NEWS FROM VANCOUVER 2010 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

In a nod to Canada’s most widely recognized symbol and in the build up to Canada Day 2009 celebrations across the country, the maple leaf has pride of place on the Official Posters of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, unveiled yesterday in Ottawa by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and Canadian athletes.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) completed its fourth official Project Review of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in the host city last week from 23-25 June, disclosing various strategies which are being carried out and implemented to assure success next March.

Vancouver, Canada - Three days after the Olympic Flame is extinguished on the West Coast, a new flame will light in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa, sparking the official start and inspirational journey of the 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay on 3 March 2010. The 10-day inspirational journey will illuminate the extraordinary achievements of Paralympians and celebrate the endless possibilities of the human spirit through sharing the message of courage and determination embodied by the flame.

An unprecedented 50 hours of high definition (HD) television coverage in both English and French languages is on tap for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Bonn, Germany - From 12-21 March 2010, the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will attract around 1,000 media representatives to Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, to cover the Games and report about the achievements of Paralympic athletes from all over the world. In the course of the preparation for this unique event, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee (VANOC) are collaborating to ensure a successful media accreditation process.

Bonn, Germany - Yesterday, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winters Games (VANOC) officially launched ticket sales for the upcoming Paralympic Games.

The Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation recently announced a grant of US$ 150,000 toward the “Welcome and Equipment Centre at Whistler-Blackcomb”, which is part of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Programme (WASP).

Bonn, Germany - Responding to the request of the nations widely and regularly practising the sport of Ice Sledge Hockey, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board has approved an entry provision to allow qualified teams for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games to enter female athletes to their roster should they wish.

The eighth International Olympic Committee (The eighth International Olympic Committee (IOC) Co-ordination Commission visit to Vancouver took place from 31 March to 1 April 2009.OC) Co-ordination Commission visit to Vancouver took place from 31 March to 1 April 2009.

Last weekend, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board (GB) concluded its 52th official meeting in Colorado Springs, USA.