Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games
Small Town Spirit. Big City Facilities. World-Class Exposure

Vancouver, Whistler and Canada are ready to welcome the world to one of the most exciting and inspiring celebrations of sport, culture and sustainability — the X Paralympic Winter Games — which will be held from March 12 to 21, 2010.

In collaboration with our Official Partners and Sponsors, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has spent more than seven years planning for both Games, and will deliver two of the most accessible and memorable Games experiences in history.

Here are some key dates:

Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Games will be held on March 12, 2010, at BC Place in Vancouver.

The Paralympic Closing Ceremony will be held on March 21, 2010, in Whistler, BC. Paralympic Victory Ceremonies will be presented in Whistler between 13 and 20 March, 2010.

Nightly medal presentations will celebrate the winners of the alpine and Nordic events, and will be followed by an evening concert.

The Paralympic Winter Games are the ultimate international competition for world-class athletes with a disability. Shortly after the closing of the Olympic Winter Games, 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.

Ice sledge hockey at UBC Thunderbird Arena
Competition Dates: March 13–14, 16–20

Wheelchair curling at Vancouver Paralympic Centre
Competition Dates: March 13 to 20

Alpine skiing at Whistler Creekside
Competition Dates: March 13–16, 18–21

Cross-country skiing at Whistler Paralympic Park
Competition Dates: March 14–15, 18, 20–21

Biathlon at Whistler Paralympic Park
Competition Dates: March 13, 17

Paralympic Winter Games tickets will go on sale on May 6, 2009. Check out the website for the full Competition Schedule.

As for transportation, British Columbia is home to many vibrant and active communities accessible to persons with a disability. Vancouver 2010 is committed to barrier-free access for persons with a disability in all areas of transportation during the Paralympic Winter Games. Vancouver is one of the most accessible cities in the world and a leader in providing progressive transportation systems for persons with a disability. Whistler is also very accessible and offers a wide range of accessible routes and adaptive services. All Games venues will be barrier-free, including the transport areas and loading zones.

The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad

The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad is a series of three festivals that take place before and during the Paralympic Winter Games, showcasing the finest in Canadian and international arts and culture. Launched in February 2008, Cultural Olympiad 2009 takes place from February 1 through March 21, 2009. Cultural Olympiad 2010 kicks off 60 days of celebration on January 22, continuing through March 21, 2010.