Legacy of Vancouver Winter Olympics continue

The Richmond Olympic Oval, which hosted long-track speed skating events during the Olympics, has been turned into a large-scale community fitness center for local residents. The state-of-the-art sports facility, southwest of Vancouver, has also become a popular venue for a wide range of international sporting events. / Courtesy of Tourism British Columbia

By Lee Hyo-sik

British Columbia — Vancouver and other parts of British Columbia have always been popular destinations among global tourists, thanks to the unspoiled wildlife, stunning mountain and ocean scenery, and many more attractions.

When the westernmost Canadian province hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics last February, tens of thousands of athletes and visitors from all over the world flocked to Vancouver and two other nearby cities ― Whistler and Richmond, providing a further boost to its already-thriving tourism industry.

Following the games, British Columbia has been seeking to reestablish itself as one of the world’s premier tourism hubs by promoting the legacies of the recent successful Winter Olympics. As a result, a growing number of tourists from other parts of Canada and abroad has continued to visit since February and spend millions of dollars at hotels, restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses.

``British Columbia successfully hosted 27 days of sport for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe. On top of our pristine natural environment, visitors find a wide selection of activities in British Columbia as part of the 2010 experience ― from new sporting venues to upgraded tourist attractions and streamlined transportation systems,’’ said Sabrina Robson coordinator of travel media relations at Tourism BC.

Robson said the hosting of the 2010 Winter Games further bolstered BC’s tourism infrastructure, adding the government, businesses and residents will make every effort to boost Vancouver and other venues into a year-around hot spot for international tourists.

Vancouver

BC’s largest city with a population of 600,000 played host to a range of sporting events for the 2010 Winter Olympics. BC Place Stadium, located at the heart of Vancouver, was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, with the nearby Pacific Coliseum, which was built in 1968, hosting figure skating and short track speed skating competitions.

The Canada Hockey Place, now called Rogers Arena, served as the primary venue for ice hockey and the Vancouver Olympic Center hosted curling during the games. At the nearby Mt. Cypress, freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions were held.

In order to prepare to host the Olympics, the city built new urban infrastructure or improved existing ones. For instance, the expansion of the Vancouver Convention Center was completed in April 2009. It functioned as the international broadcasting centering during the Winter Games and now is the city’s allure as an international meeting and convention destination.

Additionally, Vancouver’s existing transit system was expanded in August 2009 to connect Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver, providing a convenient way for visitors to travel to the city center. A number of new hotels also joined the city’s skyline ahead of the Olympics, including the Shangri-La Hotel in January 2009 and the Pinnacle Hotel in January 2010.

``Many of these Olympic legacy venues have turned into community-friendly facilities and attractive tourism spots,’’ said Amber Sessions, manager of travel media relations at Tourism Vancouver.

For instance, the Vancouver Olympic Center has been turned into a community aquatic center, while the Olympic village in Vancouver, which housed 2,750 athletes and officials during the competition, has become permanent residential housing, equipped with pedestrian walkways, shopping and restaurants.

``A number of Olympic legacy sites have been a wonderful addition to our tourism infrastructure. With the city’s traditional attractions, such as Stanley Park and Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver has been able to level up its status as a world’s top tourism destination,’’ Sessions said.

Whistler

One of the world’s best known ski and snowboard resorts played host to the Alpine, Nordic and sliding events for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Whistler has been widely known for its winter fun. But it has now become a popular destination in summer as well by providing a range of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, golf, fishing, swimming and hiking along a line through nearby forests.

Another attraction is the Peak 2 Peak Gondola that stretches 4.4 kilometers between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The gondola moves skiers and snowboarders in winter and sightseers in summer, revolutionizing the experience between the two mountains.

In the valley blow, the Whistler Sidling Center hosted bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions. The nearby Whistler Olympic Park played host to Nordic events, such as cross country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping.

``The two facilities have become a must-see place in Whistler for visitors. The sliding center will soon reopen to visitors for tours, as well as to athletes for training. The Olympic park has turned into a recreational facility for those who seek to experience cross-country skiing and other Nordic sporting events,’’ said Brooke Darling, coordinator of media relations at Tourism Whistler.

Richmond

Home to Vancouver International Airport and the iconic Richmond Olympic Oval, this historic fishing town has become a thriving multicultural destination city, offering visitors a growing range of cultural, heritage, culinary and leisure experiences.

The Richmond Olympic Oval hosted long track speed skating events during the Winter Games. The state-of-the-art facility has since turned into a public recreation facility, equipped with multiple skating rinks, ball courts and a first-class fitness center.

``The Oval has become Richmond’s newest icon. Besides being a community fitness center for local residents, it has become a popular venue for international sporting events. Tourists can also participate in a range of sporting activities,’’ said Laura Roberts, communications director at Tourism Richmond.

Roberts also suggests visitors should also explore the Steveston Village in the southwest corner of Richmond. ``It was the thriving home to the largest commercial fishing fleet in Canada and a lively tourist destination. Visitors can buy a wide array of unique souvenirs, and dine on salmon and other fresh seafood here.’’