VANOC Tests Bobsleigh and Luge Sport Events at Whistler Sliding Center

Introduction

Interest will be high this week as a brand new sport is introduced to the sea to sky region when the best bobsleigh and skeleton athletes in the world will take to the track for the first of two World Cups to be held at The Whistler Sliding Center. Competition for the bobsleigh and skeleton sport events will run from February 5 to 7, as approximately 250 athletes and support staff from 24 countries will battle the turns, speed and crushing G-force of their spectacular sports.

Main Digest

VANOC continues operational testing with bobsleigh, skeleton and luge sport events at The Whistler Sliding Center Spectator interest expected to be high as athletes get to know new technical track.

Interest will be high this week as a brand new sport is introduced to the sea to sky region when the best bobsleigh and skeleton athletes in the world will take to the track for the first of two World Cups to be held at The Whistler Sliding Center. Competition for the bobsleigh and skeleton sport events will run from February 5 to 7, as approximately 250 athletes and support staff from 24 countries will battle the turns, speed and crushing G-force of their spectacular sports. Just over one week later, approximately 140 athletes from 26 countries will have their turn at the luge sport event from February 20 to 21. Detailed spectator ticket and venue access information is included below.

During these events, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will continue to test its operational readiness in preparation for the 2010 Winter Games.

Field of play and operational testing

The sliding sport events will provide VANOC with an invaluable opportunity to test the field of play on one of the most technical and fastest tracks in the world. The competition field and formats will be tested, along with the specialized sport volunteers who will work in various officiating roles. This will be the first opportunity for spectators to see events like this, en masse, at the venue, therefore spectator flow and services will also be examined at a World Cup level.

Timing and scoring will be run to corroborate results, and VANOC will test the speed and dissemination of competition results to appropriate functions along with the integrity of the technology and staffing in place. Approximately 276 volunteers and 118 workforce will work the sliding sport events. Track personnel will be comprised of 22 staff members and 40 volunteers.

In keeping with international standards, VANOC anti-doping personnel will conduct doping controls, including the collection of urine samples. For the bobsleigh and skeleton sport events, two paid staff will work the event, along with 16 chaperones and seven doping control officers (DCOs). The luge sport event will have the same participation, except with four less chaperones.

Background on track design, construction and homologation

The Whistler Sliding Center track was designed by Udo Gurgel of IBG Designs in Germany and construction was completed in December 2007. The Federation internationale de bobsleigh et de tobogganing (FIBT) and the Federation internationale de luge de course (FIL) commissioned the track with VANOC's input.

The homologation process, whereby the track was certified by technical delegates from the FIBT and FIL, was completed in March 2008. Homologation took place over four days, with 60 athletes from all three sliding disciplines completing over 200 runs in total.

"This is a great track that will challenge all the skills of the modern sliding athletes. It is fast, technical, demanding and interesting," said Bob Storey, President, FIBT. "The Whistler Sliding Center is an example for the new tracks of the future as well as a great sporting legacy."

FIBT International Training Week (ITW)

This past week, The Whistler Sliding Center reached another milestone, as it successfully completed the FIBT International Training Week (ITW). Similar to the FIL International Training Week held this past November, the FIBT ITW saw 250 athletes from 24 countries learn the intricacies of the track's technical turns - all in preparation for the bobsleigh and skeleton sport event this week.

Fourteen training runs per athlete were completed in the disciplines of men's and women's bobsleigh and skeleton. As with all new tracks, athletes were mandated by their respective International Sport Federations to practice progressive training - whereby they must take two runs from the development access point of the track, before moving up to the competition start.

"Progressive training is the proper and safe way to learn a track, as athletes are able to start at a lower speed and not from their competitive starts," said Craig Lehto, director, The Whistler Sliding Center. "It's a chance for athletes to step out on the track for the first time, in a conservative manner, and learn the intricacies of the world's most technical tracks."

FIBT ITW blends into official training for the bobsleigh and skeleton sport events, with three days prior to competition reserved for training runs.

Background on track safety

The track at The Whistler Sliding Center has gone through rigorous testing by the International Federations and VANOC to ensure that it meets the highest standards that these athletes require - while still conforming to the safety features that all tracks are held to.

For its daily operations, the center has available a venue emergency response team, as well as team-specific trainers/support staff. During event operations (such as ITW or World Cups) physicians, first responders and BC Ambulance service with paramedics will be on site.

Opportunities like ITWs and requirements such as progressive training are two avenues that ensure athletes can focus solely on their personal bests when they are competing in 2010.

Tickets are $5 per person/per day, and includes access to the venue via the Excalibur Gondola to Base II (Blackcomb), followed by a short walk to the venue. Accessible parking is available on-site.

Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:

• In person:ticket purchases can be made starting Tuesday, February 3 at the Whistler Visitor Information Center (hours of operation: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm daily)
• Day of:ticket purchases can be made at the Whistler Blackcomb ticket kiosk at the base of the Excalibur gondola, up until the start of competition

Note: Attendance is expected to be extremely high, please provide ample time for travel and entry to catch every event.

Remaining sport events taking place from February to September 2009 include:

FIS Snowboard World Cup
Date: February 12-15, 2009
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

FIL Luge World Cup
Date: February 16-21, 2009
Location: The Whistler Sliding Center, Whistler

WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championship
Date: February 21-28, 2009
Location: Vancouver Paralympic Center, Vancouver

Hockey Canada Cup - Sledge Hockey
Date: February 24-March 1, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver

IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final
Date: March 4-7, 2009
Location: Whistler Paralympic Park, Whistler

World Junior Curling Championships
Date: March 5-15, 2009
Location: Vancouver Olympic Center, Vancouver

IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals
Date: March 9-14, 2009
Location: Whistler Creekside, Whistler

IBU Biathlon World Cup
Date: March 11-15, 2009
Location: Whistler Olympic Park

ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships
Date: March 12-15, 2009
Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

Hockey Canada Cup - Women's Hockey
Date: August 31-September 6, 2009

Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena and Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver

Reference: VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

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