| The Whistler Sliding Centre | |
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It features a new 1,450-metre competition-length concrete sliding track, refrigeration facilities, support buildings and access road. The Whistler Sliding Centre will host sport events for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Over the 13 days of sliding competition, athletes will compete for a total of 24 Olympic medals. The venue is situated on Blackcomb Mountain, complementing the other adventure-oriented activities the area offers. Post-Games, the facility will operate as a centre for high-performance development, youth and recreational club programming, and tourist and public admissions (passenger rides and tours), building the legacy of the 2010 Winter Games. Venue capacity: 12,000 Timeline Construction began in June 2005, with the track operationally complete in winter 2007-08. The construction program included a 1,450-metre concrete track, track weather protection system, two athlete start buildings, five facility support buildings, control and timing system, a refrigeration plant and access road system. The formal public opening took place in fall 2008. Post-Games Use The Whistler Sliding Centre will be operated under the direction of the Whistler Legacies Society, supported by an endowment trust that was established by the federal and provincial governments as part of their 2010 Winter Games venues investment. The Whistler Sliding Centre will showcase sliding sports by hosting international competitions and developing sliding sports opportunities in the local communities. Its location, near several of the resort’s world-class hotels, will attract many tourists, providing a sustainable revenue stream towards the centre’s long-term operations. |
The Whistler Sliding Centre will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and will also serve as a legacy for the enjoyment of local residents, visitors and high-performance athletes.