Everyone is so excited as we only have few days left for the much awaited 2010 Winter Olympics which will be held in Vacouver Canada. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British Columbia. Previously, Canada was home to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.

THE VENUES

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from February 12 to February 28, 2010.A total of nine competition venues are scheduled to be used during the games, spread across Vancouver, Whistler, and the neighboring areas of West Vancouver and Richmond. The majority of ice sport events will be held in Vancouver, while Whistler, which normally serves as a ski resort, will host the snow events. Six non-competition venues, three each in Vancouver and Whistler, have been completed and will provide athlete housing, space for media, and locations for ceremonies associated with the Games. The largest competition venue where Olympic events are scheduled to be held is Canada Hockey Place, with a capacity of just under 19,000 spectators. The Hockey Place is normally known as General Motors Place, but because corporate sponsorship is not allowed for an Olympic venue, it will be renamed for the duration of the games.

Some venues, including the Richmond Olympic Oval, are at sea level, a rarity for the Winter Games. The 2010 Games will also be the first—Winter or Summer—to have an Opening Ceremony held indoors. Vancouver, which will be the most populous city ever to hold the Winter Games

THE LOGO

The 2010 Winter Olympics logo was unveiled on April 23, 2005, and is named Ilanaaq the Inunnguaq. Ilanaaq is the Inuktitut word for friend. The logo is based on the Inukshuk (stone landmark or cairn) built for the Northwest Territories Pavilion at Expo 86 and donated to the City of Vancouver after the event. It is now used as a landmark on English Bay Beach.

THE MASCOTS

The mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were introduced on November 27, 2007. Inspired by traditional First Nations creatures, the mascots include:

• Miga — A mythical sea bear, part orca and part kermode bear.
• Quatchi — A sasquatch, who wears boots and earmuffs.
• Sumi — An animal guardian spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings of the mighty Thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear.
• Mukmuk — A Vancouver Island marmot.