At the two year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver 2010 unveiled its cultural emblem during a star-studded concert at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre Tuesday.
The concert also launched telecommunications company Bell’s role as presenting partner of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.
According to Vancouver 2010 the new multicoloured emblem, highlighted by pink and purple hues, represents the cultural and creative diversity of Canada. Its shape originates from the stones within the Vancouver 2010 Olympic emblem Ilanaaq, immediately connecting it to Vancouver 2010. Positioned on an angle, the shape also speaks to the way in which the arts can provide new perspective to audiences. The central arcs burst out of the emblem’s primary shape with energy and motion in the way that arts and culture break new ground and explore new directions.
VANOC Chief Executive Officer John Furlong said, “Bell has a long history of bringing sport and culture together to strengthen our country and celebrate our best. We are thrilled to partner with Bell to showcase Canada’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts community across the country and around the world”.
The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad will showcase some of the finest in Canadian and international arts and culture through a series of three festivals between now and 2010, says Vancouver 2010. Cultural Olympiad 2008 will have more than 300 free and ticketed events taking place between February 1 to March 21 throughout Metro Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. It’s the first time the Winter Games have hosted a Cultural Olympiad two years before the Games begin.
Meanwhile, just hours after the opening of applications for volunteers for the 2010 Games, Donna Wilson, executive vice president of workforce for Vancouver 2010, said they had 3,000 applications with volunteers applying from across the country.
