ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships start today at the Pacific Coliseum, tickets still available

VANOC continues to test its operational readiness for the 2010 Winter Games

VANCOUVER, BC– As the world’s best figure skaters jump and spin for glory this week at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, local spectators will get a chance to see many 2010 hopefuls compete in one of the most popular events at an Olympic Games. The week-long event will also give the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) an opportunity to test its operational readiness for figure skating at the Pacific Coliseum. 

The single, pairs and ice dance competitions, being held February 2 to 8, are part of the International Skating Union’s (ISU) 2008-09 season and will feature Vancouver 2010 Olympic medal hopefuls. Over 100 athletes from 15 countries such as Australia, Uzbekistan, China, Mexico, South Africa, the United States and Canada will compete in Vancouver. Spectators will have the chance to experience the improvements made to the Pacific Coliseum for the 2010 Winter Games and learn more about some of the figure skaters that are sure to thrill Canadians and the world in just over a year.

The international competition is one of 18 Sport Events in 2008-09 taking place at the 2010 Winter Games competition venues. The events provide the Organizing Committee with the opportunity to test Games-time operations and train potential 2010 volunteers. Since January 16, 2009, VANOC has tested its operational readiness in biathlon, cross-country skiing and Nordic combined in World Cups at Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park. VANOC will also be testing at the freestyle skiing Sport Event at Cypress Mountain, and bobsleigh and skeleton Sport Events at The Whistler Sliding Centre, all taking place from February 5 to 7.

The Pacific Coliseum has already undergone a number of improvements in advance of the 2010 Winter Games including the replacement of nearly 16,000 seats, expansion of the ice surface to international size and upgrades to the washroom facilities, building heating, lighting and dehumidification systems.

VANOC’s testing at the figure skating Sport Event will focus primarily on two areas: athletes’ competition areas (the field of play) and overall venue operations.

Field of Play

Grooming and ice preparation will be tested at the Pacific Coliseum. Awards presentations and athlete and team service levels will also be tested.

Ice and Judges Platform

Athlete on-off ice flow and access on the non-international-sized ice will be examined. The judging platform (which will also double as the timing and scoring platform in 2010 when the building shares figure skating and short track speed skating events) will be in its Games-time layout. Nine judges will sit on the platform, along with five individuals on the technical panel. The platform will also feature three broadcast camera positions and commentary points. There will be 10 other broadcast camera positions on the field of play.

Panasonic Sound System

The event’s sound system will be tested at a Games-time level. The installation of speakers, equipment set-up and testing of the acoustics in the venue space are among the areas to be tested.

Timing and Scoring

Timing and scoring will be run to corroborate results. VANOC will test the speed and dissemination of competition results to appropriate functions as well as with the integrity of the technology and staffing in place. The Olympic venue results system will be used, which involves the installation of results infrastructure such as scoreboards and video boards. With the inclusion of short track speed skating at the venue in 2010, there will be double the amount of equipment at Games-time.

Venue Operations

Workforce

Approximately 448 volunteers and workforce (340 volunteers, 108 paid staff) will participate at the figure skating Sport Event. Additionally, 606 contractors (such as ice meisters, lighting and technology workers, food and beverage, existing venue staff) will be employed, along with 62 participants such as flower retrievers and ice patchers.

Accreditation

Working in conjunction with Skate Canada, and under the approval of the ISU, accreditation for the event will be conducted at a Games-time level. Full information on accredited individuals (for example, passport or driver’s licence, and picture identification on passes) will be used. Volunteer accreditation will use Games-time data capture processes, and will be a centralized process through the accreditation team at the Uniform and Accreditation Centre Vancouver (UAV). As per the International Olympic Committee’s rules and regulations, there will be Games-time levels of access control and zoning at the venue.

Press Operations

VANOC’s Press Operations team will run the Venue Media Centre, manage photo positions, test media access control processes and operate the athlete mixed zone where accredited media gather to interview athletes.

Olympic News Service

The Olympic News Service (ONS)is responsible for providing Games-time news and information services to the media. ONS operates in a similar manner to a wire service, and at the figure skating Sport Event will be testing a range of staffing positions including a central editorial team and venue-based reporting team. ONS will also produce Games-time outputs for distribution to the media through the venue media centre. These outputs include sport previews and reviews, event previews and reviews, flash quotes, news conference highlights and media communications.

Spectators

Spectators will be seated in the lower bowl (approximately 5,000 seats). Once sold out, the upper bowl will open.

Medical Services

The Medical Services team will be comprised of two venue medical officers, 12 therapists and six physicians. The electronic medical encounter system — a database application of athlete medical records — will be tested. Equipment and pharmaceutical supplies will also be monitored to examine usage patterns.

Anti-Doping

Under the direction and authority of the ISU, VANOC anti-doping personnel will conduct doping controls, including the collection of urine samples. VANOC will also work with the ISU to showcase its athlete outreach booth designed to educate and inform athletes about anti-doping rules and procedures. Two paid staff will work the event, along with 25 chaperones and six doping control officers (DCOs).

The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, which is responsible for the planning and implementation of Games security, will be testing some services at this event. Participation from spectators will be voluntary.

The team will test vehicle screening (flow rates, size of space needed, internal layout of the area needed), as well as pedestrian screening (space needed, flow rates, and magnetometer and X-ray placement at Games time).

For more information on the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and how to purchase tickets, visit www.fourcontinents2009.com.

For more information on the remaining Sport Events taking place from February to September 2009, including how to purchase tickets, visit www.vancouver2010.com. Remaining sport events include:

FIS Snowboard World Cup
Date: February 12-15, 2009
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

FIL Luge World Cup
Date: February 16-21, 2009
Location: The Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler

WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championship
Date: February 21-28, 2009
Location: Vancouver Paralympic Centre (Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park), Vancouver

Hockey Canada Cup – Sledge Hockey
Date: February 24-March 1, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver

IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final
Date: March 4-7, 2009
Location: Whistler Olympic Park, Whistler

World Junior Curling Championships
Date: March 5-15, 2009
Location: Vancouver Olympic Centre (Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park), Vancouver

IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals
Date: March 9-14, 2009
Location: Whistler Creekside, Whistler

IBU Biathlon World Cup
Date: March 11-15, 2009
Location: Whistler Olympic Park

ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships
Date: March 12-15, 2009
Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

Hockey Canada Cup – Women’s Hockey
Date: August 31-September 6, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena and Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver

About VANOC

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. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Contact
VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com