2009 World Cup events in Whistler showcase 2010 Winter Games athletes, venues, energy

Whistler, B.C. - The 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are just over a year away, but this winter's World Cup events in Whistler are giving people an early glimpse of what the action and energy will be like.

Nine events are happening at Whistler's three competition venues - Whistler Olympic Park, Whistler Creekside and the Whistler Sliding Centre - from January to March 2009. These World Cup events will provide visitors a chance to experience some of the most modern competition venues in the world and witness an extremely high level of athletic competition.

Many of the athletes competing this winter in Whistler will also compete at the 2010 Winter Games, and no doubt some will be on the medal podium. And the price is right - there is no charge for World Cup events at Whistler Olympic Park or Whistler Creekside, while the Whistler Sliding Centre is planning a nominal charge of $5.

"2009 is very exciting for Whistler, because visitors are getting a taste of what the 2010 Winter Games will be like by watching many of the best athletes in the world at our state-of-the-art venues," says Casey Vanden Heuvel, director of communications at Tourism Whistler. "This is the winter of inspiration. The atmosphere will be intense and visitors can get a real taste of what's to come in 2010. For the athletes, sport events are an opportunity to train and compete on the same courses and tracks they will perform on at the 2010 Winter Games, so these World Cup events are extremely important for them."

And because construction at Whistler's competition venues was completed so far in advance of the 2010 Winter Games, they have added a significant new sporting component and characteristic to the resort community. "We have national teams training here, athletes spending time here, visitors touring the competition venues, and now this season's World Cup events. We also have clubs and schools offering developmental programs in many of these sports, and in this way the legacy of the 2010 Winter Games is already happening in Whistler," says Vanden Heuvel.

More than half of the total medals to be won at the 2010 Winter Games will be won at Whistler venues. The venues were designed and built to take advantage of the rugged alpine terrain that makes Whistler a world-renowned destination for snow sports. For more information, go to www.whistler.com/olympics/events.

Whistler is offering great value and special packages this winter at www.whistler.com/world_cups. Book two nights of accommodation and get a third night free, or call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) and an agent can customize a World Cup holiday.

Dates and locations for World Cup events at Whistler's competition venues

January 16 to 17: FIS Nordic Combined World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)
January 16 to 18: FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)
January 24 to 25: FIS Ski Jumping World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)

February 2 to 7: FIBT Bobsleigh World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)
February 2 to 7: FIBT Skeleton World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)
February 16 to 21: FIL Luge World Cup (Whistler Sliding Centre)

March 4 to 7: IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final (Whistler Olympic Park)
March 9 to 14: IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals (Whistler Creekside)
March 11 to 15: IBU Biathlon World Cup (Whistler Olympic Park)

Medal events at Whistler's competition venues during the 2010 Winter Games

• Whistler Olympic Park (whistlerolympicpark.com) will host cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, biathlon and ski jumping events.

• Whistler Creekside is the site of alpine skiing, including downhill, Super g, giant slalom, slalom and super combined events.

• The Whistler Sliding Centre (whistlerslidingcentre.com) will host bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.

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Visit whistler.com or call 1-800-WHISTLER for everything you need to research and book a trip to Whistler, including accommodations, package deals, activities, transportation, weather, maps and more.

Media can go to whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, and access to images and b-roll.

Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination and is consistently rated as the top ski resort in North America. Located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Whistler is the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, hosting more than half of the Olympic events and over 90 per cent of the Paralympic events.

Tourism Whistler is the marketing and sales organization for Whistler, representing 7,000 members and operating the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centres and Whistler.com Central Reservations.