Let the Games Begin

Explore the 2010 Winter Olympic Games

By: Celine Todd
Published February 4, 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympics began on February 12th in Vancouver, and for two weeks all eyes are on the top snow and ice athletes in the world.

Here’s your official MyTrilogyLife.com guide to the 2010 Winter Games. Through this guide, you can read about the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France in 1924. You can take a closer look at Vancouver, the home of the 2010 Winter Games. You’ll be able to follow the full schedule of events for the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can even follow the Olympic torch, as it makes its way across Canada to Vancouver. Plus, you’ll get to know some of the top medal contenders for the United States in Skiing, Snowboarding, Skating, Hockey, Bobsled, and more.

Let the Games begin!

The First Winter Olympics
The first Olympic Games of the modern era opened in Athens on April 6th, 1896, but the first Winter Olympic Games didn’t begin until 1924, in Chamonix, France. The first gold medal at the first Olympic Winter Games went to speed skater Charles Jewtraw of the United States. In that first Winter Olympic Games, 16 nations participated, bringing 258 athletes (11 women, 247 men) to compete in 16 events. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, many more athletes – approximately 2,500 – will compete in 15 sports and over 86 separate medal events.

To learn more about the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, click here.

Vancouver: Home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games
The magnificent geographical diversity of British Columbia naturally lends itself to a vast array of activities and adventures. With mountains to climb, rivers to raft, beaches to comb, forests to hike, and parks to stroll, it’s a year-round magnet to athletes and explorers alike.

To take a closer look at the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, visit the Trilogy Life Magazine article, “Spotlight on Vancouver.”

Follow the Olympic Torch Relay
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay began its 106-day, 45,000-kilometre cross-Canada journey in Victoria, British Columbia on October 30, 2009. But the torch’s journey actually began many miles away from Victoria.

Before it arrived in Canada, the Olympic Flame was lit in a traditional ceremony in Olympia, Greece. It then traveled throughout the country of Greece before being handed over to representatives of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). Once in VANOC’s hands, the Olympic Flame boarded a trans-Atlantic flight and arrived in Victoria, signaling the start of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

Click here to learn more about the Lighting Ceremony in Olympia, Greece.

Click here to view an interactive map featuring daily coverage, profiles, photos, and videos of the flame’s journey across Canada.

Schedule of Events
If you’re a fan of winter sports, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action on snow and ice. Visit the NBC Olympics Website for a complete listing of television airtimes (on NBC) for all Winter Olympic Events. Please check your local listings to confirm air times.

Even if you’re not a hockey or skiing fan, you may enjoy the excitement and artistry of the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Olympics. They’ll be airing at 6:00 pm (PT) on February 12th on NBC. For a behind-the-scenes look at Vancouver’s Opening Ceremony, click here.

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