Vancouver Island and The 2010 Olympics.

So, the Olympics (Winter) are coming to Vancouver. Here are some interesting stats on previous Olympics. This was found HERE.


Olympics have been known to greatly increase tourism, and this won't be any different with a city that already has great interest world wide.


Calgary 1988
  • During Calgary's Olympic year, tourism grew by 12 per cent, augmented by an average annual growth of 3.25 per cent in the five years following the Olympics.
Sydney 2000
  • Sydney had 1.6 million additional visitors in the year following its 2000 Games.
  • Sydney saw $6 billion of worldwide media exposure as a result of the Games.
Salt Lake City 2002
  • 9,000 International Olympic Committee (IOC) accredited media attended the Salt Lake City Games, while an additional 1,600 non-accredited media were in Park City for the Games.
Vancouver-Whistler 2010
  • Number of visitors expected during the Games is 17,000 per day in Whistler.
  • NBC will pay $820 million for the U.S. television rights for the 2010 Winter Games. The IOC told Bid cities to estimate 49 percent of all television contracts for the 2010 Olympics in their budgets, currently estimated at $400 million US. This amount supersedes the $348 million estimated in budgets prepared by Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation.
Other numbers
  • Number of rooms required for media and broadcasters in Vancouver and Whistler: 9,000.
  • Amount of federal/provincial Endowment Fund contribution to support ongoing operations of Olympic Venues after the Games have ended: $71 million.
  • Number of countries expected to participate in 2010 Paralympic Games: 40; number of athletes: 700.
  • Number of passenger ferries that would transport people from Richmond and Canada Place to Squamish during the Olympics: 16. Number of buses operating daily between Vancouver and Whistler: 900.
  • Amount spectators will pay for event tickets: $19 to $710; number of tickets available: 1.8 million.
Vancouver Island is just a short ferry ride away from Vancouver, more laid-back, more in-tune with nature and more enticing for older folks who are looking to retire without having to pay 1 million for a condo. The Swedish nordic ski team has expressed interest in using the Mount Washington site for training. Booths will be set up at the Olympics highlighting and educating the public on the beauty that is Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island will benefit greatly from this opportunity and hopefully people find out how great our little island really is.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vancouver Islanders love Lucky Lager

Image
If you were born on Vancouver Island you probably know of the beer Lucky Lager (perhaps more than others!). Here are some interesting (and SURPRISING) facts on Lucky Lager! It was originally made by General Brewing Company, located in San Francisco, California (in 1934) This company become the Lucky Lager Brewing Company in 1948. Historically, all the breweries for Lucky Lager have been in the U.S It is only available in selected areas. This includes most of Southern British Columbia It has an extremely dedicated following on Vancouver Island - notably, Ucluelet, Chemainus, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alberni and Sooke. (I can vouche for Ladysmith and Nanaimo being included in this list also) Cumberland B.C was named by Labatt Brewing Company the "Luckiest Town in Canada" in 2002 due to it's amazing consumption! You can read the entire Wiki article HERE
Read more

Prawning in Nanaimo

Image
Between Piper's Lagoon and Neck Point Park in Nanaimo   Since prawning is open year round (in most areas always check the BC Sport Fishing Guide to learn of possible closures in your area) my dad and I decided to brave the unpredictable winter weather and head out just off of Neck Point Park to drop some prawn traps.   There are actually 6 species of shrimp/prawns that thrive off the British Columbia coast, but we were after the largest of the species; the local spot prawn. Large females can exceed 23 cm in total length! You can tell a spot prawn by 3 distinct white horizontal bars on their head area and two white spots on their first and fifth abdominal segment. Prawns are male in their second and third year, then becomes female in the third or fourth year, eggs can be found on the underside of their abdomen Oct - March. For conservation purposes it is suggested that these egg bearing prawns be returned to the ocean.   the local spot prawn with it's distinct
Read more

Vancouver Island Hiking: Harewood Plains, Nanaimo

Image
The Harewood Plains in Nanaimo B.C is home to second growth forest and open meadows and highlights an amazing view of south Nanaimo. It is bordered by Harewood Mines Road, 10th St and McKeown in Chase River. It can be accessed via Harewood Mines road just past Rimrock Trail, or at the end of McKeown Way the first right off of Chase River road past the elementary school. MAP The Harewood Plains area is privately owned by stakeholders Island Timberlands and the BC Transmission Corporation (they maintain the transmission lines throughout this area). The area contains some rare plants, 10 rare plant species that are considered endangered or threatened. One extremely rare plant called the meadow bird's foot trefoil (Lotus pinnatus), is only found on the Harewood Plains and in a small area in Duncan. This area is unprotected and at risk for being destroyed by motorized vehicles and people walking off-trail. It is important to respect the land and stay on designated trails. We entered
Read more