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Olympic Legacy

It’s been a year since the 2010 Winter Games invigorated Vancouver, but their spirit lives on

By Sheri Radford

The Richmond Olympic Oval. Photo by KK Law

Even though the 2010 Winter Games are long over, ways to relive the experience abound.

Visit the Olympic Cauldron downtown, which was lit on the opening night of the Games by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. A picturesque reflecting pool now surrounds the cauldron. It is situated next to the west building of the Vancouver Convention Centre, which was completed in time for the Games and was used throughout as the main media centre. This eco-friendly building and its green roof (complete with four beehives and a full-time beekeeper) have won several awards for design.

Hop on the Canada Line SkyTrain, which was also completed just prior to the Games and which whisks visitors from the airport to downtown in 26 minutes. While in Richmond, visit the Richmond Olympic Oval, where speed skaters competed during the Games. This stunning, environmentally friendly building now houses an array of fitness facilities.

Pull on a pair of Olympic red mittens. If yours have worn out—or you weren’t lucky enough to snag any during Games fever—pick up a similar pair of maple-leaf-adorned mittens at The Bay. Proceeds go to the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

Olympic Cauldron in Jack Poole Plaza. Photo by Sheri Radford

If you’re searching for the perfect Quatchi, Miga, Mukmuk or Sumi souvenir, you’ll find the mascots’ smiling faces in Gastown’s many souvenir shops. To complete your Olympic coin collection—or catch a glimpse of some Olympic medals—visit the Royal Canadian Mint pop-up shop downtown on Granville Street. It’s only here until the end of February, but don’t worry: line-ups are shorter than the eight-hour waits common during the Games.

Olympic fever in Vancouver? It still burns on.

Sport of the Day: Cross-Country Skiing

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK

Featured in the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924, cross-country (Nordic) skiing has been employed by humans for centuries. Winter Games events specify either classic or free technique, or a combination. With classic, skis remain parallel. With free, the skis are shorter and the edges of the skis are used to push off, resulting in a faster race. Events include individual, relay, sprint, pursuit and mass start.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Skeleton

Olympic mascots Miga and Quatchi. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

THE WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE

This sport appeared at the Winter Games in 1928 and 1948 but didn’t permanently join the roster until 2002. In skeleton (named after the small sled that resembles a human skeleton), the competitor grasps the sled, runs for about 50 m (164 ft), then dives on headfirst and hurtles down the icy track. Times are measured to the one-hundredth of a second.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Figure Skating

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

PACIFIC COLISEUM

Figure skating was initially at the Summer Games, in 1908 and 1920. It found a new home at the Winter Games in 1924. Events include singles, which involves a short program of required moves and a longer, more creative, free skating program; pairs, in which one male and one female work together in lifts, throws, jumps and spins; and ice dance, which is similar to ballroom dancing.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Snowboard Halfpipe

Olympic mascots Miga and Quatchi. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

CYPRESS MOUNTAIN

Snowboarding, which is exploding in popularity, is a relatively new sport that combines elements of three other popular sports: surfing, skateboarding and skiing. Snowboard halfpipe joined the Winter Games in 1998. The halfpipe is a human-constructed, U-shaped snow bowl. One competitor at a time performs tricks while riding from one side to the other in—and while in the air above—the halfpipe. Judges evaluate height and style.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Curling

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

VANCOUVER OLYMPIC CENTRE

Curling was featured at the 1924 Winter Games but didn’t appear again officially until 1998. In a game, two teams take turns pushing 19.1-kg (42-lb) stones made of granite towards the centre of a series of concentric circles. Competitors try to control the stone’s direction and speed by sweeping the ice in front of it. The winner is the team with the most stones closest to the centre.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Biathlon

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK

Debuting as an Olympic sport in 1960, biathlon has its origins in hunting and the military. Competitors alternate between completing a loop of a cross-country ski course and taking five shots at a metal target, also alternating between standing and lying down for each round of shooting. Events include individual, relay, sprint, pursuit and mass start.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Snowboard Cross

Olympic mascots Miga and Quatchi. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

CYPRESS MOUNTAIN

Also called boardercross, this sport is new to the Olympic roster: it was introduced at the 2006 Winter Games. Four riders at a time race down the course, which is covered with jumps, berms (walls of snow built up in corners) and other obstacles constructed out of snow. Only the fastest two snowboarders progress to the next round.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Luge

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

THE WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE

This sport made its Winter Games debut in 1964. In luge (French for “sled”), a slider sits on a sled, pushes off, lies back and races down the icy track, feet first. Speeds often top 140 km/h (87 mi/h) and the gravitational force can exceed 5G. Times are measured to the one-thousandth of a second. Events include singles and doubles.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Freestyle Skiing (Moguls)

Olympic mascots Miga and Quatchi. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

CYPRESS MOUNTAIN

Moguls officially debuted at the 1992 Winter Games. Both speed and technical proficiency are required to win at this sport. Skiers race down a slope and over a series of moguls (large bumps) spaced a few metres apart, completing two jumps along the way. An individual’s final score is based on both a comparison to the pace time for the course and the judges’ evaluation of the turns and jumps performed.—Sheri Radford

Sport of the Day: Ski Jumping

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK

Ski jumping has been part of every Winter Games. After skiing down a long ramp, a competitor jumps into the air, attaining a speed of up to 95 km/h (59 mi/h) while holding the skis in a V position. Judges evaluate distance and style. Events include individual normal hill, individual large hill and team large hill. The world’s best-known ski jumper is, perhaps, perpetual underdog Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards of Great Britain.—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: Meet Miga

Olympic mascot Miga is inspired by the First Nations legend of the sea bear, which is a hybrid of an orca (killer whale) and a bear. She’s a cutie who pursues an active lifestyle. In summer, Miga surfs off the west coast of Vancouver Island; in winter, she snowboards with a dream of one day landing a corked 720 in the halfpipe. This energetic creature gets her fuel from wild salmon, her favourite food—she’s partial to sushi, smoked salmon and salmon jerky.—Kristina Urquhart

15 Things We Love About Vancouver: February

1 The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. After years of preparation, the biggest party this city has ever seen is starting.

Olympic mascots Quatchi and Miga don their cheerful red mittens. Photo copyright VANOC/COVAN

2 Our cuddly Games mascots Quatchi and Miga, especially when they’re wearing their Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens.
3 The fact that it’s only a short car or bus ride from the beach to the snow-capped mountains. How many other cities can claim the same?
4 Walking along the shoreline in a pair of rubber boots.
5 The world’s largest Canadian flag, near the Olympic Countdown Clock.
6 Celebrity spotting. Rumour has it that supermodel Cindy Crawford, swimmer Michael Phelps, actor George Clooney and NASA astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan will all be in town during the 2010 Winter Games, as well as U.S. president Barack Obama.
7 Pedestrian corridors along parts of Robson, Granville, Beatty, Hamilton and Mainland streets.

The massive Canada flag behind the Olympic Countdown Clock is a perfect photo opportunity. Photo by KK Law

8 The large inukshuk that sits in English Bay.
9 The love and appreciation for all things local and sustainable, including food, drink and even clothing.
10 Skiing and snowboarding on local mountains.
11 Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.
12 Enjoying a hot drink while people-watching on South Granville, Robson Street or Granville Island.
13 The clean, crisp winter air.
14 Public art installations that make our city even more interesting than it already is.
15 Red and white everywhere. The Canadian Olympic Committee has invited local residents and businesses to proudly wear and display our national colours.