World Cup events in Whistler give fans, staff and athletes a head start

Though Vancouver can’t wait for the arrival of the Olympic flame next year, they don’t have to wait for the excitement of winter sports competition at its highest level. This season, spectators and volunteers alike will get a taste of what is to come as Whistler hosts several World Cup events.Though Vancouver can’t wait for the arrival of the Olympic flame next year, they don’t have to wait for the excitement of winter sports competition at its highest level. This season, spectators and volunteers alike will get a taste of what is to come as Whistler hosts several World Cup events.
 
Over the next three months Whistler’s Olympic venues will host nine World Cup competitions. The athletes will also benefit from the “dress rehearsal” competitions. Since most countries will use the outcome of this year’s competition to select their Olympic teams, many of the athletes at these competitions will be back for the big show in 2010.

More good news for those hoping to get an early peek–this year’s mountain events will be free of charge, and events at the Whistler Sliding Center will only cost five dollars.

“2009 is very exciting for Whistler, because visitors are getting a taste of what the 2010 Winter Games will be like by watching many of the best athletes in the world at our state-of-the-art venues,” Casey Vanden Heuvel, director of communications at Tourism Whistler said in a statement. “This is the winter of inspiration. The atmosphere will be intense and visitors can get a real taste of what’s to come in 2010. For the athletes, sport events are an opportunity to train and compete on the same courses and tracks they will perform on at the 2010 Winter Games, so these World Cup events are extremely important for them.”
 
For more information, go to whistler.com/olympics/events.
 
Dates and locations for World Cup events at Whistler’s competition venues
January 16 to 17: FIS Nordic Combined World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)
January 16 to 18: FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)
January 24 to 25: FIS Ski Jumping World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)

February 2 to 7: FIBT Bobsleigh World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)
February 2 to 7: FIBT Skeleton World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)
February 16 to 21: FIL Luge World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)

March 4 to 7: IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final (Whistler Olympic Park)
March 9 to 14: IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals (Whistler Creekside)
March 11 to 15: IBU Biathlon World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)

Medal events at Whistler’s competition venues during the 2010 Winter Games
•    Whistler Olympic Park (whistlerolympicpark.com) will host cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, biathlon and ski jumping events.
•    Whistler Creekside is the site of alpine skiing, including downhill, Super g, giant slalom, slalom and super combined events.
•    The Whistler Sliding Centre (whistlerslidingcentre.com) will host bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.