January 15, 2008 – With support from the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, athletes, fans, sponsors and partners, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is on the right track for 2008. With most venues competition-ready two years before the Games, 2008 will be an action-packed year brimming with opportunities for Canadians to participate.

“Last year was marked by many exciting milestones and we look forward to many more in 2008, said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. “In particular, we’ll begin to welcome the world’s best athletes to train and compete on what are truly spectacular fields of play. Their presence will breathe life into the venues and will be a visible reminder that the Games are fast approaching.”

In December 2007 venue construction was substantially complete for alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, Nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboarding and short track speed skating. And in 2008, the last of the Games venues – including curling and wheelchair curling, ice sledge hockey and speed skating – will be complete for high-performance athlete training and recreational use for all sports.

Added Furlong: “As we move into the New Year, we will continue to work diligently to deliver the experience of a lifetime for all Canadians – and the world – in 2010.”

In addition to the venue construction accomplishments, VANOC continued to receive enthusiastic support from visionary Canadian corporations who pushed VANOC past its 2007 sponsorship goal of $65 million to an impressive $102.5 million for the year. With just two years to go VANOC has entered into domestic sponsorship agreements worth approximately $691 million in total, or 90.5 per cent of the overall $760 million target.