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.