TravelSmart2010 Update: Look before you book - Olympic bus network for travel
to Cypress and Whistler sporting events live at www.travelsmart2010.ca

VANCOUVER , Nov. 30 /CNW/ - Spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver , who already have sport tickets to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games' events at Cypress and in the Whistler area, can start planning their round-trip travel on the Olympic bus network starting today. In addition to providing spectators with a comfortable, convenient ride to and from these sport venues, the Olympic bus network helps reduce vehicle traffic during Games time on key roads in downtown Vancouver , on bridges crossing the Burrard Inlet, on the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Whistler.

As was done with the ticketing website, the first few days that the site is live will permit the event ticket holder to browse and get comfortable with the site and develop their Games-time travel plan. Starting on Friday, December 4 , the online booking and payment function accessed at www.travelsmart2010.ca will go live with a venue-by-venue phased sale of tickets starting with alpine events at Whistler Creekside.

A round-trip ticket (GST and fees included) to Cypress will cost $14 , while a round-trip ticket to Whistler will cost $28 if booked by midnight on January 10, 2010 . Prices will increase to $25 (Vancouver-Cypress Mountain) and $50 (Vancouver-Whistler), including GST and fees, as of January 11, 2010 .

Tickets will be available as of 11:00 am (Pacific Time ) on each phased in date and will remain on sale from that day forward. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and a range of departure times are available. Ticket holders are advised to book early in order to secure their preferred departure time. All bus tickets are non-refundable and Visa is the only payment card accepted.

"Today, we are pleased to offer spectators the opportunity to 'look before they book' and plan their bus travel. This way they will be ready for the phased in booking process that starts Friday, December 4," said Irene Kerr , VANOC's vice president of services and transportation. "The Olympic bus network is the fast and affordable way for spectators to travel from the Metro Vancouver area to events in Whistler and Cypress without worrying about the hassles of driving, and it ensures we can significantly reduce Games-time traffic into Whistler. We're encouraging all of our ticket holders who don't have accommodation in the Sea to Sky corridor to develop their Games-time travel plan by taking advantage of this convenient service as there is no parking at Games venues and traffic restrictions will be in place for non-residents travelling on the Sea to Sky Highway in February 2010."

    
    The venue-by-venue phased in dates for Olympic bus network ticket sales
are:

    -   Friday, December 4: Whistler Creekside (alpine skiing)
    -   Monday, December 7: The Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, luge,
        skeleton)
    -   Wednesday, December 9: Whistler Olympic Park (biathlon, cross-country
        skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping)
    -   Friday, December 11: Cypress Mountain (freestyle skiing, snowboard)
    

The Olympic bus network will use a network of designated departure hubs in Metro Vancouver . The hubs are provided by post-secondary institutions in Metro Vancouver that are members of VANOC's Community Contributor Program. The hubs are located at: Lonsdale Quay and Langara College for Whistler Creekside; British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Lonsdale Quay for The Whistler Sliding Centre and Whistler Olympic Park; Simon Fraser University, Capilano University and Lonsdale Quay for transport to Cypress.

Taking public transit to the hubs is strongly encouraged, along with other forms of alternative transportation (rideshare/carpool, cycle, walk etc.). If driving cannot be avoided, spectators should book parking space at the departure hub at the same time they purchase their Olympic bus network transportation ticket. Parking is included in the price of the bus ticket but please carpool when possible - there is limited parking available at the hubs and Lonsdale Quay has no parking.

    
    Who should buy an Olympic bus network ticket?

    -   All ticketholders for events at Cypress require a ticket on the
        Olympic bus network. Public transit is not available to Cypress
        Mountain during Games time.
    -   Ticketholders travelling from Metro Vancouver for events in the
        Whistler area that do not have accommodation in the Sea to Sky
        corridor and or confirmed parking will require a ticket on the
        Olympic bus network.
    -   Please keep in mind there is no public parking at any of the venues
        at Games time and only vehicles with resident permits or confirmed
        accommodation will be permitted to drive on the Sea to Sky highway to
        Whistler between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm from February 11 to
        28, 2010.

    An Olympic bus network ticket is not required if ticketholders:

    -   Have accommodation and parking in Whistler
    -   Are booked or plan to use a commercial motorcoach (see
        www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information)
    -   Are coming from the Whistler area to Vancouver (except Cypress).
        However, a Sea to Sky checkpoint permit will be required to travel
        back north of Squamish between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

    Planning ahead for a great spectator experience: The Olympic Spectator
    Guide
    

To help prepare for a great spectator experience at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, each ticket holder will receive a pocket-sized Olympic spectator guide when their tickets are delivered, starting in December. The guide includes comprehensive spectator information, including venue specific details and helpful tips. It is also available online at www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide.

Ticket holders travelling to Whistler-area venues and Cypress are urged to dress warmly for cold and wet weather using layers and waterproof clothing. Prohibited and restricted items should also be left at home to avoid having the items confiscated and long security lineups. They include: animals (except service animals), folding chairs, glass bottles, sporting equipment, non-prescription drugs, and large bags.

Wearing suitable warm and waterproof footwear is also a key consideration. Some of the venues will require spectators to walk a considerable distance outside from their Olympic bus network drop-off point to reach venue entrances because the drop-off points are outside of venue perimeters and security access points.

Gates will open three hours before each ticketed session starts at venues in the Whistler area and Cypress. Inside the venue, hot and cold beverages and food items will be available for purchase at concession stands as soon as gates open and warming tents will be available for a limited number of spectators (with the exception of Whistler Creekside where space restrictions do not allow for such tents).

To build excitement for watching the world's best athletes compete, each venue will showcase visual and performing artists and other entertainment at each venue providing a celebratory Olympic atmosphere.

Note to Photo Editors:

Images are available as high resolution downloads from the media centre image gallery at:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/media-centre/image-gallery/non-competition-venues/

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

    
    /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at
    http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the
    media/
    

For further information: Media Contact: Jennifer Young, VANOC Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Emily Hamer, VANOC Communications, [phone], [email protected]