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.
Pre-Olympic Events and Activities
Olympic Summary | Alberta @ Vancouver 2010 | Alberta Venues | After Vancouver 2010
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Alberta-VANOC AccordAll provinces and territories were invited to participate in making Vancouver 2010 "Canada’s Games". The signing of the Alberta-VANOC Accord in January 2008 and the Contributing Province Agreement in March 2009 laid the foundation for Alberta’s involvement and the opportunity to strengthen sport, culture and tourism in our province.Through the Accord, Alberta agreed to pursue opportunities in Vancouver, and at home to: • celebrate excellence in sport; • showcase Alberta’s arts and culture; • pursue opportunities for business and tourism development; and, • make Albertans proud. More than $100 million was invested in upgrading and renewing Alberta’s 1988 Olympic legacy facilities to meet international competition and training standards. These investments positioning Alberta as a leading international winter sport destination. With the excellent programs and facilities in Alberta, more than half of the athletes on Canada’s team at the 2010 Games were born, live or train in the province. News Release: Sport development receives gold medal investment from the province (November 2006) |
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The Olympic and Paralympic SecretariatFormed in May 2008, the Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat was responsible for coordinating Alberta's approach and activities leading up to, and during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Secretariat's activities aligned with the Accord and the Contributing Province Agreement.In Budget 2009, $6.6 million was allocated in the Tourism Parks and Recreation estimates to support the activities of the Secretariat. |
 Russ Tynan, Minister Ady announce Alberta Train |
Alberta Train and Alberta House plans unveiledIn September 2008, the Alberta government unveiled plans for two of its major venues at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games - the Alberta Train and Alberta House.News Release: Alberta's on track to promote province to the world in Vancouver for 2010 (Sept 29, 2008) |
 Minister Ady and Olympic 2006 gold medalist Chandra Crawford hold the 2010 Olympic Torch |
One-Year Countdown / Olympic SupplementAlbertans learned more about our province’s involvement with the Games and joined Canadians in celebrating our Olympic spirit as the Games approached the One-Year Countdown.In February 2009, a four-page Olympic Supplement was printed and included online and in major dailies throughout Alberta as part of the One-Year Countdown initiative. The supplement increased awareness of Alberta’s Olympic involvement in the areas of sports, culture, tourism and education. PDF: Olympic Supplement | Info Bulletins: Alberta let's make some Olympic Noise! (Feb 11, 2009) | March 12 marks one-year countdown to Paralympic Games (Mar 12, 2009) |
 MOU signing with BC Minister Mary Polak |
Winter Olympic Legacy MOUIn February 2009, the governments of Alberta and British Columbia announced a working partnership to promote continuing use of Winter Olympic legacy venues in both provinces.News Release: Alberta and British Columbia work together to extend use of Olympic and Paralympic legacy facilities (Feb 13, 2009) | British Columbia and Alberta announce joint Olympic legacy event (Mar 17, 2010) |
 Summit breakout session |
Sponsorship SummitIn partnership with WinSport Canada, a two-day sponsorship summit was held in September 2009 at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park to provide Canadian winter sport organizations, athletes and corporations with the information and tools needed to help secure long-term corporate funding for Canada’s future sport success. The Summit attracted 111 delegates from various amateur sport organizations and corporations throughout the province.Photo Gallery | News Release: WinSport Canada Sponsorship Summit 2009, a unique initiative in partnership with the Government of Alberta |
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World Cup RoundtableTravel Alberta renewed a marketing partnership with eight national winter sport organizations to promote Alberta as an international winter sports destination leading up to Vancouver 2010. The Roundtable also helps Alberta and Canadian athletes by providing international level competitions on home soil where they can access vital training and development resources. The Roundtable marked the first time that a coordinated approach was utilized in jointly marketing the events within the province.This resulted in a total of 455 hours of international television coverage of Alberta world cup events, reaching more than 155 million viewers worldwide. News Release: Travel Alberta renews growing partnership agreement with eight national winter sport organizations (Oct 21, 2009) |
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World Cup and Trial EventsAlberta was host to seven World Cups and the Canadian Curling Trials during the 2009-10 season, attracting many of the world’s most exciting winter athletes to our province.
World Cup Photo Gallery | Info Bulletin: Province displays Olympic spirit in celebration of Vancouver 2010 (Dec 18, 2010) |
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Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch RelayOn November 6, 2009, and from January 13 to 21, 2010, the Olympic Flame travelled 3,400 kilometres, visiting 76 Alberta cities, towns, Aboriginal communities and Olympic legacy facilities. One thousand Albertans carried the torch proudly on its 9-day journey through our province and thousands more Albertans lined the relay route and cheered for the torchbearers as they experienced the magic of the Olympic Flame.The Alberta Foundation for the Arts provided $157,205 to support the 18 formal community celebrations where many Alberta artists were featured. On January 21, 2010 the Torch Relay crossed the border from Alberta to British Columbia with a 10 minute stop at Kicking Horse Pass where former Premier Peter Lougheed passed the Olympic flame to Wally Buono, Coach of the B.C. Lions. The Government of Alberta also provided the two stages used by VANOC for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebrations at a cost of $840,000, through the Alberta Lottery Fund. At the end of the relay, the two transportable stages were returned to Alberta as a Games legacy. The stages will be kept by Edmonton Folk Music Festival Society and the Calgary Stampede Foundation but will be made available to all communities and non-profit organizations for events across our province. “We in Alberta are proud of the impact the 1988 Calgary Olympics had on winter sport in Canada and I know that the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will do even more to strengthen the Olympic movement and our Canadian athletes.” Photo Gallery | YouTube Videos | Travel Alberta Facebook | Travel Alberta Blogs | |
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Vancouver 2010 Cultural OlympiadThe Cultural Olympiad’s multitude of arts festivals, activities and celebrations provided an excellent opportunity to showcase some of Alberta’s finest artistic creators. Artists were profiled, new works were premiered and artistic collaborations and intercultural exchange was fostered.Work on the Cultural Olympiad began in 2007 with VANOC and federal, provincial and territorial partners to establish the three-year cultural program. The 2010 Cultural Olympiad program consisted of 85 per cent Canadian content, half from across Canada and half from BC, with artists from every province and territory of Canada featured alongside artists from five continents. Each year the level of Alberta content increased, with more than 84 Alberta artists and groups showcasing their talents during the Olympics and the Cultural Olympiad in 2010. A total of 35 artists and projects were part of the Cultural Olympiad and six with the National Presenting Touring program (NPTP) featuring groups and individuals such as the Alberta Ballet; Alberta Theatre Projects, Catalyst Theatre, David Hoffos, Theatre Calgary, and John Wort Hannam. The Alberta government, through Culture and Community Spirit, provided $200,000 for the 2008 Cultural Olympiad, $600,000 for the 2009 Cultural Olympiad and National Presenting Touring Program and $1.3 million for the 2010 Cultural Olympiad and National Presentation Touring Program. In addition, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts helped support the 84 Alberta-based performers who showcased their talents at the Games and the Cultural Olympiad. "Alberta's cultural presence in Vancouver will showcase the talents and excellence of our people. These artists, like our athletes, are great ambassadors for our province and will help to share our cultural story with the rest of the world." 2010 Cultural Olympiad Alberta Performers | Alberta Stars Profiles | YourAlberta Blog | News Release: Inviting the world to experience Alberta during "Canada's Games" (Jan 19, 2010) |
