2010 Paralympic Games

This exciting event will be held on 12 to 21 March 2010. The impressive Opening Ceremony is sure to enthral spectators, young and old alike. It will be held in the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. Canada has hosted the Paralympics before, in the summer of 1976, and seeks to establish its reputation as a superior Host City, however specialised the requirements.
 
This event, as with the Olympic Games, gives Vancouver, and Canada as a whole, the prime opportunity to showcase their amenities, hospitality and world-class status as the Host City of such significant events and as a destination for commercial and leisure pursuits.
 
There will be five different sports on the programme of the 2010 Winter Paralympics. These are 1) Sledge Hockey, 2) Cross-Country Skiing, 3) Alpine Skiing, 4) Wheelchair Curling and 5) a Biathlon. There are specific criteria that are used to define the qualification of the athletes for them to be deemed disabled. Different levels of disability predict which athletes are allocated where.
 
The venues in which the events will be held include the UBC Sports Centre, the Vancouver Olympic / Paralympic Centre, Whistler Creekside and Whistler Paralympic Park. Each of these had been selected for their capacity as well as for their suitability to host events requiring special adaptations for the athletes. Of course, both the Olympic and the Paralympic venues need to be equipped to accommodate disabled spectators as well, and care has been taken to ensure that these are as accessible and convenient as possible. The Main Media Centre, Whistler Media Centre and Whistler Olympic Celebration Plaza are among the venues that will be used for media conferences and other non-sporting events.
 
The mascot for the 2010 Winter Paralympics is called Sumi. This figure is a guardian spirit with powerful wings and a Black Bear's strong legs and promises strength and guidance to each of the sportsmen and -women involved in the events.
 
Vancouver has been preparing for this event in an effort to ensure that both locals and visitors to Canada are catered for in the best way possible. With a host of activities and local attractions apart from the excitement of the games, Vancouver will prove to be the ideal destination for tourists, families, and local residents alike. Its proximity to the United States of America also means that travellers will have access to further destinations at lower travel costs, enabling an all-round touring experience. In addition, an increased number of American residents will be able to attend the Olympics and Paralympics more conveniently and cost-effectively. All of these factors combine to present Vancouver as the exciting and well-equipped Host City for the 2010 Winter Paralympics.