The Honourable James Moore

Achieving Success for Canada's Games

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Issue

Media and public may question the Government of Canada’s financial investment in the 2010 Winter Games and want to see a proof of tangible benefits.

Facts

Canada is honoured to welcome the world to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. These Games, to be staged in Vancouver and Whistler, offer an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate and showcase Canadian athletic, artistic and cultural excellence on a national and international scale while creating lasting legacies for Canadian communities, businesses and citizens across the country and around the world.

The Government of Canada is a proud stakeholder in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, investing more than $1.2 billion to ensure their success. The Government’s investment covers infrastructure and legacy costs, as well as essential services such as security, immigration and border services.

Hosting the 2010 Winter Games will bring tangible benefits for Canada’s developing and high performance athletes in the same way that the 1988 Calgary Winter Games created a legacy of world-class training and competition venues. Supporting the hosting of the Games in Canada is one way the Government of Canada builds capacity by supporting the development of young Canadian athletes and the sport system that sustains them.

While promoting health and fitness, some of these facilities will continue to operate as centres of high-performance international competition after the Games, leaving long lasting and sustainable legacies for hosting cities and communities. The Games also represent a wise investment as they promise to attract tourists, create jobs, generate other economic activity and help position Canada internationally as an inclusive and progressive nation.

The opening and closing ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be held at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

For more information on the Government of Canada’s participation in the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.canada2010.gc.ca