by Becky Robbins

Created on: November 17, 2009

The vivacious city of Vancouver, British Columbia will open its arms to athletes and spectators alike for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In order to stage the Olympic Games, there are many venues that will be utilized for both competition and non-competition needs. Along with the venues hosting sporting events, there are sites that are critical for additional events.

BC Place

The BC Place Stadium is the site for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The nightly Victory Ceremonies will also take place at BC Place. Located in downtown Vancouver, the stadium offers state-of-the-art sound and special effects technology. While seating about 55,000 spectators during the Olympic Ceremonies, the BC Place Stadium will provide an enclosed arena to protect against any winter weather. While gates open four hours before the opening and closing ceremonies commence, they will open two hours before victory ceremonies.

Canada Hockey Place

Outside of the Olympics, this venue is known as the GM Place. It will host the men's and women's hockey competitions. Rather than undergoing $10 million in renovations to create an international-sized surface, VANOC and the International Ice Hockey Federation decided to keep the 35,000 seats that would have been lost in the renovations. For the first time in Olympic history, ice hockey will be played on an NHL-sized rink. Canada Hockey Place is home to the Vancouver Canucks. When entering the GM Place, it is best to enter through the gate listed on your ticket. When a match ends, you must leave the seating area, even if you have tickets for the next session. Canada Hockey Place is located in downtown Vancouver. The gates will open two hours before the event.

Cypress Mountain

Located in West Vancouver in Cypress Provincial Park, Cypress Mountain will be the site of freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Gates will open three hours before the competition. This is an outdoor venue with minimal shelter. Be sure to dress appropriately for cold and wet weather. Cypress Mountain can be reached via the Olympic bus network. Due to the large quantities of snow on the mountain, this was a popular place prior to the Olympic Games and will continue to be popular.

The Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built on the banks of the Fraser River in 2008. It will be the venue for long track speed skating during the 2010 Games. If you are flying into Vancouver, this will be the first venue you will see. The best mode of transportation to the Richmond

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