luge World Cup – February 2009