Winter Games

The Olympic Council of Ireland today (Jan 27) announced the full line up of the Irish Winter Olympic team scheduled to compete at next month’s Games in Vancouver.

Ireland's prospects of qualifying in women's bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, are on track, enhanced by their inclusion in the final four races in the 2009/10 World Cup series.

The final countdown to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February began in earnest today with the lighting of the Olympic Flame in a traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece.

IOC Olympic Review article on Aoife Hoey who is benefiting from an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship in the run-up to the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Ireland's Vancouver 2010 winter athletes were in Olympic House yesterday to discuss a range of issues in preparation for the incoming 2009/10 season. The Olympic Council of Ireland have provided athlete scholarships to assist athletes with their qualification programmes.

Athletes in contention for places in Team Ireland, Pat Shannon, Aoife Hoey, Paul Griffin attended the official signing of the IOC's invitation to participate in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 12th – 28th February 2010.

Vancouver 2010During his visit to Vancouver and Whistler last week for the one-year-to-go celebrations, IOC President Jacques Rogge had the opportunity to see first-hand a number of the venues that will be used during the Vancouver 2010 Games. Rogge was able to visit the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler, the Whistler Olympic Park, the Whistler Sliding Centre, the Richmond Olympic Oval, Cypress Mountain, the International Broadcast Centre and the Vancouver Olympic Centre.

Delegates at the conclusion of the 2010 Chef's de Mission Seminar were impressed by VANOC's organisation to date in preparing the necessary environment for a successful Winter Games next year.

Olympic delegations attending the 2010 Chef de Mission Seminar traveled into superb mountain locations to view the Whistler Olympic Village, Sliding Centre, Olympic Park, and Creekside venues.

The 2010 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be held indoor for the first time, at the BC Indoor Arena in Vancouver. Whilst temperatures outside will be approximately 7 degrees, the indoor temperature will be set at 18 degrees for the ceremonies.

72 of the expected 80 NOC's that will take part in the Vancouver Winter Games next year completed their second day of presentations, meetings and venue tours.

When John Furlong arrived in Canada more than thirty years ago from Ireland, a customs officer at the airport offered a warm but specific greeting: “Welcome to Canada – make us better.” Furlong took those inspired words to heart and within days, he was volunteering, making a contribution, doing what he felt we should all do – giving a little.