Vancouver Canada will take center stage when the city hosts the 21st Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games slated on February 12-28, 2010. This is the third time for Canada to host after the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. However, this would be the first by the province of British Columbia. It is fitting and timely for Vancouver to host after having been voted by The Economist’s as the most liveable city in 2009.
The 2010 Winter Olympics logo is inspired by the people of Canada’s Arctic Circle and is named the Ilanaaq (Inuit word for friend). The logo is modeled after the Inukshuk, a stone landmark or cairn that is a strong cultural symbol for the Canadians. As with every Olympics, it will not be complete without the mascots. The mascots are usually animals native to the area that represents the cultural heritage. Inspired by the traditional First Nations (referring to the aboriginal peoples in Canada) creatures, the 21st Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games’ mascots are: (a) Miga – mythical sea bear, part orca and part kermode bear; (b) Quatchi – a sasquatch; (c) Sumi – an animal guardian spirit who wears the hat of the orca whale, flies with the wings the mighty Thunderbird and runs on the strong furry legs of the black bear; and (d) Mukmuk – a Vancouver Island marmot. 
Miga and Quatchi are the mascots for the Olympic Games while Sumi is the mascot for the Paralympic Games.
As Vancouver hosts the 21st Winter Olympics, the city is expecting an influx of about 5,500 athletes and officials who are representing around 80 countries. They will participate in 86 events across 15 sporting disciplines namely; alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track, skeleton, ski-jumping, snowboarding, speed skating. This figure doesn’t even include yet the large number of spectators who will be cheering for their respective countries and likewise, the thousands of media representatives who will be covering this momentous event.
As the start of the Olympics draws near, the city is very busy with the preparations to create an exceptional Olympic and Paralympic experience for both the athletes and the spectators. With the large expected number of visitors, the accommodations are now busy booking reservations. These hotels and other types of accommodation have readied themselves to deliver a memorable and lasting experience that go beyond the Olympics. It is anticipated that the accommodations will be fully-booked once the participants and visitors start to pour in, as record bookings have been recorded for the periods surrounding the Olympics already. Travel booking services online may be the last hope of those looking to get a taste of the Olympics up close. One thing is certain: there is no doubt that Vancouver is very prepared and ready to whatever excitement and challenges the Olympics bring.
