Paralympian Gary Cormack
at the Opening Celebrations
for the Vancouver
Olympic/Paralympic Centre
last month

March 12th Marks Start of Countdown Week to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

March 12, 2009 - On March 12th next year Vancouver will proudly host the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games at BC Place (see VANOC news release ) The Paralympic Winter Games are the ultimate international competition for world-class athletes with a disability. After the closing of the Olympic Winter Games in February, 650 of the world's best athletes from more than 40 countries will converge on Vancouver and Whistler to compete in five Paralympic Winter Sports, in six venues. The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have substantially "raised the bar" in preparation for next year's event. Here are but a few “firsts”:

• VANOC is the first Organizing Committee to include Paralympic in its name.
• Vancouver and Whistler are the first Host Cities to fly both the Olympic and Paralympic flags side by side (they also fly side by side in Victoria).
• VANOC is the first Organizing Committee to include Paralympic sports as part of its commemorative coin collection (ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling).
• Vancouver is the first Host City to have a countdown clock that includes a separate countdown to the Paralympics.
• Vancouver 2010 is the first Paralympic Winter Games to provide athlete subsidies (through the National Paralympic Committee).
• The Paralympic School Day pilot program (2007) features visits by Paralympic athletes to elementary schools and will run through 2009 with over 20,000 students participating.
• The new Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre which will host wheelchair curling has the largest capacity for a wheelchair curling event in Paralympic Games History.
• Accessibility has been incorporated into the planning and design of all new venues and upgrades to existing venues. This means that persons with a disability will be able to access all venues during and after the Games.

Add to the athletes the thousands of volunteers, media and spectators and next March is going to be an exciting time for our city. To mark the one year countdown, VANOC is hosting a celebration:

Thursday, March 12th
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Countdown Clock
Vancouver Art Gallery

Sumi, the Paralympic mascot, and Jim Armstrong 2008 Canadian champion (wheelchair curling) will be on hand for photos. Olympic video displays, cupcakes and other surprises will make for a lively celebration.

The public is welcome to drop by.

The Paralympic Winter Games include alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. One medal event, Mixed Gender Wheelchair Curling, with approximately 50 athletes representing 10 nations competing, will be held at the stunning, fully accessible Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre at Hillcrest Park that recently opened to rave reviews.

Hosting the Paralympic Games in our city carries special meaning for the Park Board, whose ongoing commitment is to inspire and support residents of all abilities in the pursuit of their sports and fitness goals and to provide parks and recreation services that are accessible to all.