Whistler Legacies Society gets new identity

The website, which currently focuses on the structure and goals of the society, is designed to continue after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games when the not-for-profit society will own and operate three legacy venues: Whistler Olympic Park, The Whistler Sliding Centre and the Whistler Athlete’s Centre.

“Whistler 2010 Sports Legacies is well-positioned to ensure that the new Sea to Sky region venues of the 2010 Winter Games have long lasting positive legacies for the communities it serves, while becoming a world-renowned organization for sport leadership,” says Paul Shore, Marketing and Business Development Manager for WSL2010.

Part of that positive legacy will be the ability to offer world-class facilities to adaptive and Paralympic athletes. Whistler Adaptive Sports Programs (WASP) will be joining WSL2010 in sharing space at The Whistler Athlete’s Centre, which is part of the Athlete’s Village, much of which will be converted to staff housing post Games.

The inclusive nature of WLS2010 is reflected not only in the facilities, but also in the design of the new logo. A modified “snowflake”, the energetic, blue-toned logo pays tribute to the three venues, three of the sports that will define Whistler’s participation in the Games and First Nations participation by incorporation of design elements common to the Four Host First Nations.

The post-Games business plan will continue to be developed by WLS2010 in cooperation with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). Keith Bennett, general manager of resort experience at the RMOW and WLS2010 board member, says a vital part of that business plan is the Games Operating Trust (GOT).

“The trust essentially bridges the financing gap for facilities that can’t be supported by a traditional business plan,” says Bennett.
   
Under the purview of the GOT board, on which Whistler is represented, $110 million of provincial and federal money has been invested in the fund. Eighty per cent of GOT’s annual earnings will be split equally between Whistler and Richmond to operate Olympic legacy venues. The remaining 20 per cent of funds will be held as a contingency.

Facilities operated by WLS2010 will include 60km of cross-country ski trails, a biathlon range, ski jumps, a 1.4km track for bobsleigh and other sliding sports, and the Whistler Athlete’s Centre.

For more information go to: http://www.whistler2010sportlegacies.com/

Whistler Legacies Society committed to venues post-Games

Three new 2010 Winter Games venues will mean increased recreational and economic opportunities for the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Even before the first of the three new venues was completed, the Whistler Legacies Society (WLS) was beginning to lay the groundwork for ensuring the venues will be sustainable community assets.

“The transition planning covers everything from considering pre-Games operations to handing the keys over to the WLS,” says Keith Bennett, general manager of Resort Experience with the RMOW. “One of the big questions has been, ‘How do we hit the ground running when the Games are over?’”

“Right now we’re looking at business plans developed by VANOC that tell us what we can expect in terms of user numbers, operating expenses and revenues, as well as potential activities.”

The Resort Municipality of Whistler has a seat at the seven-member board of the WLS along with  representatives from VANOC, the Province of British Columbia, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Lil’wat and Squamish First Nations. The WLS is responsible for ensuring efficient and economically viable post-Games operation of Whistler Olympic Park, The Whistler Sliding Centre and the Whistler Athletes Centre. VANOC has built the three venues and will operate them through the Games.

“For example, the WLS has key things they are responsible for with the Whistler Olympic Park: the development of sport, the operation and maintenance of a ski area capable of hosting World Cup competitions and continued contribution to the economy of the region. Largely, the same things apply to the other two facilities,” says Bennett.

Helping to ensure WLS can meet its mandate is the $110-million Games Operating Trust, comprised of federal and provincial funds. Earnings from the trust will go to the WLS to help support the Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park, as well as to the Richmond Oval.

“Our objective is to break even at the venues with the assistance of the Games Operating Trust earnings,” he says. Bennett believes that the WLS will help ensure that the venues will be economically sustainable and aid Whistler in becoming a centre of excellence for the development of sport and world-class competition.