VANCOUVER, May 1 /CNW/ - The best way to share in one of the world's most inspirational sporting events is to see all the action in person at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Tickets to the Paralympic Winter Games, which are affordably priced for families and groups, go on sale to Canadian residents this Wednesday, May 6 at 10 am PT at www.vancouver2010.com.
Approximately a quarter of a million tickets to the 64 medal competitions and ceremony events at the Paralympic Winter Games will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at www.vancouver2010.com, in partnership with Tickets.com, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games' (VANOC) official supplier of ticketing services. The Paralympic Winter Games feature five sports including: ice sledge hockey, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, wheelchair curling and biathlon.
Individual ticket prices to sport events start at $15. Group ticket prices - available for most sport events for groups of 20 or more people - are just $10. More than 70 per cent per cent of all individual tickets are priced at $20 or less. Ticket prices for the spectacular Opening Ceremony at BC Place range from $30 to $175.
"Without question the Paralympic Winter Games are one of the most exceptional values in sports and entertainment," said Caley Denton, VANOC vice-president of ticketing and consumer marketing. "There's something indefinable about attending an event in person with friends and family that goes far beyond the memories of the results of the competition itself," continued Denton. "Spectators will leave having witnessed first-hand the determination and courage of some of the world's finest athletes - and that will stay with people forever."
One of the defining and most emotional moments of the international sporting event will be the Opening Ceremony on March 12, 2010. A cast of thousands, with a particular emphasis on performers with a disability, will delight a live audience and showcase the unique heritage and creativity of British Columbians and Canadians during the two-hour celebration produced by Canada's own Patrick Roberge Productions. The highlight of the night will be the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron, signalling the official start of the Games.
About the Paralympic ticket purchasing process:
- Tickets will go on sale at www.vancouver2010.com on May 6 at 10 am PT on a first-come, first-served basis.
- In the event the site experiences a high volume of traffic, a 'virtual waiting room' system will be implemented.
- Where applicable, Canadian residents should use their existing Olympic ticketing accounts to log on to purchase tickets.
- In the event a customer has ordered Olympic tickets, their Paralympic and Olympic tickets will be delivered at the same time securely by Purolator Courier in late 2009. The delivery fee paid for the delivery of Olympic tickets will cover the delivery of Paralympic tickets.
- Visa is the exclusive payment card.
- On checkout, customers will have the option to add the following items to their order:
- An exclusive collector-grade pin featuring Paralympic mascot Sumi with his 2010 Winter Games tickets along with a commemorative lanyard and ticket holder pouch to keep tickets secure and easily accessible
- The Official Commemorative Book of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games at a 30% discount
- A donation to support Canadian athletes via the Own The Podium program.
- A full range of information on sport disciplines, events and ticket prices is available at www.vancouver2010.com.
- International residents should contact their respective National Paralympic Committee for information on purchasing tickets.
A national print and online advertising campaign for ticket sales to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will start this weekend. A special Paralympic-themed supplement, featuring stories, athlete bios, in-depth information on ticketing, and the entire sport schedule, will be issued in The Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers on May 9 and May 10.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.
