Whistler's Historic Role in the 2010 Winter Games
For the first time in Olympic history, the International Olympic Committee bestowed the designation Host Mountain Resort upon a community - recognizing Whistler's significant role in staging and hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Our approach to creating and developing the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was uniquely recognized with many historic firsts for the Olympic Games.
Whistler Firsts for the 2010 Winter Games:
- First with two official host communities: Vancouver - Host City, and Whistler - Host Mountain Resort
- First with two separate Celebration Sites programs: Vancouver and Whistler
- First to hold the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony outside of the Host City
- First where the mountain venues were completed two years before the Games
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - the biggest winter sporting and cultural events in the world - were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Whistler. To take full advantage, we had to understand the opportunities, assess the risks, and develop and deliver plans that would allow us to leverage the Games.
For 27 days in 2010, Whistler showcased our community to the world and reached a larger audience than we had ever reached before through visitors, athletes, and media exposure. The Games created lasting legacies, which will ultimately accelerate our journey to a successful future.
