Whistler
Friday, March 12th, 2010
See Sumi out and about during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, on from Mar. 12 to 21
With a name that derives from a Salish word meaning “guardian spirit,” it’s no wonder Sumi, the mascot for the Paralympic Games, takes on the role of protector. This little character has big shoes to fill: he’s an animal spirit who walks with the sturdy legs of a bear, possesses the powerful wings of the mythical thunderbird and wears the hat of the orca, known to First Nations as the keeper of the sea. Outfitted in fern green, his favourite colour, Sumi spends time skiing and flying above the mountains in Whistler, where he makes his home.—Kristina Urquhart
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, first nations, Paralympic Games, Paralympic mascot, Salish, spirit, Sumi, Vancouver, Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Vancouver 2010 Coca-Cola Pin. $10.
Available at The Olympic Store or The Bay.
Olympic Moments Coin by Royal Canadian Mint.
In circulation. www.mint.ca
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Coca-Cola, coins, Olympic souvenirs, pins, quarters, Royal Canadian Mint, souvenirs, The Bay, The Olympic Store, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, cross-country skiing, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri, Vancouver, Whistler, Whistler Olympic Park | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
O Canada: our true and patriot love. Photo copyright Elenathewise/Fotolia.com
33,700,000 Population of Canada.
2 Canada is the second biggest country in the world, at 9,984,670 sq km (3,855,100 sq mi); Russia is the largest.
13 Number of Canadian provinces and territories.
6,416 Length in km of Canada-United States border (3,987 mi).
1867 The year colonies joined together to form Canada.
2 Number of official languages (English and French).
1980 “O Canada” was declared the official national anthem only 30 years ago.
3 The third time Canada has hosted the Olympic Games (Montreal in ’76, Calgary in ’88 and Vancouver in ’10).—Jennifer Patterson
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Calgary, Calgary 1988 Winter Games, Canada, Confederation, Hot Essentials, Jennifer Patterson, Montreal, Montreal 1976 Summer Games, national anthem, O Canada, official language, population, statistics, Vancouver | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, skeleton, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler, Whistler Sliding Centre | No Comments »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Team Canada Replica Jersey. $135.
Available at The Olympic Store or The Bay.
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, hockey jersey, jersey, Olympic souvenirs, souvenirs, Team Canada, The Bay, The Olympic Store, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, figure skating, ice dancing, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Pacific Coliseum, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Cypress Mountain, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, snowboard halfpipe, snowboarding, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Rogers' Chocolates Ice Wine Truffles, 230 g. $20.99.
Available at Rogers’ Chocolates.
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, chocolate, Olympic souvenirs, Rogers' Chocolates, souvenirs, truffles, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, curling, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre, Whistler | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, biathlon, cross-country skiing, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler, Whistler Olympic Park | No Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Cypress Mountain, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, snowboard cross, snowboarding, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler | 1 Comment »
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Vancouver 2010 Silver-plated Business Card Case by Birks. $125.
Available at The Olympic Store and The Bay.
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Birks, card case, Olympic souvenirs, souvenirs, The Bay, The Olympic Store, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, luge, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, Vancouver, Whistler, Whistler Sliding Centre | No Comments »
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Vancouver 2010 Torch Replica by Birks. $295.
Available at The Olympic Store and The Bay.
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Birks, Olympic souvenirs, Olympic Torch Relay, souvenirs, The Bay, The Olympic Store, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, Cypress Mountain, freestyle skiing, mascots, Miga, moguls, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler | No Comments »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
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
| Tags: 2010 Winter Games, mascots, Miga, Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sheri Radford, ski jumping, sport of the day, Sports, Vancouver, Whistler, Whistler Olympic Park | No Comments »
