| Torino 2006 | BCCANADAPLACE.CA |
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For immediate release Province invites world to train and host events in B.C. TORINO, ITALY – The B.C. Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide, which was launched in Torino, Italy today, will be a powerful tool to attract international event organizers, athletes, teams and visitors to British Columbia’s sport and resort sectors, Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Olga Ilich announced today. “Event organizers are already choosing British Columbia as a sport event destination because time and again we have demonstrated that we have the world-class facilities, services, people and expertise to organize and host major events,” said Ilich. “This new guide provides a one-stop resource that further highlights these amenities for decision-makers in the international community to explore. It’s a high-quality, user-friendly and information-packed promotional tool, and I have every confidence that our small investment will reap huge rewards for communities in all parts of the province.”
Ilich is in Torino, Italy this week to promote B.C.’s tourism, sport and arts industries on the world stage. Today she hosted a reception for more than 100 dignitaries and decision makers in the international sport community at British Columbia – Canada Place to launch the B.C. Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide and distribute promotional CD-ROMs about B.C.’s sport hosting capabilities and resorts.
The guide is a comprehensive web-based database with information on resorts, sport facilities and communities. It allows training and event organizers from around the world to search by sport, facility, resort or community to find suitable locations to host their event and/or training camps. The guide also provides contact information for a designated person in each community to assist organizers in setting up their events.
Rob Berhnardt, chief of competition for the 2005 Viessman FIS World Cup at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre near Vernon, is convinced of the benefits of attracting international competition to B.C. “Hosting the World Cup of cross-country skiing in December was not only good economically for our region, but it also galvanized our community. Nearly 700 volunteers gave freely of their time and expertise, and more than 4,000 people came out to watch and support the athletes,” Berhnardt said. “It created a wonderful sense of pride, a common goal for everyone and memories that will never be forgotten – things you can’t put a value on.”
“There is a need for international teams to acclimatize and train before the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Marion Lay, CEO of 2010 Legacies Now. “The B.C. Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide is designed to increase the awareness of British Columbia’s resort and sport tourism sector and its readiness and ability to host sport events leading up to and beyond 2010.”
“For the province to achieve our true potential in tourism, we have to initiate aggressive programs in every sector of the industry,” said Rod Harris, president and CEO of Tourism British Columbia. “With new facilities coming on stream in communities throughout B.C., along with increased expertise, I am very optimistic about our opportunities for sport tourism.”
Funding for the B.C. Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide has come from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, 2010 LegaciesNow and Tourism BC.
-30-The guide is available at www.hostingbc.ca.
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B.C.-Canada Place 1.3 MB Carved doors of B.C.-Canada Place B.C. Minister of Economic Development Colin Hansen (right) and Sheldon Tetreault of the Métis Nation, open the carved doors to B.C.-Canada Place as part of the opening ceremonies on January 22, 2006. 1.8 MB
1.2 MB B.C.-Canada Place visitors 1.5 MB
B.C.-Canada Place visitors 1.5 MB
Golden Girls 1.7 MB Mayor of Surrey Diane Watts and Surrey Manager of sports venues, Gerry De Cicco, at a sport hosting function at B.C.-Canada Place. Cities from around the province are using B.C.-Canada Place to attract interest from international sporting federations who may want to use B.C. communities as training facilities in the run up to 2010.
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SI.com, the online version of Sport Illustrated, has called street hockey in the Piazza at B.C.-Canada Place the “killer app” of the Torino Olympic Games. Hundreds of people — including Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe and their children — have picked up a stick and had some fun since the house opened in January. 1.2 MB
Carrying the torch 1.3 MB
Showcasing B.C.'s wood products 1.4 MB
Fellowship of the Rings 1 MB
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