| 78 miles north of Vancouver, Canada sits the tiny | | | | Olympic Park will host the biathlon, Nordic combined, ski |
| town of Whistler. From a small 10-acre plot of land, | | | | jumping and cross-country skiing events. In preparation, |
| Whistler has grown to encompass 62 miles of prime | | | | the town of Whistler is building three stadia to deal with |
| mountain real estate. With a permanent population of | | | | the expected turnout, able to house around 10,000 |
| less than 10,000, many city dwellers would think of it as | | | | spectators apiece. |
| little more than a spot on the map. However, the | | | | Originally the Nordic Sports Venue, Whistler Olympic |
| imagined quiet village is much more than it seems. | | | | Park has over 34.1 miles of cross-country ski trails, as |
| Whistler annually hosts over two million people looking | | | | well as 3.1 miles of night skiing trails, ski jumps, biathlon |
| for great alpine skiing and mountain biking. Its majestic | | | | range and stadium and snowshoeing trails. With plenty |
| mountain scenery is breathtaking and unique, and the | | | | of trails not included in the Olympic Games, visitors |
| surrounding land contains over 200 runs and 33 ski lifts. | | | | during 2010 will find lots of things to do while they aren't |
| Major ski magazines have voted it as one of the top | | | | watching the competitions. |
| skiing destinations since the mid 1990s. To top off this | | | | Whistler Blackcomb |
| wonderful piece of cake, in 2003, the "tiny town" was | | | | The official Alpine Skiing venue, Whistler Blackcomb is |
| chosen to be the Host Mountain Resort for the | | | | the place to be during the 2010 Olympics. Already |
| Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter | | | | famous for the Couloir Extreme run, one of the top ten |
| Games. | | | | steep in-bound runs worldwide according to Skiing |
| Whistler Sliding Centre | | | | Magazine, Blackcomb Mountain isn't new to the lime |
| Located on Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, the | | | | light. However, Whistler Blackcomb has been aimed at |
| Whistler Sliding Centre is a bobsleigh, luge and skeleton | | | | being part of the Olympics for over five decades. |
| track. It will also be the host for the 2010 Winter | | | | Now that they've reached their goal, Whistler |
| Olympics for those events. Construction for the | | | | Blackcomb is going all out. From condos to chalets, bed |
| Olympic design, provided by Stantec Architecture | | | | and breakfasts to boutique hotels, Whistler is ready for |
| Limited, began in 2005 and the basic track was | | | | the influx of people, providing over 10,000 bedrooms. In |
| completed by late 2007. While testing the track, | | | | addition, the resort can accommodate over 30,000 |
| Canadian lueders claimed it was definitely the fastest | | | | visitors overnight, as well as thousands more during the |
| in the world, as well as highly technical. | | | | day. So visitors can do more than watch, Blackcomb |
| This may very well be true. During the 2008 - 09 | | | | plans to be open for the majority of the Games |
| World Cup events, hosted by the revamped Sliding | | | | except for the areas directly around the tracks and |
| Centre and Olympic track, Felix Loch, German | | | | runs being used. |
| participant in the men's singles, hit a record 95.68 mph. | | | | In the meantime, no one who shows up before the |
| Other top speeds included 95.09 mph for bobsleigh, | | | | Games begin will be bored. Although relatively few |
| 87.50 mph for skeleton, 89.51 for men's doubles luge | | | | people live there compared to major cities, the village is |
| and 89.73 mph for women's singles luge. | | | | used to large influxes of people. Over two hundred |
| Prepared to seat over 11,500 spectators during the | | | | shops, ninety restaurants and bars, spas, hiking trails, |
| 2010 games, Whistler and the Sliding Centre are more | | | | golf courses, several ski trails and one of the best |
| than prepared for the challenge. | | | | mountain bike parks in the world, provides enough |
| Whistler Olympic Park | | | | entertainment, activity and fine dining for anyone. |
| Officially opened to the public in late 2008, Whistler | | | | |