2010 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey tournaments to be played on North American size ice surfaces

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced today that the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be played on North American size ice surfaces rather than converting to international size, resulting in increased ticket availability, reduced costs and in keeping with VANOC’s sustainability goals.

Using North American size ice surfaces rather than converting to international configurations will allow for approximately 350 to 800 additional spectators to enjoy each game live or approximately 35,000 additional tournament tickets, while also achieving approximately $10 million in capital cost savings which will be allocated to the contingency funding in VANOC’s overall $580 million venue construction budget. VANOC’s sustainability goals will also be met by reducing the intrusive pre-Games and post-Games conversions, construction and alterations to Vancouver’s world class hockey facilities.

The recommendation by VANOC to use North American size ice at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games was discussed by the participating nations and the IIHF Council during the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia in May.

“Using existing hockey surfaces for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will not only achieve major reductions in conversion complexity and capital costs, but hockey fans will have access to hundreds of additional tickets for each game,” said VANOC CEO John Furlong. “We are committed to staging sustainable Games in 2010 that minimize disruption and unnecessary renovations and this decision is a significant step towards our goal. We have also committed to finding innovative solutions to keeping our venue program costs in check and this decision is an excellent example of how we are addressing that commitment. "

“With the new rules and their strict enforcement by the referees, we know that the players will be given adequate space and an environment where they can excel,” added René Fasel. "With the majority of the players now playing in North America, the transition to the Olympic Games will be seamless and should result in excellent hockey.”

Retaining existing ice sizes for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will reduce costs and contribute to sustainability by eliminating the need to remove seats, blast through existing concrete, adjust internal ice plants and alter the configuration of the boards and glass in the arenas. Reducing construction scope will also increase arena availability for Sport Events and guarantee quality ice conditions by eliminating the conversion of in-arena ice plants.

Approximately 53 percent of the men’s hockey players who competed in the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games played on North American size rinks during their regular seasons while approximately 47 percent competed in European leagues. The international women’s game has largely been played on North American size ice with five of nine women’s world championships on the smaller surface between 1990 and 2006. The 2007 women’s world championship will be held in Winnipeg, MB.

North American size ice measures 60 meters by 26 metres (200 feet by 85 feet) while international ice measures 60 metres by 30 metres (200 feet by 98.5 feet). Plans for international size ice at the Pacific Coliseum and practice facilities for figure skating and short track speed skating have not changed.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

Major International hockey events held on North American size ice:

Women’s IIHF World Championships

Men’s International Tournaments

The 1972 Summit Series, 1974 Summit Series (WHA), 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups,1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey (not official IIHF events)

World IIHF Under-20 Junior Championships

Media Contacts

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com

Szymon Szemberg
IIHF Media Relations Manager
Tel: 41.44.562.2275
szemberg@iihf.com