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Olympic tickets on sale Friday

No need to panic to sign up for events

Tickets for the 2010 Olympics go on sale tomorrow marking a major milestone in the countdown to the Games.

But there is no need to get up early or sleep by your computer keyboard as the tickets will not be assigned on a first come first served basis.

All the requests will be taken in by the 2010 Vancouver Organizing Committee from Oct. 3 until Nov. 7 and then the sorting will begin.

Events that are oversubscribed, like the men’s hockey final and some of the skating events, will have tickets allocated by a lottery system through Tickets.com.

So, with your coffee in hand, head to your computer and log into www.vancouver2010.com .

But don’t go straight to the tickets. Instead use the website to find out how much tickets cost for the events you wish attend and when they are. Figure out your budget and chat to your friends and family if you want to make it a group affair.

Then once you have your personal schedule organized head to the ticket-purchasing site on the web and start signing up. And don’t worry if you change your mind next week because you can go back into the website and alter your ticket requests.

But you must have your final choices organized by Nov. 7 for Phase 1 of ticket sales.

VANOC wants people to purchase the tickets on-line using their Visa credit card. No other credits cards will be accepted, as Visa is a Games sponsor.

If you don’t have access to a computer at home you can use the ones at the public library. You can get tickets by mail if you call 1-800-842-5387. A $10 courier charge will be levied for the service.

You cannot order tickets by phone until Phase 2 of sales begins in February 2009.

Ticket purchasers will be notified by Dec. 5 what tickets are being assigned. Seats will be assigned late in 2009.

Every ticket will come with a transportation component and will also have a ticketing administration fee. The amounts will vary depending on the price of the ticket.

The greatest ticket surcharge levied in Vancouver will be $18 and that includes access to public transportation all day and the administration fees.

The transportation component is a must, as spectators will not be allowed to park at any of the venues in Whistler, Vancouver, West Vancouver or Richmond.

Spectators traveling from Vancouver to Whistler will pay $25 for transportation. The fee will also cover use of public transportation for the day in and around the resort.

It will cost $12 to go from Vancouver to Cypress, the site for freestyle and snowboarding.

There are eight Olympic Experience Packages designed especially for Whistler ranging in price from $156 to $1,274. The top priced ones include tickets for the opening or closing ceremonies. Several others combine events in both Vancouver and Whistler.

The OEPs will be assigned first so they are the best way to secure tickets, and in Vancouver they also provide access to the victory ceremonies.

VANOC is still working on transportation plans for Sea to Sky residents to get to Vancouver. Currently it is recommending that residents car pool to park-and-rides in the city or take motor coach carriers already in service.

Once in Vancouver spectators get free public transit.

For those attending Whistler-based events VANOC is exploring a flexible return schedule to Vancouver so that spectators can visit the village. Local transportation will be free to those with tickets, including locals traveling to events.

“We understand people’s desire to stay in Whistler to make the most of their Games experience, and we are exploring the possibility of flexible return times for spectators,” said VANOC’s Renee Smith Valade.

Meanwhile Vancouver's Rocky Mountaineer Vacations plans to work with an international event company to operate a VIP corporate hospitality train on behalf of the Province of Alberta and its clients.

The company will be working with brand.LIVE to operate special trains made up of its GoldLeaf Service dome and lounge cars. The trains will run daily between North Vancouver and Whistler in February 2010.

The agreement with brand.LIVE includes use of the Rocky Mountaineer Station for special events during the 2010 Olympics.

“It is a tremendous honour for us to offer this special run of the Rocky Mountaineer train when all eyes will be on Vancouver and Whistler,” said Randy Powell, President of Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.

The deal is part of Alberta’s $6.5-million investment in promoting the province at the Games. Alberta will also have a pavilion at the 2010 Games located next to the site of the opening, closing and medals ceremonies in Vancouver.