Whistler
There’s an Olympic-sized list of ways Lower Mainlanders can celebrate the one-year countdown to our 2010 Games.
The day kicks off early in Whistler Village Square for the unveiling of the Olympic Torch design and torchbearer uniform at 8 a.m.
The family-oriented event will will be attended by Premier Gordon Campbell, IOC president Jacques Rogge and VANOC CEO John Furlong, and will feature fireworks, fire spinners and a cameo by the Olympic mascots.
The party continues that evening with a free concert in Whistler Village Square at 4:40, with performances by Wil Mimnaugh and The Paperboys.
Vancouver
It’ll be the battle of the mascots in the morning as VANOC’s Sumi, Quatchi and Miga take on the Canucks’ Fin and Mayor Gregor Robertson for a game of floor hockey at Lord Strathcona Elementary School.
At 11:30 a.m., Premier Gordon Campbell and the students at Elsie Roy School in Yaletown will announce the Adopt A Country program, which gives school children from across B.C. a chance to celebrate the Games.
Students from London, England will also be passing on a special message.
The Vancouver Board of Trade and Council of Tourism Association will hold a countdown luncheon at 12:45 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel to discuss tourism opportunities.
More than 50 athletes will be honoured at the 2009 Premier’s Athletic Awards at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver at 2 p.m.
The province of British Columbia’s official countdown to 2010 ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. at the Richmond Oval.
The ceremony will include performances by more than 200 schoolchildren from across B.C.
Sarah McLachlan will be performing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at 7:30 p.m. for a countdown concert as part of the Cultural Olympiad program.
Halifax rocker Joel Plaskett, violinist Adrian Anantawan and the Alberta Ballet will also be performing.
Transit Systems
TransLink
is encouraging SkyTrain
commuters to make as
much noise as they can at
6 p.m. to mark the exact
moment the Olympic
Torch will be lit one year
from today.
A pre-recorded announcement
will remind
people to take part.
All West Coast Express
trains will blow their whistles
and SeaBuses will blast
their horns at 6 p.m.
Starting today, the destination
signs on all Coast
Mountain buses will alternate
with the words,
Countdown 2 Gold. As the
year progresses, the messages
Go Team Canada and
Go Canada Go will also be
displayed.
