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Olympic spirit screened

Celebration 2010 continues with film, hockey tournament and art

By Nicole Fitzgerald

Whistler counts down three years before the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games with Celebration 2010, a month-long celebration that showcases the best of arts and culture in Whistler for the month of February.

The Whistler Film Festival is out in full force with both indoor and outdoor screenings, getting into the local winter spirit.

Follow the story of Whistler local heroes Dan Raymond and Crispin Lipscomb in their quest for Olympic gold in Pipe Dream on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. at MY Millennium Place.

Filmmaker Liam Walsh captures an insider look at the making of world-class athletes and industry stars. The rated-G film follows these once unknown snowboarders along their personal journeys from hard working snowboard instructors to joining the national team, achieving gold medals and high rankings at international competitions and sponsorship endorsements, and eventually to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino.

Tickets are $11.

Whistler Stories Under the Stars will screen additional mountain culture films outdoors on Feb. 18 at 5:30 and 6 p.m. at Skier’s Plaza. Six Whistler Stories films made by local filmmakers will be shown, including The First to Go Down, Whistler: An Olympic Story, normal, Eating Yourself Local, Sojourn and Heart of Whistler. Admission is free.

Get into the game at the 2010 Info Centre entranceway that will be transformed into a street hockey rink for a community street hockey tournament Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18.

Hockey lovers are invited to register for teams with great prizes to be won. The tournament is open to eight five-person teams. With commentary and team costumes, the sporting event is a great spectator event as well.

To register, contact lizz_kelly@vancouver2010.com .

The 2010 Info Centre also hosts education and activities featuring a different Olympic and/or Paralympic sport each day. This week learn about cross country skiing, ski jumping, hockey, figure skating, luge, speed skating and alpine skiing.

Other Celebration 2010 events to look forward to in the coming months include the artwork of the Canadian Snow Sculpture Team Feb. 21 to 23 on Whistler Mountain, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre unveiling Feb. 27 and Cultural Cabaret March 12.

For more information on Celebration 2010 events, visit whistlerartscouncil.com.