View source for 2010 Winter Olympics

{{Short description|Multi-sport event in Vancouver, Canada}}
{{Redirect|2010 Olympics|the Youth Olympics in Singapore|2010 Summer Youth Olympics}}
{{Redirect|Vancouver 2010|the video game|Vancouver 2010 (video game){{!}}''Vancouver 2010'' (video game)|the Winter Paralympics|2010 Winter Paralympics}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|2010|Winter|Olympics|
|image = 2010 Winter Olympics logo.svg
|image_size = 200
|alt = 2010 Winter Olympics logo
|caption = Emblem of the 2010 Winter Olympics
|host_city = [[Vancouver]], Canada
|motto = ''[[O Canada|With Glowing Hearts]]<br />({{langx|fr|Des plus brillants exploits}})''
|nations = 82
|athletes = 2,536 (1,503 men, 1,033 women)
|events = 86 in 7 [[Olympic sports|sports]] (15 disciplines)
|opening = February 12, 2010
|closing = February 28, 2010
|opened_by = [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Michaëlle Jean]]
|cauldron = [[Catriona Le May Doan]]<br />[[Nancy Greene]]<br />[[Wayne Gretzky]]<br />[[Steve Nash]]
|stadium = [[BC Place]]
|winter_prev = [[2006 Winter Olympics|Torino 2006]]
|winter_next = [[2014 Winter Olympics|Sochi 2014]]
|summer_prev = [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing 2008]]
|summer_next = [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012]]
|closed_by=[[President of the International Olympic Committee|IOC President]] [[Jacques Rogge]]}}
{{2010 Winter Olympics}}

The '''2010 Winter Olympics''', officially known as the '''XXI Olympic Winter Games''' ({{langx|fr|XXI<sup>es</sup> Jeux olympiques d'hiver}}) and also known as '''Vancouver 2010''' ({{Langx|squ|K'emk'emeláy̓ 2010}}), were an international winter [[multi-sport event]] held from [[February]] 12 to 28, 2010 in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the surrounding suburbs of [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]], [[West Vancouver]] and the [[University of British Columbia]], and in the nearby [[resort town]] of [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]]. It was regarded by the [[International Olympic Committee|Olympic Committee]] to be among the most successful Olympic games in history, in both attendance and coverage.<ref name=":1" /> Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in fifteen disciplines.<ref name=athletes_number>{{cite web|title=The Olympic Winter Games Factsheet|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Winter_Games.pdf|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=August 5, 2012|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219122225/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Winter_Games.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Both the [[Winter Olympics|Winter Olympic]] and [[2010 Winter Paralympics|Paralympic Games]] were organized by the [[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|Vancouver Organizing Committee]] (VANOC), headed by [[John Furlong (CEO)|John Furlong]]. The 2010 Winter Games were the third [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] to be hosted by Canada, and the first to be held within the province of British Columbia. Canada had hosted the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in [[Montreal]], Quebec, and the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in [[Calgary]], Alberta.

Following Olympic tradition, incumbent Vancouver mayor [[Sam Sullivan]] received the [[Olympic symbols|Olympic flag]] during the [[2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] of the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]], Italy. The flag was raised in a special ceremony on February 28, 2006, and was on display at [[Vancouver City Hall]] until the [[2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|Vancouver opening ceremony]]. The event was officially opened by [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Michaëlle Jean]],<ref name=govgen>{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13510|author=Office of the Governor General of Canada|title=Governor General to Open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games|date=February 8, 2010|publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada|access-date=September 21, 2012|archive-date=February 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210175213/http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13510|url-status=live}}</ref> accompanied by the Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] and [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) president [[Jacques Rogge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/gretzky-lights-up-vancouver-olympics-1.935989|title=Gretzky lights up Vancouver Olympics|publisher=CBC|work=[[CBC Sports]]|date=February 12, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2012|author=Robson, Dan|archive-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326210625/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/gretzky-lights-up-vancouver-olympics-1.935989|url-status=live }}</ref>

Vancouver 2010 was immensely successful, with the official Olympic Committee press release citing "Full venues, record public attendance: Over 97% of the 1.54 million tickets available were sold, with 71% to the Canadian public at an average price of $139. Adding in international public ticket sales, the percentage of ticket sales to the public exceeds 75% of all available tickets."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Vancouver 2010 Press Release |url=https://olympic.ca/press/vancouver-2010-press-release/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website |language=en-US |archive-date=October 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010221712/https://olympic.ca/press/vancouver-2010-press-release/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Vancouver 2010 also achieved record global television coverage as per the Olympic Committee, more than double the viewership of the preceding Turin 2006 games and triple the available coverage of [[2002 Winter Olympics|Salt Lake City 2002]], and is "recognized in numerous post Games reports as being among the most widely viewed and well received Games in Olympic history, both in Canada and internationally."<ref name=":1" /> Vancouver 2010's [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament#Gold medal game|gold medal game]] between Canada and USA "was the most watched hockey game ever with viewership of 114 million viewers around the world."<ref name=":1" />

For the first time, Canada won gold in an [[Olympic sports|official sport]] as the host nation of the Olympics, having failed to do so in 1976 and 1988 (although Canada won the 1988 woman's curling event in Calgary when it was still only a [[demonstration sport]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.worldcurling.org/past-olympic-winter-games-results|title=World Curling Federation - Past Olympic Results|work=World Curling Federation|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083333/http://www.worldcurling.org/past-olympic-winter-games-results|archive-date=February 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Canada clinched their first gold medal on the second day of the competition, first topping the gold medal tally on the second-to-last day of competition, and went on to become the first host nation since [[Norway at the 1952 Winter Olympics|Norway]] in [[1952 Winter Olympics|1952]] to lead the gold medal count.<ref name="clinch">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/27/us-clinches-medals-total-canada-most-golds/|title=U.S. clinches medals mark, Canada ties gold record|date=February 27, 2010|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 25, 2011|location=Vancouver|archive-date=March 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303001703/http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/27/us-clinches-medals-total-canada-most-golds/|url-status=live }}</ref> Canada broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics (14), which had been set by the [[Soviet Union at the 1976 Winter Olympics|Soviet Union in 1976]] and [[Norway at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Norway]] in [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]] (13).<ref name=RecordGolds>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/canada-sets-olympic-gold-record-1.971872|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303045557/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/27/sp-canada-gold-otp.html|archive-date=2010-03-03|title=Canada sets Olympic gold record|date=February 27, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2010|author=Canadian Press|url-status=live|publisher=CBC Sports}}</ref> The [[United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics|United States]] won the most medals in total, marking their second time doing so at the Winter Olympics, and broke the record for the most medals won during the Winter Games (37), a record held until then by [[Germany at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Germany in 2002]] (36).<ref name="clinch" /> Athletes from [[Slovakia at the 2010 Winter Olympics|Slovakia]]<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Australian]]|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/anastasiya-kuzmina-wins-slovakia-first-winter-crown/story-e6frg7mf-1225830166112|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526202034/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/anastasiya-kuzmina-wins-slovakia-first-winter-crown/story-e6frg7mf-1225830166112|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 26, 2012|title=Anastazia Kuzmina wins Slovakia first winter crown|date=February 14, 2010|access-date=February 21, 2010}}</ref> and [[Belarus at the 2010 Winter Olympics|Belarus]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-freestyle-medals-idUSTRE61O12Y20100226|title=Grishin Grabs First Gold For Belarus|date=February 26, 2010|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=February 26, 2010|location=Vancouver|archive-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223051843/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-freestyle-medals-idUSTRE61O12Y20100226|url-status=live }}</ref> won the first Winter Olympic gold medals for their nations.

==Bid and preparations==
{{Main|Bids for the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
{|class="wikitable"
|+ 2010 Winter Olympics bidding results
|-
! rowspan=2 | City
! rowspan=2 | Country
! colspan=2 style="background:silver;"| Round
|-
! style="background:silver;"| 1
! style="background:silver;"| 2
|-
|'''[[Vancouver]]'''
|'''{{flag|Canada}}'''
|style="text-align:center;"|40 
|style="text-align:center;"|'''56'''
|-
|[[Pyeongchang]]
|{{flag|South Korea}} 
|style="text-align:center;"|'''51'''
|style="text-align:center;"|53
|-
|[[Salzburg]]
|{{flag|Austria}}
|style="text-align:center;"|16 
|style="text-align:center;"|&ndash;
|}

The concept of a bid by [[Vancouver]] to host the [[Winter Olympic Games]] first appeared at the [[1960 Winter Olympic Games|1960 Games]] in [[Squaw Valley Ski Resort|Squaw Valley]], where the Canadian representative of the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) Sidney Dawes discusses the possibility of hosting a Games in [[British Columbia]] if a venue was found near Vancouver.{{sfn|VANOC|2010a|p=15}} Shortly afterwards, the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) was created in order to prepare a bid to host the Winter Games in the region of [[Mount Garibaldi]], near [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]]. In 1961, GODA considered developing a bid for the [[1968 Winter Olympic Games|1968 Winter Games]], but the [[Canadian Olympic Committee]] (COC) preferred the cities of [[Calgary]] and [[Banff, Alberta|Banff]], in [[Alberta]], as the best opportunity for a Canadian bid to succeed.{{sfn|VANOC|2010a|p=15}} Calgary's candidacy ultimately failed, and the 1968 Games were awarded to [[Grenoble]].<ref name="CgyHld19810930">{{cite news|first1= Crosbie|last1= Cotton|title= Canada missed six prior bids|work= [[Calgary Herald]]|date= September 30, 1981|page= A19|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2nNkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3926,6767945|access-date= August 5, 2021|archive-date= August 16, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210816043849/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2nNkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3926%2C6767945|url-status= live}}</ref>

A development program for the Whistler and Mount Garibaldi region was then launched to host the [[1972 Olympic Winter Games|1972 Games]]. It included the development of road infrastructure, electrical network and drinking water, which was still absent in this region.{{sfn|VANOC|2010a|p=16}} But once again, Banff was chosen to represent Canada as the potential host city for the 1972 Games, which were eventually awarded to [[Sapporo]], [[Japan]].<ref name ="CgyHld19810930"/> In 1968, the GODA was finally chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee with the aim of making a joint candidacy with the city of [[Vancouver]] for the organization of the [[1976 Winter Olympics]]. However, the chances of Vancouver's candidacy dwindled when [[Montreal]] was selected to host the [[1976 Summer Olympics]], and the Vancouver-Garibaldi candidacy was thus eliminated in the first round of voting.{{sfn|VANOC|2010a|p=16}}<!--{{sfn|Monnin|2013|p = 214}}--> [[Vancouver]] was again a candidate for the [[1980 Olympic Winter Games|1980 Games]], but withdrew at the last moment.<!--{{sfn|Monnin|2013|p = 100}}-->{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} For the [[1988 Winter Olympics]], [[Calgary]] was chosen as the preferred site for the Canadian bid,<ref>{{cite news|title= Vancouver loses to 'big ticket Games'|work= [[Vancouver Sun]]|date= October 29, 1979|page= F7|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cLdlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1218%2C3630583|access-date= August 5, 2021|archive-date= August 5, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210805230824/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cLdlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1218,3630583|url-status= live}}</ref> and would go on to win the election and thus become the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics.

For the 2010 Games, the Canadian Olympic Association chose Vancouver as the Canadian candidate city over Calgary, which sought to re-host the Games, and [[Quebec City]], which had lost the 2002 Olympic bid in 1995. On the first round of voting on November 21, 1998, Vancouver-Whistler had 26 votes, Quebec City had 25 and Calgary had 21. On December 3, 1998, the second and final round of voting occurred between the two leading contenders, which saw Vancouver win with 40 votes compared to Quebec City's 32 votes. Vancouver had also bid for the [[Bids for the 1976 Winter Olympics|1976]] games, which were first awarded to Denver, then to Innsbruck and the [[1980 Winter Olympics|1980]] games, which were awarded to Lake Placid.

After the [[2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal|bribery scandal]] over the candidacy of the [[Salt Lake City]] bid for the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] (which resulted in Quebec City asking for compensation (C$8 million) for its unsuccessful bid),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamOlympicScandalArchive/mar23_ioc.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801201731/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamOlympicScandalArchive/mar23_ioc.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 1, 2012|title=IOC rejects Quebec City request|date=March 23, 1999|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Slam! Olympics]]|access-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref> many of the rules of the bidding process were changed in 1999. The [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) created the Evaluation Commission, which was appointed on October 24, 2002. Prior to the bidding for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], host cities would often fly members of the IOC to their city where they toured the city and were provided with gifts. The lack of oversight and transparency often led to allegations of money for votes. Afterward, changes brought forth by the IOC bidding rules were tightened, and more focused on technical aspects of candidate cities. The team analyzed the candidate city features and provided its input back to the IOC.

Vancouver won the bid to host the Olympics by a vote of the International Olympic Committee on July 2, 2003, at the 115th IOC Session held in [[Prague]], Czech Republic. The result was announced by IOC President [[Jacques Rogge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sport/newsid_3039000/3039690.stm|title=Vancouver to host 2010 Winter Olympics|publisher=[[BBC|CBBC Newsround]]|date=July 2, 2003|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090131105840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sport/newsid_3039000/3039690.stm|archive-date=January 31, 2009|url-status= live}}</ref> Vancouver faced two other finalists shortlisted that same February: [[Pyeongchang County|Pyeongchang]], South Korea, and [[Salzburg]], Austria. Pyeongchang, which later won the rights of hosting both [[2018 Winter Olympics]] and [[2024 Winter Youth Olympics]] (as a part of the [[Gangwon Province (South Korea)|Gangwon Province]]) had the most votes of the three cities in the first round of voting, in which Salzburg was eliminated. In the run-off, all but two of the members who had voted for Salzburg voted for Vancouver. It was the closest vote by the IOC since Sydney, Australia beat Beijing for the 2000 Summer Olympics by two votes. Vancouver's victory came almost two years after Toronto's [[Bids for the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympic bid]] was defeated by Beijing in a landslide vote.

The Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) spent C$16.6 million on upgrading facilities at [[Cypress Mountain]], which hosted the freestyle (aerials, moguls, ski cross) and snowboarding events. With the opening in February 2009 of the C$40&nbsp;million [[Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre]] at [[Hillcrest Park]], which hosted curling, every sports venue for the 2010 Games was completed on time and at least one year prior to the Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crsportsnews.com/?id=785988&keys=Olympics-Venue-Vancouver-Paralympic|title=New Vancouver 2010 Sports Venues Completed|publisher=Crsportsnews.com|date=February 24, 2009|access-date=January 10, 2010|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708205303/http://www.crsportsnews.com/?id=785988&keys=Olympics-Venue-Vancouver-Paralympic|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/n/news/vancouver-2010-sport-venues-completed-on-time-and-within-$580-million-budget.-vancouver-olympic-paralympic-centre-opens-today-as-a-model-of-sustainable-building-_63896GI.html|title=Vancouver 2010 sport venues completed on time and within C$580-million budget. Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre opens today as a model of sustainable building – News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics|publisher=Vancouver2010.com|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=January 10, 2010|archive-date=April 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409031440/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/n/news/vancouver-2010-sport-venues-completed-on-time-and-within-$580-million-budget.-vancouver-olympic-paralympic-centre-opens-today-as-a-model-of-sustainable-building-_63896GI.html|url-status=live }}</ref>

==Financials==

===Operations===
In 2004, the operational cost of the 2010 Winter Olympics was estimated to be Canadian $1.354&nbsp;billion (about [[£]]828,499,787, [[€]]975,033,598 or [[US$]]1,314,307,896). As of mid-2009 it was projected to be C$1.76&nbsp;billion,<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/08/vancouvers-poverty-olympi_n_453593.html|title=Vancouver's 'Poverty Olympics' Protest Millions Spent On Winter Games|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|access-date=July 1, 2010|date=February 8, 2010|archive-date=February 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213132053/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/08/vancouvers-poverty-olympi_n_453593.html|url-status=live }}</ref> mostly raised from non-government sources,<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> primarily through sponsorships and the auction of national broadcasting rights. C$580&nbsp;million was the taxpayer-supported budget to construct or renovate venues throughout [[Vancouver]] and [[Whistler, British Columbia|Whistler]]. A final audit conducted by [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]] released in December 2010 revealed total operation cost to have been $1.84 billion and came in on budget resulting in neither surplus nor deficit. Construction of venues also came on budget with a total cost of $603 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/Vancouver+Olympics+generated+billion/3997570/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223121323/http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Vancouver%2BOlympics%2Bgenerated%2Bbillion/3997570/story.html|archive-date=December 23, 2010|title=Vancouver Olympics generated $2.5 billion|publisher=Calgaryherald.com|date=December 18, 2010|access-date=January 12, 2011|url-status=dead }}</ref>

PricewaterhouseCoopers' study estimated a total contribution to the BC economy of $2.3 billion of Gross Domestic Product, and as well creating 45,000 jobs and contributing an additional $463 million to the tourism industry while venue construction by [[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]] and 3rd parties added $1.22 billion to the economy, far short of the $10 billion forecast by Premier [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]]. The study also said that hosting the Olympics was one of many reasons why the provincial debt grew by $24 billion during the decade. Non direct olympics games cost (e.g. expanded rail network, highways, security, paid time off for government employees "volunteering" etc.) cost in excess of 7 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouver-olympics-worth-the-7-billion-price-tag-study-says/article15036916/|title=Vancouver Olympics worth the $7-billion price tag, study says|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=October 23, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=May 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515064435/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouver-olympics-worth-the-7-billion-price-tag-study-says/article15036916/|url-status=live|last1=Hume|first1=Mark}}</ref> In 2011, the provincial auditor-general declined to conduct a post-Games audit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metronews.ca/features/legacies-of-the-2010-vancouver-olympics/904188/vancouvers-recession-rocked-olympics-left-a-mixed-economic-legacy/|title=Vancouver's recession-rocked Olympics left a mixed economic legacy - Metro Vancouver|access-date=November 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205082409/http://metronews.ca/features/legacies-of-the-2010-vancouver-olympics/904188/vancouvers-recession-rocked-olympics-left-a-mixed-economic-legacy/|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Security costs===
C$200&nbsp;million was expected to be spent for security, which was organized through a special body, the [[Integrated Security Unit]], of which the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) was the lead agency; other government agencies such as the [[Vancouver Police Department]], [[Canada Border Services Agency]], [[Canadian Forces]], and [[Law enforcement in Canada|police agencies across Canada]]. The [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) also played a role. That number was later revealed to be in the region of C$1&nbsp;billion, an amount in excess of five times what was originally estimated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic security estimated to cost C$900M|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-security-estimated-to-cost-900m-1.797536|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221115608/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-security-estimated-to-cost-900m-1.797536|archive-date=2009-02-21|date=February 19, 2009|publisher= CBC News|access-date=January 25, 2011 }}</ref>

==Venues==
[[File:Olympic sites map 2010.jpg|thumb|Olympic sites map]]
[[File:Richmond Olympic Oval front view.jpg|thumb|right|[[Richmond Olympic Oval]]: speed skating long track venue]]
{{Main|Venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
Some venues, including the [[Richmond Olympic Oval]], were at sea level, a rarity for the Winter Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tstsy.com/2010/06/20/winter-olympics-vancouver/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717110537/http://www.tstsy.com/2010/06/20/winter-olympics-vancouver/|archive-date=2011-07-17|title=Winter Olympics Vancouver &#124; Travel and Tourism|publisher=Tstsy.com|year=2010|access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> The 2010 Games were also the first—Winter or Summer—to have had an Opening Ceremony held indoors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123635348|title=Vancouver Olympics Open With Indoor Ceremonies|publisher=NPR|date=February 12, 2010|access-date=July 1, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100811182957/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123635348|archive-date=August 11, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> Greater Vancouver was the most populous metropolitan area ever to hold the Winter Games.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mackin|first=Bob|title=Vancouver to reduce downtown traffic|url=http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/10/12830166-qmi.html|newspaper=Toronto Sun|agency=QMI|date=February 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606094322/http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/10/12830166-qmi.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|access-date=February 24, 2010|url-status=live|df=mdy }}</ref> In February, the month when the Games were held, Vancouver has an average temperature of {{convert|4.8|°C}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Winter Olympics all wet?: Vancouver has the mildest climate of any Winter Games host city|work=Vancouver Sun|date=July 9, 2003}}</ref> The average temperature as measured at [[Vancouver International Airport]] was {{convert|7.1|C}} for the month of February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=XX&StationID=889&Year=2010&Month=2&Day=13|title=Daily Data Report for February 2010|work=National Climate Data and Information Archive|publisher=[[Environment Canada]]|access-date=January 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727224941/http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=XX&StationID=889&Year=2010&Month=2&Day=13|archive-date=July 27, 2011|df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The opening and closing ceremonies were held at [[BC Place|BC Place Stadium]], which received over C$150&nbsp;million in major renovations. Competition venues in Greater Vancouver included the [[Pacific Coliseum]], the [[Hillcrest Centre|Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre]], the [[UBC Winter Sports Centre]], the [[Richmond Olympic Oval]] and [[Cypress Mountain]]. GM Place, now known as [[Rogers Arena]], played host to [[ice hockey]] events, being renamed ''Canada Hockey Place'' for the duration of the Games since corporate sponsorship is not allowed for an Olympic venue.<ref name="chp"/> Renovations included the removal of advertising from the ice surface and conversion of some seating to accommodate the media.<ref name="chp">{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/gm-place-to-get-new-name-for-2010/|title=GM Place to get new name for 2010|publisher=[[CTV News]]|year=2008|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=February 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213114606/http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/plocal/CTVNews/20080806/BC_GM_place_new_name_080806/20080806/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2010 Winter Olympics marked the first time an Olympic hockey game was played on a rink sized according to NHL rules instead of [[International Ice Hockey Federation|international]] specifications. Competition venues in Whistler included Whistler Creekside at the [[Whistler Blackcomb]] ski resort, the [[Whistler Olympic Park]], the Whistler Celebration Plaza and the [[Whistler Sliding Centre]].

The 2010 Winter Games marked the first time that the energy consumption of the Olympic venues was tracked in real time and made available to the public. Energy data was collected from the metering and building automation systems of nine of the Olympic venues and was displayed online through the Venue Energy Tracker project.<ref>{{cite news|title=Measuring the Power of Sport|publisher=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/measuring-the-power-of-sport-one-venue-at-a-time/article1455631/|access-date=February 4, 2010|location=Toronto|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026054654/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/measuring-the-power-of-sport-one-venue-at-a-time/article1455631/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Marketing==
{{See also|2010 Winter Olympics marketing}}

==Media coverage==
{{See also|List of 2010 Winter Olympics broadcasters}}
The Olympic Games in Vancouver were broadcast worldwide by a number of television broadcasters. As rights for the 2010 Games have been packaged with those for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], broadcasters were largely identical for both events.

The host broadcaster was Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver, a subsidiary of the IOC's new in-house broadcasting unit [[Olympic Broadcasting Services]] (OBS). The 2010 Olympics marked the first Games where the host broadcasting facilities were provided solely by OBS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obsv.ca/obsintroduction.html|title=OBSV Introduction|publisher=Obsv.ca|access-date=January 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120040058/http://www.obsv.ca/obsintroduction.html|archive-date=January 20, 2010|url-status=usurped|df=mdy }}</ref> The executive director of Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver was [[Nancy Lee (producer)|Nancy Lee]], a former producer and executive for [[CBC Sports]].<ref name="lee">[https://www.cbc.ca/sports/nancy-lee-leaving-cbc-sports-1.610050 "Nancy Lee leaving CBC Sports"], [[cbc.ca]], October 10, 2006.</ref> The official broadcast theme was a piece called "City of Ice" composed by [[Rob May]] and [[Simon Hill]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sitting Duck – Team|url=http://www.sittingduckmusicandmedia.com/team.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202140842/http://sittingduckmusicandmedia.com/team.html|archive-date=February 2, 2011|access-date=April 2, 2010|publisher=Sittingduckmusicandmedia.com}}</ref>

In Canada, the Games were the first Olympic Games broadcast by a new [[Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium|Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium]] led by [[CTVglobemedia]] and [[Rogers Media]], displacing previous broadcaster [[CBC Sports]]. Main English-language coverage was shown on the [[CTV Television Network]], while supplementary programming was mainly shown on [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[Rogers Sportsnet]]. Main French-language coverage was shown on [[V (TV network)|V]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]].<ref>{{cite news|title=CTV wins 2010 and 2012 Olympic broadcast rights|publisher=[[CBC Sports]]|date=February 9, 2005|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/ctv-wins-2010-and-2012-olympic-broadcast-rights-1.529023|access-date=September 21, 2008|archive-date=June 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617025552/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/02/07/ctv050207.html|url-status=live }}</ref>

[[NBC Olympic broadcasts|NBC Universal]] networks televised the 2010 Winter Olympics in the United States, under a contract in which it paid US$2.2 billion for the rights to the Games and the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Advertising sales had slowed in comparison to previous Olympics due to the [[Great Recession in the United States|ongoing recession]], and NBC projected a financial loss upwards of $250 million on the Games.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisman|first=Jon|date=2010-01-29|title=Olympics become NBC loss-leader|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/features/olympics-become-nbc-loss-leader-1118014466/|access-date=2021-08-19|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819212259/https://variety.com/2010/tv/features/olympics-become-nbc-loss-leader-1118014466/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=James|first=Meg|title=For NBC, Games are no sure thing|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/sports/20100212_For_NBC__Games_are_no_sure_thing.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-19|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819212259/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/sports/20100212_For_NBC__Games_are_no_sure_thing.html |archive-date=August 19, 2021 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Chozick|first=Sam Schechner and Amy|date=2010-02-11|title=Tape-Delayed Olympic Contests Annoy the Instant-Update World|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703455804575057681187953898|access-date=2021-08-19|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819212259/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703455804575057681187953898|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the growth of [[social media]], NBC faced particular criticism for its traditional practice of [[Broadcast delay|tape delaying]] network coverage of the Olympics for the west coast—a practice that was made more egregious by the fact that these Games took place at sites within the [[Pacific Time Zone]].<ref name=":0" /> In April 2010, the network reported a financial loss of $233 million on the Games.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2010-04-17|title=$223 Million Loss for NBC is Better Than Expected|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/sports/17sportsbriefs-nbc.html|access-date=2021-08-19|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819212300/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/sports/17sportsbriefs-nbc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Associated Press]] (AP) announced that it would send 120 reporters, photographers, editors and videographers to cover the Games on behalf of the country's [[news media]].<ref name="eandp10">{{cite web|title= AP Seeks New Internet Business Model in Winter Olympics|url= http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065140|publisher= [[Editor & Publisher]]|date= February 4, 2010|access-date=February 4, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100206010625/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004065140|archive-date=February 6, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> The cost of their Olympics coverage prompted AP to make a "real departure for the [[wire service]]'s online coverage". Rather than simply providing content, it partnered with more than 900 newspapers and broadcasters who split the ad revenue generated from an AP-produced multi-media package of video, photos, statistics, stories and a daily Webcast.<ref name="eandp10" /> AP's coverage included a [[microsite]] with [[web widget]]s facilitating integration with [[social networking]] and [[Social bookmarking|bookmarking services]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100716172609/http://wintergames.ap.org/help/faq.pdf About this Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Microsite] from wintergames.ap.org</ref>

In France, the Games were covered by [[France Télévisions]], which included continuous live coverage on its website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jo-hiver-vancouver-2010.francetv.fr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214105105/http://jo-hiver-vancouver-2010.francetv.fr/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 14, 2010|title=Jeux Olympiques de Vancouver 2010 - France Télévisions|date=February 14, 2010}}</ref>

==Torch relay==
[[File:Vancouver-Olympics-clock.jpg|thumb|right|The clock counting down to the opening of the Olympic Games in [[Downtown Vancouver]]]]
{{Main|2010 Winter Olympics torch relay}}
The Olympic Torch Relay is the transfer of the Olympic flame from Ancient [[Olympia, Greece]] — where the first Olympic Games were held thousands of years ago — to the stadium of the city hosting the current Olympic Games. The flame arrives just in time for the [[2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|Opening Ceremony]].

For the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the flame was lit in Olympia on October 22, 2009.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} It then traveled from [[Greece]], over the [[North Pole]] to Canada's High Arctic and on to the West Coast and Vancouver. The relay started its long Canada journey from the British Columbia capital of [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]. In Canada, the torch traveled approximately {{convert|45000|km|mi}} over 106 days, making it the longest relay route within one country in Olympic history. The Olympic Torch was carried by approximately 12,000 Canadians and reached over 1,000 communities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Funding for 2010 Olympics torch relay to focus on local events|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/funding-for-2010-olympics-torch-relay-to-focus-on-local-events-1.820728|date=April 30, 2009|access-date=December 23, 2009|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC News]]|archive-date=August 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815220814/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/funding-for-2010-olympics-torch-relay-to-focus-on-local-events-1.820728|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news|url= http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/about-the-olympic-torch-relay|title= 2010 Olympic Torch relay general info|date= February 11, 2010|work= [[CTV Television Network|CTV]]|publisher= CTV|access-date= February 11, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100126010750/http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/olympic-torch-relay/about-the-olympic-torch-relay|archive-date= January 26, 2010|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

Celebrity torchbearers included [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]],<ref name="emotions">{{cite news
|url = https://vancouversun.com/sports/Emotions+high+final+torch+relay/2555283/story.html
|title = Emotions run high on final day of torch relay
|date = February 12, 2010
|newspaper = [[Vancouver Sun]]
|publisher = Canwest Publishing
|access-date = June 15, 2011
|archive-date = February 15, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100215063057/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Emotions+high+final+torch+relay/2555283/story.html
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> [[Steve Nash]],<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nba.com/suns/news/nash_torch_100212.html
|title = Nash carries Olympic torch
|last = Swiat
|first = Stefan
|date = February 13, 2010
|work = [[nba.com]]
|access-date = June 15, 2011
|archive-date = December 1, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101201231100/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/nash_torch_100212.html
|url-status = live
}}</ref> [[Matt Lauer]],<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/vancouver2010/2010/02/11/12842276.html
|title = For the next Hour, I am pure Canadian
|date = February 11, 2010
|work = Vancouver 24hr news
|publisher = Canoe
|access-date = February 11, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100214105622/http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Sports/vancouver2010/2010/02/11/12842276.html
|archive-date = February 14, 2010
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> [[Justin Morneau]],<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100130&content_id=8001354&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
|title = Healthy Morneau excited to carry Torch
|date = February 11, 2010
|work = [[mlb.com]]
|publisher = mlb.com
|access-date = February 11, 2010
|archive-date = May 13, 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130513173015/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100130&content_id=8001354&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
|url-status = live
}}</ref> [[Michael Bublé]],<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/Michael+Buble+Jann+Arden+join+Olympic+torch+ceremony/2538114/story.html 
|title=Michael Buble, Jann Arden to join in Olympic torch ceremony 
|date=February 11, 2010 
|work=vancouversun.com 
|publisher=Canwest Publishing 
|access-date=February 11, 2010 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212115716/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Michael%2BBuble%2BJann%2BArden%2Bjoin%2BOlympic%2Btorch%2Bceremony/2538114/story.html 
|archive-date=February 12, 2010 
|url-status=live 
}}</ref> [[Bob Costas]],<ref>
{{cite news
|url = http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-photos/vancouver-2010-olympic-torch-relay---day-105---west-vancouver-to-vancouver--bc_273728Oh.html
|title = Torchbearer 102 Bob Costas carries the flame in Burnaby
|date = January 1, 2010|work= vancouver2010.com |publisher= vancouver2010.com
|access-date = February 12, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100219165716/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-photos/vancouver-2010-olympic-torch-relay---day-105---west-vancouver-to-vancouver--bc_273728Oh.html|archive-date=February 19, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> [[Shania Twain]],<ref>
{{cite news
|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/shania-twain-carries-olympic-torch-1.915415
|title=Shania Twain carries Olympic torch 
|date=January 1, 2010 
|work=The Canadian Press 
|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] 
|access-date=February 12, 2010 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104222120/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/01/01/twain-olympic-torch.html 
|archive-date=January 4, 2010 
|url-status=live 
}}</ref> and hockey greats including [[Sidney Crosby]],<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid=20119.html#reserved+restrained+rocking+with+sid 
|title=Reserved, restrained, and rocking with Sid the Kid 
|date=February 11, 2010 
|work=ctvolympics.ca 
|publisher=The Globe and Mail 
|access-date=February 11, 2010 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130110802/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid%3D20119.html 
|archive-date=January 30, 2010 
|url-status=live 
}}</ref> [[Wayne Gretzky]],<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=517718
|title = Pressing questions as Olympic hockey beckons
|date = February 14, 2010
|access-date = February 15, 2010
|archive-date = February 18, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100218003123/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=517718
|url-status = live
}}</ref> and the captains of the two [[Vancouver Canucks]] teams that went to the [[Stanley Cup Finals]]: [[Trevor Linden]] ({{Stanley Cup Finals Year|1994}})<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-flame-heats-up-vancouver-1.904371|title=Olympic fever builds in Vancouver|date=February 11, 2010|publisher=cbcsports.ca|author=CBC News|access-date=February 11, 2010|archive-date=February 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215015223/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/02/11/bc-vancouver-olympic-preparations.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Stan Smyl]] ({{Stanley Cup Finals Year|1982}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid=32637.html#schwarzenegger+buble+carry+torch|title=Schwarzenegger, Buble to carry torch|date=February 8, 2010|access-date=February 8, 2010|first=Marsha|last=Lederman|work=The Globe and Mail|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210042303/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/news/newsid%3D32637.html|archive-date=February 10, 2010|url-status=live }}</ref>

==The Games==

===Participating National Olympic Committees===
82 [[National Olympic Committees]] (NOC) entered teams in the 2010 Winter Olympics.<ref name="WinterGames">{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-athletes/|title=Olympic Athletes, Teams and Countries|work=Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics|publisher=VANOC|access-date=February 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218221416/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-athletes/|archive-date=February 18, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref> Cayman Islands, Colombia, Ghana, Montenegro, Pakistan, Peru and Serbia made their winter Olympic debuts. Morocco returned to the Winter games after an 18-year absence, and Jamaica and Mexico returned after 8 years. Seven countries, Costa Rica, Kenya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Thailand, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands which were at the 2006 Games, did not participate in 2010.

Tonga sought to make its Winter Olympic debut by entering a single competitor in luge, attracting some media attention, but he crashed in the final round of qualifying.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hofman|first1=Helene|title=Tongan athlete narrowly misses out on Winter Olympics|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2010-02-01/tongan-athlete-narrowly-misses-out-on-winter-olympics/197722|work=[[ABC News (Australia)]]|date=January 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828172956/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2010-02-01/tongan-athlete-narrowly-misses-out-on-winter-olympics/197722|archive-date=August 28, 2016}}</ref>
Luxembourg qualified two athletes<ref name="fis-ski.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/summary-quotas-allocation.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215145939/http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/summary-quotas-allocation.pdf|archive-date=February 15, 2010|title=Summary of Quota allocation (Alpine Skiing)|publisher=FIS-Ski – International Ski Federation|year=2010|access-date=July 1, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy }}</ref> but did not participate because one did not reach the criteria set by the NOC<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/69278/kari-peters-bleibt-zu-hause.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220155751/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/69278/kari-peters-bleibt-zu-hause.php|archive-date=2010-02-20|title=Kari Peters bleibt zu Hause|trans-title=Kari Peters stays at home|publisher=wort.lu|access-date=February 7, 2010|language=German|date=January 19, 2010}}</ref> and the other was injured<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/67652/stefano-speck-nicht-nach-vancouver.php|title=Stefano Speck fährt nicht nach Vancouver|trans-title=Stefano Speck doesn't go to Vancouver|language= German|publisher=wort.lu|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100304141955/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/67652/stefano-speck-nicht-nach-vancouver.php|archive-date=March 4, 2010|url-status= dead}}</ref> before the Games. Below is a map of the participating nations and a list of the nations with the number of competitors indicated in brackets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Countries|publisher=Yahoo Sports|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/countries|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125043233/http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/countries|archive-date=2011-11-25|access-date=August 8, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:2010 Winter Olympics Participants.svg|thumb|2010 Winter Olympics Participants|center|upright=2.75]]
{|class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics|National Olympic Committees]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagIOC|ALB|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|ALG|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|AND|2010 Winter|6}}
* {{flagIOC|ARG|2010 Winter|7}}
* {{flagIOC|ARM|2010 Winter|4}}
* {{flagIOC|AUS|2010 Winter|40}}
* {{flagIOC|AUT|2010 Winter|80}}
* {{flagIOC|AZE|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|BLR|2010 Winter|50}}
* {{flagIOC|BEL|2010 Winter|8}}
* {{flagIOC|BER|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|BIH|2010 Winter|5}}
* {{flagIOC|BRA|2010 Winter|5}}
* {{flagIOC|BUL|2010 Winter|19}}
* {{flagIOC|CAN|2010 Winter|201}} '''(host)'''
* {{flagIOC|CAY|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|CHI|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|CHN|2010 Winter|94}}
* {{flagIOC|TPE|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|COL|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|CRO|2010 Winter|19}}
* {{flagIOC|CYP|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|CZE|2010 Winter|92}}
* {{flagIOC|DEN|2010 Winter|18}}
* {{flagIOC|EST|2010 Winter|30}}
* {{flagIOC|ETH|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|FIN|2010 Winter|95}}
* {{flagIOC|FRA|2010 Winter|108}}
* {{flagIOC|GEO|2010 Winter|6}}
* {{flagIOC|GER|2010 Winter|153}}
* {{flagIOC|GHA|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|GBR|2010 Winter|50}}
* {{flagIOC|GRE|2010 Winter|7}}
* {{flagIOC|HKG|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|HUN|2010 Winter|16}}
* {{flagIOC|ISL|2010 Winter|4}}
* {{flagIOC|IND|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|IRI|2010 Winter|4}}
* {{flagIOC|IRL|2010 Winter|6}}
* {{flagIOC|ISR|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|ITA|2010 Winter|114}}
* {{flagIOC|JAM|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|JPN|2010 Winter|94}}
* {{flagIOC|KAZ|2010 Winter|37}}
* {{flagIOC|KGZ|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|LAT|2010 Winter|58}}
* {{flagIOC|LIB|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|LIE|2010 Winter|7}}
* {{flagIOC|LTU|2010 Winter|6}}
* {{flagIOC|MKD|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|MEX|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|MDA|2010 Winter|7}}
* {{flagIOC|MON|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|MGL|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|MNE|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|MAR|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|NEP|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|NED|2010 Winter|34}}
* {{flagIOC|NZL|2010 Winter|16}}
* {{flagIOC|PRK|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|NOR|2010 Winter|99}}
* {{flagIOC|PAK|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|PER|2010 Winter|3}}
* {{flagIOC|POL|2010 Winter|47}}
* {{flagIOC|POR|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|ROU|2010 Winter|29}}
* {{flagIOC|RUS|2010 Winter|177}}
* {{flagIOC|SMR|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|SEN|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|SRB|2010 Winter|10}}
* {{flagIOC|SVK|2010 Winter|73}}
* {{flagIOC|SLO|2010 Winter|47}}
* {{flagIOC|RSA|2010 Winter|2}}
* {{flagIOC|KOR|2010 Winter|46}}
* {{flagIOC|ESP|2010 Winter|18}}
* {{flagIOC|SWE|2010 Winter|106}}
* {{flagIOC|SUI|2010 Winter|146}}
* {{flagIOC|TJK|2010 Winter|1}}
* {{flagIOC|TUR|2010 Winter|5}}
* {{flagIOC|UKR|2010 Winter|47}}
* {{flagIOC|USA|2010 Winter|212}} ''' (top nation)'''
* {{flagIOC|UZB|2010 Winter|3}}
{{div col end}}
|}

=== Number of athletes by National Olympic Committee ===
2,626 [[athlete]]s from 82 [[National Olympic Committee|NOCs]] participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- 
! [[List of IOC country codes|IOC Letter Code]]
! Country
! Athletes
|-
| USA || {{flagIOC|USA|2010 Winter}} || 212
|-
| CAN || {{flagIOC|CAN|2010 Winter}} || 201
|-
| RUS || {{flagIOC|RUS|2010 Winter}} || 177
|-
| GER || {{flagIOC|GER|2010 Winter}} || 153
|-
| SUI || {{flagIOC|SUI|2010 Winter}} || 146
|-
| ITA || {{flagIOC|ITA|2010 Winter}} || 114
|-
| FRA || {{flagIOC|FRA|2010 Winter}} || 108
|-
| SWE || {{flagIOC|SWE|2010 Winter}} || 106
|-
| NOR || {{flagIOC|NOR|2010 Winter}} || 99
|-
| FIN || {{flagIOC|FIN|2010 Winter}} || 95
|-
| CHN || {{flagIOC|CHN|2010 Winter}} || 94
|-
| JPN || {{flagIOC|JPN|2010 Winter}} || 94
|-
| CZE || {{flagIOC|CZE|2010 Winter}} || 92
|-
| AUT || {{flagIOC|AUT|2010 Winter}} || 80
|-
| SVK || {{flagIOC|SVK|2010 Winter}} || 73
|-
| LAT || {{flagIOC|LAT|2010 Winter}} || 58
|-
| BLR || {{flagIOC|BLR|2010 Winter}} || 50
|-
| GBR || {{flagIOC|GBR|2010 Winter}} || 50
|-
| POL || {{flagIOC|POL|2010 Winter}} || 47
|-
| SLO || {{flagIOC|SLO|2010 Winter}} || 47
|-
| UKR || {{flagIOC|UKR|2010 Winter}} || 47
|-
| KOR || {{flagIOC|KOR|2010 Winter}} || 46
|-
| AUS || {{flagIOC|AUS|2010 Winter}} || 40
|-
| KAZ || {{flagIOC|KAZ|2010 Winter}} || 37
|-
| NED || {{flagIOC|NED|2010 Winter}} || 34
|-
| EST || {{flagIOC|EST|2010 Winter}} || 30
|-
| ROU || {{flagIOC|ROU|2010 Winter}} || 29
|-
| BUL || {{flagIOC|BUL|2010 Winter}} || 19
|-
| CRO || {{flagIOC|CRO|2010 Winter}} || 19
|-
| DEN || {{flagIOC|DEN|2010 Winter}} || 18
|-
| ESP || {{flagIOC|ESP|2010 Winter}} || 18
|-
| HUN || {{flagIOC|HUN|2010 Winter}} || 16
|-
| NZL || {{flagIOC|NZL|2010 Winter}} || 16
|-
| SRB || {{flagIOC|SRB|2010 Winter}} || 10
|-
| BEL || {{flagIOC|BEL|2010 Winter}} || 8
|-
| ARG || {{flagIOC|ARG|2010 Winter}} || 7
|-
| GRE || {{flagIOC|GRE|2010 Winter}} || 7
|-
| LIE || {{flagIOC|LIE|2010 Winter}} || 7
|-
| MDA || {{flagIOC|MDA|2010 Winter}} || 7
|-
| AND || {{flagIOC|AND|2010 Winter}} || 6
|-
| GEO || {{flagIOC|GEO|2010 Winter}} || 6
|-
| IRL || {{flagIOC|IRL|2010 Winter}} || 6
|-
| LTU || {{flagIOC|LTU|2010 Winter}} || 6
|-
| BIH || {{flagIOC|BIH|2010 Winter}} || 5
|-
| BRA || {{flagIOC|BRA|2010 Winter}} || 5
|-
| TUR || {{flagIOC|TUR|2010 Winter}} || 5
|-
| ARM || {{flagIOC|ARM|2010 Winter}} || 4
|-
| ISL || {{flagIOC|ISL|2010 Winter}} || 4
|-
| IRI || {{flagIOC|IRI|2010 Winter}} || 4
|-
| CHI || {{flagIOC|CHI|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| IND || {{flagIOC|IND|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| ISR || {{flagIOC|ISR|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| LIB || {{flagIOC|LIB|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| MKD || {{flagIOC|MKD|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| MON || {{flagIOC|MON|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| PER || {{flagIOC|PER|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| UZB || {{flagIOC|UZB|2010 Winter}} || 3
|-
| AZE || {{flagIOC|AZE|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| CYP || {{flagIOC|CYP|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| PRK || {{flagIOC|PRK|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| KGZ || {{flagIOC|KGZ|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| MGL || {{flagIOC|MGL|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| RSA || {{flagIOC|RSA|2010 Winter}} || 2
|-
| ALB || {{flagIOC|ALB|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| ALG || {{flagIOC|ALG|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| BER || {{flagIOC|BER|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| CAY || {{flagIOC|CAY|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| TPE || {{flagIOC|TPE|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| COL || {{flagIOC|COL|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| ETH || {{flagIOC|ETH|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| GHA || {{flagIOC|GHA|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| HKG || {{flagIOC|HKG|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| JAM || {{flagIOC|JAM|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| MEX || {{flagIOC|MEX|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| MNE || {{flagIOC|MNE|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| MAR || {{flagIOC|MAR|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| NEP || {{flagIOC|NEP|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| PAK || {{flagIOC|PAK|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| POR || {{flagIOC|POR|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| SMR || {{flagIOC|SMR|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| SEN || {{flagIOC|SEN|2010 Winter}} || 1
|-
| TJK || {{flagIOC|TJK|2010 Winter}} || 1
|}

===Sports===
The 2010 Winter Olympics featured 86 medal events over 15 disciplines in 7 sports.
{{div col}}
# '''Biathlon'''
#* {{GamesSport|Biathlon|Events=10}}
# '''Bobsleigh'''
#* {{GamesSport|Bobsleigh|Events=3}}
#* {{GamesSport|Skeleton|Events=2}}
# '''Curling'''
#* {{GamesSport|Curling|Events=2}}
# '''Ice hockey'''
#* {{GamesSport|Ice hockey|Events=2}}
# '''Luge'''
#* {{GamesSport|Luge|Events=3}}
# '''Skating'''
#* {{GamesSport|Figure skating|Events=4}}
#* {{GamesSport|Short track speed skating|Events=8}}
#* {{GamesSport|Speed skating|Events=12}}
# '''Skiing'''
#* {{GamesSport|Alpine skiing|Events=10}}
#* {{GamesSport|Cross-country skiing|Events=12}}
#* {{GamesSport|Freestyle skiing|Events=6}}
#* {{GamesSport|Nordic combined|Events=3}}
#* {{GamesSport|Ski jumping|Events=3}}
#* {{GamesSport|Snowboarding|Events=6}}
{{colend}}
''Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each separate discipline.''

The opening and closing ceremonies and the events categorized as ice sports (excluding bobsleigh, luge and skeleton) were held in Vancouver and Richmond. The sports categorized as "Nordic events" were held in the Callaghan Valley located just to the west of Whistler. All alpine skiing events were held on [[Whistler Blackcomb|Whistler Mountain]] (Creekside) and sliding events (bobsleigh, luge and skeleton) were held on [[Whistler Blackcomb|Blackcomb Mountain]]. [[Cypress Mountain]] (located in [[Cypress Provincial Park]] in [[West Vancouver]]) hosted the freestyle skiing (aerials, moguls and ski cross), and all snowboard events (half-pipe, parallel giant slalom, snowboard cross).

[[File:SidneyCrosby2010WinterOlympicsgold.jpg|thumb|[[Sidney Crosby]] celebrates moments after scoring the gold medal-winning goal over [[United States men's national ice hockey team|the United States]].]]
Vancouver 2010 was also the first winter Olympics in which both men's and women's hockey were played on a narrower, [[National Hockey League|NHL]]-sized ice rink,<ref name="VANOC shrinks ice"/> measuring {{convert|200|x|85|ft|m|abbr=on}}, instead of the international size of {{convert|200|x|98.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The games were played at [[General Motors Place]] (now Rogers Arena), home of the NHL's [[Vancouver Canucks]], which was temporarily renamed Canada Hockey Place for the duration of the Olympics. Utilizing this existing venue instead of building a new international-sized ice rink facility saved C$10 million in construction costs and allowed an additional 35,000 spectators to attend Olympic hockey games.<ref name="VANOC shrinks ice">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/2006/06/08/1620669-sun.html|title=VANOC shrinks Olympic ice|author=Mackin, Bob|date=June 6, 2006|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Slam! Sports]]|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175030/https://canoe.com/category/sports|url-status=usurped}}</ref> However, some European countries expressed concern over this decision, worried that it might give North American players an advantage since they grew up playing on the smaller NHL-sized rinks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2010-olympic-hockey-will-be-nhl-sized-1.602236|title=2010 Olympic hockey will be NHL-sized|work=CBC News|date=June 8, 2006|access-date=February 14, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100127180626/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/06/08/olympic-hockey-rinksize.html|archive-date=January 27, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> By contrast, the only other NHL venue to host Olympic hockey, the [[Calgary Flames]]' [[Olympic Saddledome]], started construction before Calgary won the bid for the 1988 Winter Olympics and it was designed to accommodate an international ice rink.

There were a number of events that were proposed to be included in the 2010 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/5071892.stm|title=Ski-cross aims for Vancouver 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|date=June 12, 2006|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/5071892.stm%20/default.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 28, 2006, the IOC Executive Board at their meeting in [[Kuwait]] voted to include [[ski cross]] in the official program.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/6192816.stm|title=Ski-cross gets approved for 2010|date=November 28, 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175049/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/6192816.stm%20/default.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) subsequently approved the event to officially be part of the Games program.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2099|title=Vancouver 2010: In good shape with positive progress on media accommodation|publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=March 9, 2007|archive-date=July 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722175300/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2099|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Events proposed for inclusion but ultimately rejected included:<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1972|title=Olympic programme updates|date=November 28, 2006|publisher=International Olympic Committee|archive-date=July 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725031008/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1972|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Biathlon]] mixed relay
* Mixed doubles [[curling]]
* Team [[alpine skiing]]
* Team [[bobsled]] and [[skeleton (sport)|skeleton]]
* Team [[luge]]
* Women's [[ski jumping]]

The issue over women's ski jumping being excluded ended up in the [[Supreme Court of British Columbia]] in Vancouver during April 21–24, 2009, with a verdict on July 10 excluding women's ski jumping from the 2010 Games.
<ref name=wskijmp>{{cite press release|title=Vancouver 2010 Statement of BC Supreme Court Decision on Women's Ski Jumping at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games|publisher=Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|date=July 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714163957/http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/news/news-releases/-/69788/32566/1lthni5/vancouver-2010-statement-of-bc.html|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/news/news-releases/-/69788/32566/1lthni5/vancouver-2010-statement-of-bc.html|archive-date=July 14, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> A request to appeal that verdict to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] was subsequently denied on December 22 – a decision that marked the end of any hopes that the event would be held during Vancouver 2010.<ref name=wskijmpappeal>
{{cite news|title=Supreme Court spurns women ski jumpers|url=http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2009/12/22/bc-oly-women-scoc.html|work=[[CBC News]]|agency=The Canadian Press|date=December 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224074218/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2009/12/22/bc-oly-women-scoc.html|archive-date=December 24, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> To alleviate the exclusion, VANOC organizers invited women from all over Canada to participate at Whistler Olympic Park, including Continental Cup in January 2009.<ref name="wskijmp"/> Women's ski jumping was included in the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]], [[Russia]].

===Calendar===
:''All times are in [[Pacific Standard Time]] ([[UTC-8]])''
{{See also|Chronological summary of the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
In the following calendar for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, each blue box indicates that an event competition, such as a qualification round, was held on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport were held with the number in these boxes representing the number of finals that were contested on that day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver 2010 Olympic Competition Schedule|url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/2010_sport_schedbyday_EN.pdf|publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee]]|access-date=August 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910143551/http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/2010_sport_schedbyday_EN.pdf|archive-date=September 10, 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{#section:Chronological summary of the 2010 Winter Olympics|Calendar}}

==Medal table==
[[File:Bronze Medal of Vancouver 2010.JPG|thumb|Bronze Medal of 2010 Winter Olympics]]
{{Main|2010 Winter Olympics medal table}}
The top ten listed [[National Olympic Committees|NOCs]] by number of gold medals are listed below. The host nation, Canada, is highlighted.

{{legend2|#ccf|Host country (Canada)|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

''To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the [[File:Sort both.gif]] icon next to the column title.''

{{Medals table
|caption = 
|host = 
|show_limit = 
|remaining_text = 
|flag_template = flagIOCteam
|event = 2010 Winter
|team = 
|gold_CAN = 14|silver_CAN = 7|bronze_CAN = 5|host_CAN = yes 
|gold_GER = 10|silver_GER = 13|bronze_GER = 7
|gold_USA = 9|silver_USA = 15|bronze_USA = 13
|gold_NOR = 9|silver_NOR = 8|bronze_NOR = 6
|gold_KOR = 6|silver_KOR = 6|bronze_KOR = 2
|gold_SUI = 6|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 3
|gold_CHN = 5|silver_CHN = 2|bronze_CHN = 4
|gold_SWE = 5|silver_SWE = 2|bronze_SWE = 5
|gold_AUT = 4|silver_AUT = 6|bronze_AUT = 6
|gold_NED = 4|silver_NED = 1|bronze_NED = 3
}}

==Concerns and controversies==
{{Main|Concerns and controversies over the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
Some in the foreign press, including London 2012 organizers, had criticized the lack of city decorations to acknowledge that Vancouver was the host of the Games. The original plans to decorate the city in Olympic colours, a tradition followed by other recent Games host cities, were canceled for several reasons. Anti-Games activists repeatedly vandalized the existing 2010 Olympics monuments such as the countdown clock, forcing the city to install CCTV cameras, and adding more Games decorations would have inevitably required more security presence to deter protesters, so VANOC opted to minimize these symbols to avoid making the city a police state. Besides local opposition, budget cutbacks also forced the organizers to scale back on the elaborate plans.<ref name="vancitybuzz1">[http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/02/three-years-later-a-reflection-on-the-vancouver-2010-olympic-games/ Four years later, a reflection on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303055251/http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/02/three-years-later-a-reflection-on-the-vancouver-2010-olympic-games/|date=March 3, 2014 }}. Vancitybuzz.com. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.</ref>

VANOC initially benefited from an economic boom and was able to secure lucrative and record domestic sponsorships, but this boom also resulted in rapidly rising construction and labour costs. Due to these factors, as well as the [[Great Recession]], VANOC built minimalistic functional venues with little aesthetic appeal though they were well-designed for post-Games usage. This approach, as well as the fact that most of the infrastructure already existed, meant that the direct costs of the Vancouver Games were much lower than recent Olympic games.<ref name=vancitybuzz1/>

Before the Games began and as they commenced, a number of concerns and controversies surfaced and received media attention. Hours before the opening ceremony, Georgian [[luge]]r [[Nodar Kumaritashvili]] was killed during a training run after being thrown out from his luge, intensifying questions about the safety of the course and prompting<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/king/news/newsid=428729.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830082636/http://www.nbcolympics.com/king/news/newsid%3D428729.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2016|title=Women's downhill crashes prompt safety change to course &#124; NBC Olympics &#124; Olympic Zone|publisher=NBC Olympics|year=2010|access-date=July 1, 2010 }}</ref> organizers to implement quick modifications. Immediately after the accident, officials attributed it to an athlete error rather than a track deficiency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/luge/8513595.stm|title=BBC Sport – Vancouver 2010 – Olympic luger Nodar Kumaritashvili dies after crash|work=BBC News|date=February 13, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100311060428/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/luge/8513595.stm|archive-date=March 11, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> The [[International Luge Federation]] called an emergency meeting after the accident, and all other training runs were cancelled for the day.<ref name="bbc-crash">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/8513595.stm|title=Olympic luger Nodar Kumaritashvili dies after crash|date=February 12, 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=February 12, 2010|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062720/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/8513595.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The President of Georgia, [[Mikheil Saakashvili]], thanked the hosts for the way that they handled Kumaritashvili's death which included a moment of silence, bringing his remains back to Georgia and a tribute to him at the opening ceremony.<ref name="telegraph1">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/7293583/Winter-Olympics-2010-Vancouver-so-passionate-to-embrace-Games-says-Seb-Coe.html Winter Olympics 2010: Vancouver so passionate to embrace Games, says Seb Coe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513080903/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/7293583/Winter-Olympics-2010-Vancouver-so-passionate-to-embrace-Games-says-Seb-Coe.html|date=May 13, 2018 }}. Telegraph. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.</ref>

One critic<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/01/29/MoveCypressEvents/|title=The Tyee — Mush! Move Cypress Events to Okanagan|date=January 29, 2010|publisher=Thetyee.ca|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205160114/http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/01/29/MoveCypressEvents/|archive-date=February 5, 2010|url-status=live }}</ref>
questioned the choice of [[Cypress Mountain]] as a venue because of its potential lack of snow due to the 2009-10 [[El Niño]]. Because of this possibility, organizers had a contingency plan to truck in snow from [[Manning Park]], about {{convert|250|km|mi}} to the east of the city. This allowed events to proceed as planned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Trucks+start+moving+snow+Cypress+Mountain+from+Manning+Park/2513307/story.html|title=Trucks start moving snow to Cypress Mountain from Manning Park|publisher=Vancouversun.com|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212105336/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Trucks%2Bstart%2Bmoving%2Bsnow%2BCypress%2BMountain%2Bfrom%2BManning%2BPark/2513307/story.html|archive-date=February 12, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref>

Political decisions involving cancellation of promised low-income housing and the creation of a community of mixed economic backgrounds for post-Games use of the [[2010 Olympic Village|athletes' village]] was criticized.<ref name="Mackin">{{cite web|last=Mackin|first=Bob|url=https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Olympics2010/2009/06/19/OlympicVillageReports/|title=''Vancouver releases secret Olympic Village documents'', Bob Mackin, ''The Tyee'', June&nbsp;19,&nbsp;2009|publisher=Thetyee.ca|date=June 19, 2009|access-date=January 10, 2010|archive-date=March 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304130232/http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Olympics2010/2009/06/19/OlympicVillageReports/|url-status=live }}</ref>

Opening ceremonies were stalled while organizers dealt with mechanical problems during the cauldron lighting ceremony.<ref name="mishaps">{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/15/12883441-sun.html|title=Mishaps plague games|last=MACKIN|first=BOB|date=February 15, 2010|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=February 16, 2010|archive-date=February 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216144146/http://www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/news/2010/02/15/12883441-sun.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Speed skating events were delayed due to breakdowns of the [[ice resurfacer]]s supplied by Olympia, an official sponsor of the Games.<ref name="ice resurfacing">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61F12C20100216?type=sportsNews|title=Speed skating ice woes threaten green sheen|date=February 16, 2010|publisher=Reuters|access-date=February 16, 2010|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106140230/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61F12C20100216?type=sportsNews|url-status=live}}</ref>

Thousands of tickets were voided by organizers when weather conditions made standing-room-only areas unsafe.<ref name=spiegelol>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,678465,00.html|author=spiegelonline sport|title=Möge das Wirrwarr gewinnen.|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|date=February 18, 2010|access-date=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219045841/http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0%2C1518%2C678465%2C00.html|archive-date=February 19, 2010|url-status=live }}</ref> Visitors were also upset that, as in past Olympics, medal ceremonies required separate admission<ref name=spiegelol/> and blocks of VIP tickets reserved for sponsors and dignitaries were unused at events.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/Olympic+tickets+going+unused/2572915/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225091633/http://www.vancouversun.com/Olympic%2Btickets%2Bgoing%2Bunused/2572915/story.html|archive-date=February 25, 2010|title=VIP Olympic tickets going unused|date=February 15, 2010|publisher=Vancouver Sun|access-date=February 18, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref> Other glitches and complaints have included confusion by officials at the start of the February 16 [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's pursuit|men's]] and [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's pursuit|women's biathlon pursuit]] races, and restricted access to the Olympic flame cauldron on the Vancouver waterfront.<ref>Gustus, Lauren, ([[Gannett News Service]]), "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2010/02/gns_army_teela_olympics_021610/ Starter error frustrates biathletes, guardsman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513010948/http://militarytimes.com/news/2010/02/gns_army_teela_olympics_021610/|date=May 13, 2012 }}", ''[[Military Times]]'', February 18, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/oly/6872521.html|last=Barron|first=David|title=BURNING ISSUES:Officials get cauldron right at "Glitch Games"|publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=February 18, 2010|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=February 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220050201/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/oly/6872521.html|url-status=live }}</ref>

===Opposition===
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{{main|Opposition of 2010 Vancouver Olympics}}
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Opposition to the Olympic Games was expressed by activists and politicians, including [[Lower Mainland]] [[mayor]]s [[Derek Corrigan]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.canada.com/burnabynow/news/story.html?id=47daeb92-861a-410f-9b6f-8c8f36319863 |title=Mayor is no fan of Olympic politics. But he did attend four hockey games and a speedskating event |access-date=March 30, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }} Corrigan's concern was with the politics in the site selection, notably his city losing out to another for the site of the speedskating oval.</ref>
and [[North Vancouver, British Columbia (district municipality)|Richard Walton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/poland-confirms-olympic-doping-case-1.873626|title=Vancouver View|publisher=Areavoices.com|year=2010|access-date=July 1, 2010|archive-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017012221/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/poland-confirms-olympic-doping-case-1.873626|url-status=live }}</ref> Many of the public pre-Olympic events held in Vancouver were attended by [[protest]]ers.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Lee|title=Protesters arrested at Olympic flag illumination|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=2ae5bf05-2367-4ee0-b08a-3800325f181a|work=[[The Vancouver Sun]]|date=March 13, 2007|access-date=July 7, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021220445/http://canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=2ae5bf05-2367-4ee0-b08a-3800325f181a|archive-date=October 21, 2007 }}</ref>

On Saturday, February 13, as part of a week-long Anti-Olympic Convergence, protesters smashed windows of the [[Downtown Vancouver]] location of [[Hudson's Bay (retailer)|The Hudson's Bay]] [[department store]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/article-289546/vancouver/2010-heart-attack-disrupts-vancouver-day-two-winter-olympics/|title=2010 Heart Attack disrupts Vancouver on day two of Winter Olympics|publisher=Straight.com|date=February 13, 2010|access-date=January 12, 2011|archive-date=February 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202100815/http://www.straight.com/article-289546/vancouver/2010-heart-attack-disrupts-vancouver-day-two-winter-olympics/|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://sports.ca.msn.com/olympics/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23470742/ Vancouver police lay charges in weekend riot] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Protesters later argued that the [[Hudson's Bay Company]], "has been a symbol of [[colonialism|colonial oppression]] for centuries" as well as a major sponsor of the 2010 Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/w2-forum-focuses-black-bloc-tactics-february-13-protest-against-vancouver-olympics|title=W2 forum focuses on Black bloc tactics in February&nbsp;13&nbsp;protest against Vancouver Olympics|publisher=Straight.com|date=February 20, 2010|access-date=January 12, 2011|archive-date=January 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114235831/http://www.straight.com/blogra/w2-forum-focuses-black-bloc-tactics-february-13-protest-against-vancouver-olympics|url-status=live }}</ref>

Some of the issues reflected in the opposition continue the themes identified in opposition to all Olympic games, some of which are outlined in anti-Olympics activist and Professor of Sociology Helen Jefferson Lenskyj's books ''Olympic Industry Resistance'' (2007) and ''Inside the Olympic Industry'' (2000), which examined a number of different Olympic Games prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics.<ref>[http://www.sunypress.edu/p-4631-olympic-industry-resistance.aspx Olympic Industry Resistance<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170952/http://www.sunypress.edu/p-4631-olympic-industry-resistance.aspx|date=December 31, 2009 }}</ref>
These issues of concern, underlying the opposition to any and all Olympic Games, include:

* Displacement of [[low-income]] residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/anti-olympics-movement-targeted-some-15-visu-joint-intelligence-group-visits-in-48-hours/|title=Anti-Olympics movement targeted: Some 15 VISU Joint Intelligence Group visits in 48 hours &#124; San Francisco Bay View|date=June 13, 2009|publisher=Sfbayview.com|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100505144933/http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/anti-olympics-movement-targeted-some-15-visu-joint-intelligence-group-visits-in-48-hours/|archive-date=May 5, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2175|title=Protesting the Olympics? – Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA)|publisher=Accuracy.org|date=February 12, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612231056/http://accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2175|archive-date=June 12, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=The Earthtimes|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308028,olympics-take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side-in-vancouver.html|title=Olympics? Take a walk on the wild side in Vancouver – Feature : Sports|publisher=Earthtimes.org|date=February 8, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-date=July 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706210818/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308028,olympics-take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side-in-vancouver.html|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/SPORTS/706060329/1004/SPORTS|title=Olympic games evict millions: Times Argus Online|publisher=Timesargus.com|date=June 6, 2007|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304191038/http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070606%2FSPORTS%2F706060329%2F1004%2FSPORTS|archive-date=March 4, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Anticipated [[human trafficking]] for the purpose of forced prostitution.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Keilholz|first1=Doerthe|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2008/09/04/HumanTraffic/|title=The Tyee — Will Olympics Be Magnet for Human Traffickers?|publisher=Thetyee.ca|date=September 4, 2008|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204214714/http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/09/04/HumanTraffic/|archive-date=February 4, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Kathie Wallace|url=http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/commentary/2010/02/02/human-trafficking-alive-and-well-2010-olympics|title=Human Trafficking Alive and Well for the 2010 Olympics &#124; The Vancouver Observer – Vancouver Olympics News Blogs Events Reviews|publisher=The Vancouver Observer|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221082743/http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/commentary/2010/02/02/human-trafficking-alive-and-well-2010-olympics|archive-date=February 21, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Barber|first1=Mike|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/2010wintergames/sports/2010wintergames/Vancouver+Olympics+failing+curb+trafficking+group/2542883/story.html|title=Vancouver Olympics get an 'F' for failing to curb sex trafficking: group|publisher=Montrealgazette.com|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412063706/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/2010wintergames/sports/2010wintergames/Vancouver%2BOlympics%2Bfailing%2Bcurb%2Btrafficking%2Bgroup/2542883/story.html|archive-date=April 12, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref>

====First Nations opposition====
Although the Aboriginal governments of the [[Squamish Nation|Squamish]], [[Musqueam Indian Band|Musqueam]], [[Lil'wat First Nation|Lil'wat]] and [[Tsleil-Waututh First Nation|Tsleil-Waututh]] (the "Four Host First Nations"), on whose traditional territory the Games were held, signed a protocol in 2004<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070808160218/http://fourhostfirstnations.com/downloads/4HN_Protocol_Final_Nov%2024.pdf 4HN_Protocol_Final_Nov 24.pub]</ref> in support of the games,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fourhostfirstnations.com/|title=Four Host First Nations|publisher=Four Host First Nations|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108042742/http://www.fourhostfirstnations.com/|archive-date=January 8, 2010|url-status=dead }}</ref> there was opposition to the Olympics from some [[indigenous people|indigenous]] groups and supporters. Although the [[Lil'wat]] branch of the [[St'at'imc Nation]] is a co-host of the Games, a splinter group from the [[Seton Lake First Nation|Seton]] band known as the St'at'imc of Sutikalh, who have also opposed the Cayoosh Ski Resort, feared the Olympics would bring unwanted tourism and real estate sales to their territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warriorpublications.com/?q=node/22|title=Sutikalh Re-occupation Camp|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=March 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303145626/http://www.warriorpublications.com/?q=node%2F22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1738|title=It's all about the Land|publisher=The Dominion|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727034649/http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1738|url-status=live}}</ref>

Local aboriginal people, as well as Canadian [[Inuit]], initially expressed concern over the choice of an [[inukshuk]] as the symbol of the Games, with some Inuit leaders such as former [[Nunavut]] Commissioner [[Peter Irniq]] stating that the inukshuk is a culturally important symbol to them. He said that the "Inuit never build inuksuit with head, legs and arms. I have seen inuksuit [built] more recently, 100 years maybe by non-Inuit in Nunavut, with head, legs and arms. These are not called inuksuit. These are called [[inunguat]], imitation of man."<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic inukshuk irks Inuit leader|publisher=[[CBC.ca]] Sports|date=April 27, 2005|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympic-inukshuk-irks-inuit-leader-1.548870|access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719171555/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/04/26/olympic-logo050426.html|url-status=live }}</ref> Local aboriginal groups also expressed annoyance that the design did not reflect the [[Coast Salish peoples|Coast Salish]] and [[Interior Salish]] native culture from the region the Games are being held in, but rather that of the Inuit, who are indigenous to the Arctic far from Vancouver.

===Doping===
On March 11, 2010, it was reported that the Polish cross country skier [[Kornelia Marek]] was tested positive for [[Erythropoietin|EPO]] by the [[Polish Olympic Committee]]. If found guilty of doping by the International Olympic Committee, Marek and the relay teams would be disqualified and stripped of their Vancouver results. She would also be banned from the [[2014 Winter Olympics|next Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]], [[Russia]], in 2014.

Marek denied taking any banned substances, but the backup "B" sample from the Vancouver doping lab confirmed the "A" sample.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jes9QFNtEQg_moCp_Y3LNuLOsU0w|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100318025712/http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jes9QFNtEQg_moCp_Y3LNuLOsU0w|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2010|title=The Canadian Press: Polish cross-country skier Marek tests positive for EPO at Vancouver Olympics|date=March 18, 2010}}</ref>

On October 9, 2017, the IOC announced that three positive doping cases had been found from their re-analysis programme from the 2010 games. All three cases belonged to the same athlete, whose identity was not released at the time. The IOC had re-tested 1,195 urine samples from the games out of the 1,710 taken, which equates to 70%, as part of their re-analysis programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/vancouver-2010-re-analysis-programme-and-pre-games-anti-doping-taskforce-to-provide-level-playing-field-for-all-clean-athletes-at-pyeongchang-2018|title=Vancouver 2010 re-analysis programme and Pre-Games Anti-Doping Taskforce to provide level playing field for all clean athletes at PyeongChang 2018|date=October 10, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-date=October 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011233227/https://www.olympic.org/news/vancouver-2010-re-analysis-programme-and-pre-games-anti-doping-taskforce-to-provide-level-playing-field-for-all-clean-athletes-at-pyeongchang-2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Weeks later, the athlete was confirmed to be Slovenian biathlete [[Teja Gregorin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biathlonworld.com/news/detail/ibu-press-release-positive-findings-from-ioc-retests-in-vancouver|title=IBU Press Release: Positive Findings from IOC Retests in Vancouver - International Biathlon Union - IBU - International Biathlon Union - IBU|website=www.biathlonworld.com|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232135/http://www.biathlonworld.com/news/detail/ibu-press-release-positive-findings-from-ioc-retests-in-vancouver|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Mascots==
{{Main|Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk}}
The mascots of the 2010 Winter Olympics are a spirit bear named Miga and a Sasquatch named Quatchi.

==Legacy==
[[File:Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper & Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean @ 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Heads of State Reception.jpg|thumb|[[Prime Minister of Canada]] [[Stephen Harper]] and [[Governor General of Canada]] [[Michaelle Jean]] at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Heads of State Reception]]
The massive celebratory crowds in downtown Vancouver were highly praised by the IOC. [[Jacques Rogge]], the president of IOC, indicated that "the way Vancouver embraced these Games was extraordinary. This is really something unique and has given a great atmosphere for these Games."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?id=4956641|title=Vancouver atmosphere will be tough to match|work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=March 1, 2010|agency=Associated Press|access-date=March 5, 2010|location=Vancouver|archive-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017012221/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=4956641|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rogge 'happy' but luge death overshadows Vancouver|url=http://news.ph.msn.com/sports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3914730|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=February 28, 2010|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5nzkxVeGL?url=http://news.ph.msn.com/sports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3914730|archive-date=March 5, 2010|access-date=March 5, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy }}</ref> The atmosphere surrounding the Olympics, and its inclusion of foreign delegates and guests, was also praised, with many seasoned Winter Olympic observers putting the games at, or near, the top of the list of best ever Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Were these Winter Olympics the best ever?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jamespearce/2010/02/worst_ever_these_olympics_may.html|publisher=BBC|access-date=December 16, 2010|author=James Pearce|date=February 28, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110125054705/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jamespearce/2010/02/worst_ever_these_olympics_may.html|archive-date=January 25, 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> They were also the best watched Winter Olympics since the [[1994 Olympics]] in Lillehammer.<ref>{{cite web|title=After seven days, Olympic ratings biggest since '94|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/winter-olympic-ratings-biggest-since-94-2010-02-19|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=December 16, 2010|author=David B. Wilkerson|date=February 19, 2010|archive-date=February 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225153347/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/winter-olympic-ratings-biggest-since-94-2010-02-19|url-status=live}}</ref> They are also mentioned alongside the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney 2000]] Summer games in regards to the best atmosphere. A large part is credited to the citizens of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada.<ref>{{cite news|last=Donegan|first=Lawrence|title=Vancouver Winter Olympics Review: 'Mood on the streets was wonderful'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/audio/2010/mar/01/winter-olympics-canada-review|work=The Guardian|format=Audio|date=March 1, 2010|access-date=March 5, 2010|location=London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100303074824/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/audio/2010/mar/01/winter-olympics-canada-review|archive-date=March 3, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref>

Some members of the media (mostly, and particularly the [[Media of the United Kingdom|British media]]) criticized the Own the Podium and criticized the celebrations as having been somewhat nationalistic,<ref>{{cite news|title=U.K. press slams Canada's hosting of Games|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/u-k-press-slams-canada-s-hosting-of-games-1.932091|publisher=CBC|access-date=December 16, 2010|date=February 15, 2010|archive-date=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218141927/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/15/host-canada-criticism.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Vancouver Games continue downhill slide from disaster to calamity|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/15/vancouver-winter-olympics-2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 16, 2010|author=Lawrence Donegan|date=February 15, 2010|location=London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110127071410/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/15/vancouver-winter-olympics-2010|archive-date=January 27, 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> but this was not an opinion shared by many. Some suggested that the British media were making these criticisms in order to make the upcoming [[2012 Summer Olympics]] more appealing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Britain's Media are Failing at The Vancouver Olympic Games|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-miah/why-britains-media-are-fa_b_470119.html|publisher=Huffington Post|author=Andy Miah|date=February 20, 2010|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=March 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301034508/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-miah/why-britains-media-are-fa_b_470119.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lord [[Sebastian Coe]], chairman of the [[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games|2012 London Olympic Games Organizing Committee]], attended the Vancouver Olympics to see how the city coped with the challenges of hosting. Lord Coe noted the Games had "gradually recovered from its tumultuous start" and queried that he "never thought the British would find rivals in their preoccupation with the weather which is almost elevated to an Olympic event" as he credited [[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]] for meeting unforeseen challenges such as the unseasonably warm weather of Cypress Mountain. Coe added "Rarely have I seen a host city so passionate and so ready to embrace the Games".<ref name="telegraph1"/><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/18/sebastian-coe-winter-olympics Sebastian Coe defends Vancouver Winter Olympics from critics|Sport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328022520/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/18/sebastian-coe-winter-olympics|date=March 28, 2017 }}. theguardian.com (February 18, 2010). Retrieved on 2014-04-12.</ref>

The Vancouver Olympics also organized and hosted the first [[Pride House]] for [[LGBT]] athletes in the history of the event.<ref>[https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/pride-house-a-necessity-for-all-olympics-not-just-sochi "IOC refuses to stand up for gay athletes"] . ''[[National Post]]'', August 10, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pride House: Safe haven at the Games|first=Evan|last=Mitsui|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/pride-house-safe-haven-at-the-games-1.930567|newspaper=[[CBC.ca]]|date=14 February 2010|access-date=9 October 2010|archive-date=August 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822084438/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/14/f-pride-house-olympics.html|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Dean|title=Why Pride House is the most significant legacy of the 2010 Olympics|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pride-house-vancouver-olympics-1.5463687|work=[[CBC News]]|date=16 February 2020|access-date=23 July 2020|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902224004/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pride-house-vancouver-olympics-1.5463687|url-status=live }}</ref>

===Funding===
Directly as a result of Canada's medal performance at the 2010 Olympics, the [[Government of Canada]] announced in the [[2010 Canadian federal budget|2010 federal budget]], a new commitment of $34 million over the next two years towards programs for athletes planning to compete in future Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/More+cash+podium+program/2644957/story.html|title=More cash for Own the Podium|date=March 4, 2010|work=[[Vancouver Sun]]|publisher=Canwest Publishing|access-date=March 5, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> This is in addition to the $11 million per year federal government commitment to the [[Own the Podium]] program.

Also, as a result of hosting the 2010 Olympics, the [[British Columbia government]] pledged to restore funding for sports programs and athlete development to 2008 levels, which amounts to $30 million over three years.<ref>{{cite news
|url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/post-games-no-cash-earmarked-for-own-the-podium/article1487676/
|title = No cash earmarked for Own the Podium
|date = March 4, 2010|work= [[Vancouver Sun]]|publisher= Canwest Publishing
|access-date = March 5, 2010
|location=Toronto|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100304233456/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/post-games-no-cash-earmarked-for-own-the-podium/article1487676/|archive-date=March 4, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref>

=== Usage of venues after the Olympic Games ===

Unlike at previous Games, all new venues were designed with their post-Games use in mind. The [[Richmond Olympic Oval]] was converted from a speed skating oval into an indoor multi-sports centre,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richmond Olympic Oval |url=https://www.cannondesign.com/our-work/work/city-of-richmond-richmond-olympic-oval/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=CannonDesign |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301172802/https://www.cannondesign.com/our-work/work/city-of-richmond-richmond-olympic-oval/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Hillcrest Centre]] is now a multi-purpose [[community centre]] with hockey rink and swimming pool<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hillcrest Centre - Community + recreation Wood Design + Construction |url=https://www.naturallywood.com/project/hillcrest-centre/ |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=naturally:wood |language=en-US |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301172802/https://www.naturallywood.com/project/hillcrest-centre/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Whistler Olympic Park]] is used for public recreation, athlete training, and competition events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.whistlersportlegacies.com/whistler-olympic-park/overview |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Whistler Sport Legacies |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301172802/https://www.whistlersportlegacies.com/whistler-olympic-park/overview |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{IOC seealso|games=2010 Winter Olympics }}
* [[2010 Winter Olympics victory ceremonies]]

==Notes==
:'''A.''' {{note label|note01}} Miga and Quatchi were mascots for the Olympic Games, while Sumi was the mascot for the Paralympic Games. Mukmuk is considered a [[sidekick]], not a full mascot.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Official reports'''
* {{cite book|author1=Government of Canada|title=The Government Of Canada and The 2010 Vancouver Olympic And Paralympic Winter Games: Canada's Games|date=2010|publisher=Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada|isbn=978-1-100-15721-4|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-68853}}
* {{cite book|author1=VANOC|title=Vancouver 2010: Bid Report|date=November 2009|publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]]|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-76494|language=en|series= Official Report of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games|ref={{sfnref|VANOC|2010a}}}}
* {{cite book|author1=VANOC|title=Vancouver 2010: Staging the Olympic Winter Games, Knowledge report|date=September 2010|publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]]|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-76494|language=en|series= Official Report of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games|ref={{sfnref|VANOC|2010b}}}}
* {{cite book|author1=VANOC|title=Vancouver 2010: Sustainability report: 2009–10|date=2010|publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]]|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-76494|language=en|series= Official Report of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games|ref={{sfnref|VANOC|2010c}}}}
* {{cite book|author1=VANOC|title=Consolidated Financial Statements: Vancouver Organizing Committee For The 2010 Olympic And Paralympic Winter Games: For The Cumulative Period From September 30, 2003 (Incorporation) To July 31, 2010|date=December 17, 2010|publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|VANOC]]|url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-186598|series=VANOC Annual Report}}

'''Other works'''
* {{cite book|last1=Monnin|first1=Éric|title=De Chamonix à Sotchi: Un siècle d'olympisme en hiver|date=2014|location=Paris|publisher=DESIRIS|isbn=978-2-36403-066-4|language=French|trans-title=From Chamonix to Sochi: A Century of Olympism in Winter}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author1=David Wallechinsky|author2=David Wallechinsky & Jaime Loucky|title=The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6EThoEOnGuUC&pg=PP1|edition=8th|date=October 9, 2009|publisher=D&M Publishers Incorporated|isbn=978-1-55365-502-2|access-date=January 28, 2012 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Vancouver 2010}}
{{wikinews category|Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games}}
* {{IOC games|games=2010 Winter Olympics }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100228081422/http://www.vancouver2010.com/ Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, official website]
* {{YouTube|u=VANOCwebteam|Vancouver Olympic Committee}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110208031650/http://whistler2010.com/ The official Whistler website of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|woly}}
{{s-bef|before=[[2006 Winter Olympics|Turin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=XXI Olympic Winter Games<br/>[[Vancouver]]|years=2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[2014 Winter Olympics|Sochi]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Olympic Games}}
{{Events at the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
{{Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
{{2010 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Sports in Canada}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Olympics|Canada|Sports|2010s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winter Olympics 2010}}

[[Category:2010 Winter Olympics| ]]
[[Category:2010 in sports in British Columbia]]
[[Category:2010 in winter sports|Olympics]]
[[Category:2010 in multi-sport events]]
[[Category:Winter multi-sport events in Canada|2010 Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic Games in Canada|2010]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Vancouver]]
[[Category:Winter Olympics by year|2010]]
[[Category:February 2010 sports events in Canada]]