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.)

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.)

Vancouver 2010 looks for designer of Olympic and Paralympic medals

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) yesterday announced it is looking for proposals from artists all around the world interested in designing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals.

"For an athlete, competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games marks the pinnacle of a life's work. The weight of an Olympic and Paralympic medal around their neck symbolizes the dreams not only of the athlete, but also their families and their communities and their achievement inspires so many. Standing on the podium to accept an Olympic or Paralympic medal is truly a moment without measure," said Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC's Executive Vice President of Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management, herself a Canadian silver medallist in speed skating at the Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games.

Vancouver 2010 is looking for an artist, designer or creative teams to work with VANOC to design inspiring, timeless medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – medals that reflect the determination and heart of the athletes who will win those medals in 2010. An Evaluation Team will review submissions and successful applicants will be asked to provide concept designs. The design concepts will then be reviewed by VANOC and approved by the Board of Directors. VANOC will present the medal design to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for review and final approval.

The Royal Canadian Mint , a Vancouver 2010 Official Supporter, will manufacture the medals. The Mint will be involved in the design process, providing production expertise and ensuring the medals can be produced at the highest level of quality. Teck Cominco , also an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will supply the gold, silver, bronze and other metals used in the production of the Olympic and Paralympic medals.

The design process will involve five phases and is expected to take up to eight months. In addition to the medals, designs are also required for the accompanying ribbon and medal containers.

The Mint will produce a total of 867 competition medals for the 2010 Winter Games. Of these, 549 competition medals will be produced for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 183 each of gold, silver and bronze. For the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, 318 competition medals will be produced, 106 each of gold, silver and bronze.

The closing date for the submission of proposals is 30 January 2008. The design contract(s) are expected to be awarded in late February 2008.

(Credit: IPC. Click here for further information.)

Beijing planning on being friendly to US TV audiences

BRITISH viewers may have to stay up all night to watch some of the most glamorous events in the Beijing Olympics because of plans to stage them at times suitable for US television.

In a controversial move, NBC, the American network, has requested that the swimming and gymnastics finals should be staged in the morning in China.

Such a decision would upset both the competitors, who usually are at their physical peak in the evening, and also European TV companies, angered that the proposed timing would mean that they would be forced to screen the events live in the early morning.

I can’t remember such a thing ever happening before, but it makes sense for NBC to try. They invest a massive amount of money in the Olympics, and viewership is falling, at least partially because results are so easily accessible online. When 8pm rolls around much of America already knows who’s won.

Chinese fire high ranking Olympics official

Oh those crazy Chinese. Liu Zhihua was fired because of corruption and leading a decadent life:

A terse report Monday by the state-run Xinhua News Agency said Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Zhihua’s “wrongdoings” were “quite serious” and merited his removal Sunday.

[…]

In its brief statement, Xinhua didn’t directly link Liu’s sudden dismissal with his work coordinating the construction of the 31 venues in the Beijing area. It said only that Liu, a 57-year-old Communist Party official from Liaoning province in the northeast, was sacked for “corruption and degeneracy.”

A Hong Kong daily newspaper with close ties to Beijing’s rulers, Wen Wei Po, said Liu maintained several mistresses and built a personal entertainment center, replete with closed-circuit television cameras, in the outlying Beijing district of Huairou. It said Liu took “large sums” in bribes from foreign businessmen, and later denied them land that he had promised. The foreigners then complained to the Communist Party’s Central Disciplinary Committee, the party’s highest organ for investigating corruption, the paper said.

Liu had been seen in public as recently as May 29, when he went to the site in the Beijing district of Fengtai where laborers are erecting a softball stadium.

He was in charge of city planning, construction, transportation and all sports activities.

In a sign of the case’s sensitivity, censors purged any commentary about Liu’s firing from Internet chat rooms.

Olympic fundraising

This is a fascinating article dealing with the ways Beijing is coming up with the money for the 2008 Summer Olympics:

Enterprises from both home and abroad are jockeying for positions on different rosters connected to the Games, in the hope of marketing their products and enhancing brand awareness through this extraordinary opportunity.

It is not only corporate titans, but also Olympic officials who have are keeping a close eye on the bottom line, especially since costs have soared in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

“Without the support of the business community, without its technology, expertise, people, services, products, telecommunications, its financing - the Olympic Games could not and cannot happen,” says IOC President Jacques Rogge of the importance of Olympic marketing.

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