On February 12, the Olympic Cauldron will be lit in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games will begin, with Canada as the proud host of these international games. What distinct Canadian elements and personalities will be evident at these Games?
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Medals
Using West Coast aboriginal designs portraying the orca and the raven, the medals awarded to winning athletes at the February 2010 Olympics and Paralympics will be distinctly Canadian, and unique in the history of the Games. Designed by West Coast aboriginal artist Corinne Hunt, the medals were made in Canada’s Royal Mint, Ottawa.
The Vancouver 2010 Mascots
Meet the 3 distinctly Canadian mascots of the 2010 Winter Olympics: Miga, a sea bear, who loves to snowboard, Quatchi, a young sasquatch who loves to play hockey, and Sumi, an animal spirit of mountain forests of British Columbia. The 3 mascots are inspired by British Columbia’s unique mythology, legend and wildlife. Meet them in a video clip on the Vancouver 2010 web site.
The Vancouver 2010 Logo
The logo, or emblem, of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is the Ilanaaq, a contemporary interpretation of an inukshuk, designed by Vancouver artist Elena Rivera MacGregor. What is an inukshuk? One of the best explanations of this distinct northland feature (the word “inukshuk” means “likeness of a person” in the Inuktitut language) is provided by the above web site.
The Four Host First Nations 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion
Aboriginal culture is being highlighted at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and the four host First Nations of the Vancouver Games will have their own pavilion, complete with a traditional Coast Salish longhouse and lots of aboriginal talent … including Inuit throat singers and hoop dancers. Learn more about the four First Nations communities – the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and the Tsleil-Waututh – by visiting this web site.
Clara Hughes
The only Canadian athlete to win medals at both Winter and Summer Olympic Games (in speed skating and cycling), Clara Hughes will carry Canada’s flag in the official opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Over the years, she has also won many medals in Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and World Championship Games. Learn more about Canada’s Clara Hughes, a recipient of the Order of Canada, by visiting her official web site. .
Canadian Cross-Country Skier Brian McKeever
The story of visually-impaired skier Brian McKeever is one of inspiration and hope. The 30-year-old Canadian Paralympian has Stargardt’s Disease, an inherited condition of macular degeneration. Nevertheless, he is set to make history at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, as the first winter-sport athlete to compete in both an Olympic and a Paralympic Game.
Canadian Paralympics
In terms of Paralympic Games, Canada is the 4th most successful nation, having won a total of 1097 medals since 1968. Meet some of the athletes and sports included in the Paralympic Games on the Canadian Paralympic Committee web site.
In the 2010 Games, Canada will be defending its men’s sledge hockey Paralympic title. The team is being coached by Elmira native Jeff Snyder.
Vancouver 2010
Use this web site to find out about the various Olympic venues and events, including the medal ceremonies. Particularly handy for those attending the Olympics, the site provides information about getting around Vancouver, last-minute accommodations and free/low-cost things to see and do in the vicinity.
Canada’s Olympic Games History
20,000 images of Canadian athletes competing at winter and summer Olympic Games from 1904 to 2004 are available on the Library and Archives Canada website, searchable by athlete, sport, medal or Olympic year. Also available: educational resources and a 6-page essay about the history of Canada’s Olympic teams.
CBC Coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games
The CBC, a Canadian “institution”, will be providing extensive coverage of the Vancouver Winter Game. Also, you can visit www.olympics.ca (web site of the Canadian Olympic Committee) to read the latest news about Canada’s Olympic athletes and teams.
