Media Advisory - VANOC to continue media briefings on key operational areas

VANCOUVER , Feb. 6 /CNW/ - The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will continue holding a series of pre-Games media briefings in the final days leading up to the Olympic Opening Ceremony, with the next briefings on Sunday, February 7 on the topics of the spectator and athlete experience at the Games.

The first briefing was held on January 31 at the Pacific Coliseum on the venue security screening process, the second on February 2 on the artistic elements of the Victory Ceremonies and the third, hosted by the V2010 Integrated Security Unit, was held on February 3 .

The upcoming daily media briefings will be held at the Main Press Centre (MPC) at 999 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver and are accessible for media accredited for the MPC. They will all take place in the Gabriola news conference room. Participants and details below are subject to change.

Starting on February 13 , VANOC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will begin daily operational updates at 11:00 am in the Gabriola news conference room.

    
    Media briefing No. 4: Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 11:00 am
    Spectator Experience at the Games
    

This briefing will detail the unique end-to-end spectator experience at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games including ticketing, transportation and in-venue entertainment. This is an opportunity to get a snapshot of the detailed planning that went into creating an optimal spectator experience and a concise summary of every ticket holders' need-to-know information.

    
    Who:
    Terry Wright, executive vice president, services and games operations
    Caley Denton, vice president, ticketing and consumer marketing
    Irene Kerr, vice president, services and transportation
    Christy Nicolay, vice president, sport production and Victory Ceremonies
    Jan Damnavits, director, event services and venue management city
    operations

    Media briefing No. 5: Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 12:00 pm
    Athlete Experience at the Games
    

This briefing will provide an overview of the approach VANOC has taken to prioritizing the athlete experience at the Games, from the amenities and spirit at the athletes' villages to the preparations for world-class field of play, to ensure that from the moment athletes arrive they can perform at their very best.

    
    Who:
    Cathy Priestner Allinger, executive vice president, sport and Games
    operations
    Tim Gayda, vice president, sport
    Nejat Sarp, vice president, services and villages and general manager of
    Vancouver Village

    Media briefing No. 6: Monday, February 8, 2010 - 11:00 am
    Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay briefing
    

This technical briefing is intended to help media prepare to cover the final days of the relay and includes an overview of plans for Tuesday, February 9 to Friday February 12 , when the Olympic Flame will visit communities such as Richmond , North Vancouver , West Vancouver , Coquitlam, and Vancouver . It is critical for media planning to cover these events to participate in this briefing.

    
    Who:
    John Furlong, VANOC CEO
    Suzanne Reeves, director, torch relays communications

    Media briefing No. 7: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 9:00 am
    The Vision behind the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
    

John Furlong was named VANOC's CEO in 2004 after serving as president and CEO of the 2010 Bid Corporation that brought the 2010 Winter Games to Canada . Dave Cobb , as his second in command, has also led VANOC's highly successful marketing program, including through the challenges of the 2008-2009 recession. This briefing will provide an overview from Furlong on the vision behind the Games and is a chance for media to learn more about VANOC's revenue programs and marketing.

    
    Who:
    John Furlong, VANOC CEO
    Dave Cobb, deputy CEO and executive vice president of revenue, marketing
    and communications
    Other guests to be confirmed

    Media briefing No. 8: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - TBD
    Sustainability and the 2010 Winter Games
    

This briefing will provide an overview of VANOC's innovative and multi-faceted sustainability program. This session will include the launch of the latest edition of VANOC's annual sustainability report announcing progress on goals and early legacies. VANOC's sustainability programs include: management of the environmental, social and economic impacts of the Games and the opportunities the Games provide to produce lasting benefits, locally and globally.

    
    Who:
    Tewanee Joseph, executive director and CEO of the Four Host First Nations
    Dan Doyle, executive vice president, construction
    Donna Wilson, executive vice president, workforce and sustainability
    Linda Coady, vice president, sustainability
    Ann Duffy, corporate sustainability officer

    Media briefing No. 9: Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 2:00 pm
    24-hour countdown to the 2010 Winter Games
    

With less than 24 hours to the first sport competition and the Opening Ceremony, this briefing includes a chance to hear from VANOC's CEO and senior executives as they give a final perspective on their overall state of readiness.

    
    Who:
    John Furlong, VANOC CEO
    Dave Cobb, deputy CEO and executive vice president of revenue, marketing
    and communications
    Cathy Priestner Allinger, executive vice president, sport and Games
    operations
    Terry Wright, executive vice president, services and Games operations
    

For further information: Media Contact: VANOC Media Relations, Tel: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]