VANOC to conduct operational testing at Whistler competition venues during trio of Nordic and alpine sport events over next two weeks

Vancouver, BC – The final testing of Whistler venues built for the 2010 Winter Games will be conducted over the next two weeks during sport events for able-bodied biathlon and three Paralympic competitions: biathlon, cross-country and alpine skiing. All events are free and open to the public.

From March 4 to15, more than 400 athletes from 30 countries will take to the dizzying downhill runs of Whistler Creekside and the rolling cross-country trails of Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park for the three sport events.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Biathlon and Cross-Country World Cup started Wednesday and runs through Saturday. From March 9 to 14, the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals will take place at Whistler Creekside — the first time the alpine venue has been tested for a Paralympic event. And from March 11 to 15, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Biathlon World Cup will see spectators and athletes alike return to Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park.

“The next two weeks will wrap up a solid winter season of testing at our venues,” said Dick Vollet, vice-president, mountain operations, sport and Games operations forthe Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Our venue teams have worked hard and we are ready for the world’s best to test our venues. With the one-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games just days away, we are thrilled to be able to showcase the incredible achievements of Paralympic athletes to spectators, media and our own workforce.”

The events mark the final opportunity for VANOC to test its operational readiness at Whistler competition venues during international competitions. To date, VANOC has tested seven venues during 12 sport events — providing an unprecedented opportunity for Olympic and Paralympic medal hopefuls to gain experience at the same venues to be used at Games time.

VANOC’s testing at Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park and Whistler Creekside will focus primarily on field of play and overall venue operations.

Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park

The Paralympic biathlon and cross-country sport event, from March 4 to 7, will host more than120 athletes from 19 countries. In Paralympic cross-country skiing and biathlon, athletes are categorized as standing, sit-ski or visually impaired and compete against athletes with a similar disability. Visually impaired skiers use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers but ski with a guide. Standing skiers are skiers with a locomotive disability and are able to use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers. Sit-skiers usually have no use of their legs (paraplegic) and use a sit-ski (a specially built chair, called a sledge, attached to a pair of skis).

In biathlon, visually impaired athletes shoot with electronic rifles that allow them to aim by sound while standing and sit-ski biathletes use air rifles.

The IBU biathlon sport event, taking place from March 11 to 15, will host more than 200 athletes from over 30 countries. The event will be broadcast live to over 20 million viewers a day in Europe, where biathlon boasts one of the largest TV audiences of any winter sport.

Field of Play

Grooming and technical standards of preparation for both the Olympic biathlon and Paralympic cross-country and biathlon competition courses will be tested. Snow-clearing procedures, awards presentations and athlete and team service levels for both events will also be examined.

VANOC will also test the state-of-the-art shooting range for biathlon, as well as the temporary air and laser rifle range for Paralympic biathlon. This will be the first time the Paralympic range will be tested during a World Cup. 

The Paralympic range involves the construction of a range and a range wall, as well as associated temporary infrastructure. This range has 24 lanes and is divided into two halves: 12 lanes for a visually impaired shooting system (using special infrared rifles aimed by sound using headsets) and 12 lanes for air rifle used by standing and sitting athletes (pellets are fired at a mechanical target). In the Paralympic biathlon range, targets are 10 metres away.

The shooting range for able-bodied biathletes has 30 lanes with an electronic target system. This system can detect the precise time and location of every bullet fired. Targets are 50 metres away. Biathletes shoot standing up or prone.

Venue Operations

The venue will be fully accessible for spectators and athletes, with drop-off and loading locations less than 100 metres from the athletes’ compound and the spectator accessible viewing platform. There will also be assistance/guide dog relief areas, accessible parking and restrooms, as well as wheelchair access throughout the venue.

A workforce of approximately 480 (IPC) and 550 (IBU) consisting of technical sport volunteers and event services personnel, along with other groups including food and beverage services, snow clearing and cleaning, ski patrollers, sport production, transport and parking staff will take part in the events.

During the IBU biathlon sport event, the venue will also test Olympic camera locations for broadcast and media services.

Whistler Creekside

The Paralympic alpine sport event taking place from March 9 to 14, will host more than 100 athletes from 21 countries. There are five Paralympic alpine events: downhill, super-G, super combined, giant slalom, and slalom. The Paralympic competition accommodates male and female athletes with a disability in three categories: standing, sitting and visually impaired.

Field of Play

This competition will mark the first test of the Paralympic competition course Franz’s Run. Slope profiles will be tested as athletes with a disability have slightly different requirements to ensure equality for all classifications.

The timing and results team, including a team from Omega, will test their operations at a Games-time level for precision and speed, using wired cables installed in the venue in 2007 with full redundancy to ensure backup systems are in place. Over 2,600 results reports will be generated during the competition.

Venue Operations

VANOC will be testing the venue team, which will include a workforce of approximately 420 (including around 340 volunteers).

In keeping with previous sport events, VANOC will test its timing, scoring and results, medical services and sport production functions at both Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park and Whistler Creekside during all three sport events.

For more information on these World Cups, please visit: www.paralympic.org and www.biathlonworld.com.

For more information on sport events taking place from March to September 2009, including how to purchase tickets, please visit www.vancouver2010.com. Remaining sport events include:

World Junior Curling Championships
Date: March 5–15, 2009
Location: Vancouver Olympic Centre, Vancouver

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 to 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