Alberta's Involvement in the Games


The global spotlight shines on Vancouver, but the glow reaches across our country. Alberta is capitalizing on opportunities to invest in our future, while celebrating excellence in sport, culture and the arts.

Alberta's Focus

Alberta was immensely proud to take part in this global celebration. Our focus was to:
  • Celebrate excellence in sport
  • Showcase our arts and culture
  • Pursue development opportunities for business and tourism
  • Instill pride of place in all Albertans

Quick Fact

The Alberta Olympic Secretariat is headed by Russ Tynan, a former executive with Calgary’s 1988 Olympics, a project manager and a long-time volunteer and Director of the Calgary Stampede.

Quick Fact

An estimated 65% of Canada’s athletes at the 2010 Games live or train in Alberta.

Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat

The Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat was created in May 2008 to coordinate Alberta’s approach and activities leading up to and during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Secretariat’s main roles included:

  • Planning, coordinating and/or supporting Alberta-based international winter sport events  and other programs and activities related to sport, tourism and the Cultural Olympiad
  • Establishing a formal relationship with the B.C. Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat
  • Capitalizing on opportunities under the Alberta-VANOC Accord signed in January 2008

Sport

As part of the Alberta/VANOC accord, Alberta:
  • Showcased and built support for Alberta’s Olympians and Paralympians
  • Gave Canadian Olympians and Paralympians priority access to Olympic venues in Alberta for training prior to 2010
  • Hosted World Cup and Olympic selection events and provided sport technical support prior to the 2010 Games
  • Encouraged other countries’ teams to train at Alberta facilities prior to the 2010 Winter Games
  • Assisted volunteer recruitment efforts for events leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Games
  • Assisted VANOC in the Alberta portion of the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay
  • Supported high-performance athlete development
  • Continue to build on the legacy of Canada’s 1988 and 2010 Games

Culture

As part of the Alberta/VANOC accord, Alberta:
  • Promoted Alberta literary, visual and performing artists before and during the Games
  • Supported and promoted Alberta artists and performers as part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
  • Supported performance opportunities leading up to and during the 2010 Games

Business and tourism

As part of the Alberta/VANOC accord, Alberta:
  • Established an Alberta House during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games that allows Alberta businesses to capture worldwide interest and opportunities in the Olympic Games
  • Used the Games to help create business opportunities in Alberta that can be realized long after the 2010 Games
  • Promoted Alberta as a sport tourism destination before and after the 2010 Games
  • Featured Alberta’s tourism destinations and its winter Olympic history