Olympic Stadium – BC Place

The opening and closing ceremony of 2010 Winter Olympics to be held at BC Place

The BC Place stadium – Olympic Stdium for the 2010 Winter Games -  is the first domed arena in all of Canada and is one of the most well known multi-use stadiums in the country.  In fact, it is also the biggest air sustained stadium in the entire globe.

Being the biggest air sustained stadium with the largest roof in all of North America, this venue provides an inimitable protection from the chilly winters outside. The additional advantages include the chance of modern lighting and projection along with special sound effects technology that help add to the enigma of all the ceremonies held here.

Right outside the BC Place Stadium is a monument that has been constructed in order to commemorate the legendary Terry Fox. There is also another smaller monument that stands in the memory of another legend, Percy Williams. Other than these two commemorating monuments, there is also the BC Sports Hall of Fame that exists within the entire premise of the BC Place Stadium. The Hall of Fame is to be found at the Gate A- Level 300. The authorities have undertaken plans to renovate and refurbish the entire stadium area and thereon focus on the installation of a brand new retractable roof. These new projects are scheduled to be completed by the year 2011.

Brief History:

The construction of the BC Place stadium was concluded in the year 1983 and it was erected as a part of the preparations for the World’s Fair Expo, 1986. As already said earlier, the BC Place stadium is the largest air supported domed stadium and just one of its kind in the entire world. The venue has the capacity of seating 60,000 spectators at one go.

The BC Place stadium was built partly to serve to the purpose of attracting a Major League baseball team in the 1980s and 1990s. One of the first chief events held at the BC Place Olympic Stadium was the “A Celebration of Life” on 18th of September, 1984. The ceremony was hosted by Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his papal visit to the Vancouver Archdiocese. The stadium has also been the address to the CFL’s BC Lions right from the year 1983 and has continued to be so till date.

Location:

The BC Place Stadium is situated in downtown Vancouver. Located on the northern side of the picturesque False Creek in Vancouver in British Columbia, this unique sports venue is both owned and thereon operated by the PavCo. PavCo stands for the BC Pavilion Corporation which is a corporation that belongs to the Government of the entire Province of British Columbia.

The stadium is cuddled up in the heart of the most active, bustling, beautiful and spotless cities the world has come to know. The presence of the BC Place stadium helps add to the charisma of the city of Vancouver making all of British Columbia proud with its presence.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games to be held here:

The stadium is all set to get its share of deserved importance and significance as it gears up to host the Opening as well as the Closing ceremonies for the 21st Winter Olympic Games 2010. This international event is about to commence on the 12th of February in Vancouver, British Columbia and will be in session till the 28th of February. Nonetheless, the BC Place stadium will also host the Opening ceremony for the Paralympic Winter Games 2010. And last but not the least, all the nightly Victory Ceremony Presentations will also be held at the BC Place stadium as well.

Given all the various events and ceremonies this particular stadium is about to hold, it will be seating more or less 55,000 spectators combining both the Olympic and Paralympic competitions.

The gates to the BC Place venue will be opening as much as 4 hours before the commencement of the opening and the closing ceremonies of the 21st Winter Olympics 2010. In addition, spectators will also be allowed to enter the premises 2 hours prior to the commencing of the victory ceremonies through the event. So watchers may collect their tickets at the ticket box offices located at the eastern and western side of the venue and get themselves seated properly way before the ceremonies start.