Win the first tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Today, British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is pleased to release First Tickets to 2010, a new $5 SportsFunder Instant Win ticket offering players the chance to win the very first tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony.

"We are very proud to offer British Columbians the first chance to get tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event," said Dana Hayden, BCLC President & CEO. "The thrill and excitement of the Olympic Games is inspiring and moves people to participate in sports. Through SportsFunder lottery games, BCLC is offering the opportunity to support amateur athletes, many of whom aspire to compete at the Olympic level."

With a total of 100 pairs of tickets to be won, players have a 1:5,000 chance of winning tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. In addition to offering the chance to win tickets to the Opening Ceremony and $1,000 spending money, the new $5 SportsFunder First Tickets to 2010 also features $1 million in cash prizes. The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1:4.

"On the evening of February 12, 2010, the eyes of the world will be on us as we celebrate Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. VANOC is proud to partner with BCLC to give British Columbians a chance to attend this extraordinary event, while helping our kids and amateur athletes have increased access to sports", said John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Over the next two years, BCLC will offer British Columbians the chance to win thousands of tickets to the 2010 Winter Games by playing SportsFunder lottery games. Proceeds from the sale of SportsFunder lottery games support amateur sports in B.C. through KidSport™, Team BC, Youth Sport Travel Assistance, and Coach and Leadership Development. KidSport™ provides financial assistance to children who wish to play sports but cannot afford the registration fees. Team BC gives athletic development support to provincial teams representing B.C. at Canada's premier multi-sport events.

Tickets used for SportsFunder lottery games will be purchased by BCLC and drawn from their allotment as a VANOC Official Supporter within the Olympic Family quota. As is required of all Olympic Organizing Committees, approximately 30 per cent of the tickets will be held for key partners that participate directly in the staging of the Games – commonly referred to as the Olympic Family. The Olympic Family includes athletes and their families, National Olympic Committees and international sports federations, media and broadcasters who tell the story of the Games to a global audience and VANOC sponsors whose financial investment contributes directly to staging the Games.

"This is also a good example of how an Olympic partner may purchase from the Olympic Family ticket allotment but the tickets ultimately end up in the hands of the public," added Furlong.

About BCLC

BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General through a Board of Directors. Its mission is to offer responsible gaming entertainment, generating income for the public good.

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.

VANOC's marketing program is focused on securing mutually rewarding partnerships with shared values to generate sufficient revenue to host successful Winter Games in 2010 and to leave a financial legacy for sport. VANOC's Worldwide TOP Partners include Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald's, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa. VANOC's National Partners are Bell Canada, Hbc, RBC Financial Group, GM Canada, Petro-Canada, and RONA.

VANOC's Official Supporters include Air Canada, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Jet Set Sports, Ricoh Canada Inc., the Royal Canadian Mint, and Teck Cominco Limited. VANOC's Official Suppliers are 3M, Birks, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Haworth Canada, Nortel, TransCanada, Vincor Canada, Weston Bakeries and Workopolis.

(Credit: Vancouver 2010. Click here for further information.)