A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of attending the BC Business annual Top 100 luncheon and gala held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Peter Legge and Canada Wide Media were as usual an excellent host with great food being served and Sandhill wines flowing. The luncheon was a great opportunity to network with local business owners and the crowd was introduced to the prototype of the Olympic Torch. During the ceremonies Peter Legge first addressed the crowd and motivated all businesses owners and employees to keep at it and to work hard. John Furlong, looking quite exhausted, projected his Olympic enthusiasm to everyone in the audience and encouraged every person to ‘take in’ as much of the Olympic experience as possible. Two time Olympic Gold medalist Cassie Campbell delivered a very motivating keynote address. Not only does she inspire greatness in sports, she inspires it in business and in life. And of course the event was not complete without a visit from the Mukmuk’s, the official Vancouver 2010 Olympic mascots. As with all events lead by Peter Legge we left the occasion inspired and proud to be both business operators in BC and Canadians looking forward to the greatest Olympics yet.

There are many ways that Vancouverites, and visitors alike, can experience the Olympic spirit. There are still tickets available to the Olympic Victory Ceremonies to be held at both BC Place and at the Whistler Celebration Plaza. Ceremonies will be held most nights from February 14 to February 27, 2010. Both venues will feature large video screens to link the nightly Olympic Victory Ceremony presentations in Whistler and Vancouver. Medals won in Whistler will be presented at the Whistler Olympic Celebration Plaza before a live audience of 8,000. Medals won in Vancouver will be presented at BC Place before a live audience of 35,000. The nightly Victory Ceremonies will be followed by a live concert in each of these venues. We have already secured our tickets to all of the events being held at BC Place. Also from January 22 to March 21, 2010 the best artists in Canada and from around the world will visit the Sea to Sky corridor as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2010. Theatre, dance, music and art will be featured in more than 400 free and 350 ticketed performances and exhibitions. So far I am looking most forward to the debut of ‘Rick: The Rock Hansen Story’.

VANOC is still accepting applications through its partners Coca-Cola and RBC, for both the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will be the longest relay held in the borders of the Host Country in history. In a just a few months, the Olympic Flame will visit over 1,000 communities and places of interest as 12,000 torchbearers carry it on its 45,000 kilometer journey. The 10-day, 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay will give many Canadians a chance to discover the unique and inspiring stories of Paralympians and other Canadians who defy the odds. Both pre-game and games-time volunteers are also still being sought in the categories of ceremonies, youth participation, sports events and the home stay program.

For those who merely want to soak up the atmosphere, Live City Vancouver will be the place. David Lam Park and the former bus depot site at Georgia and Beatty Streets will come alive as locations for Live City Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The two sites will be connected by pedestrian thoroughfares on Hamilton and Mainland Streets, passing through Yaletown. Celebrations will continue in the Georgia and Beatty Street location during the Paralympic Winter Games. For more information on everything Olympic related visit vancouver2010.com. It is a great website.