2010Â Mascot Program/Community Engagement

Introduced by Rob Danielson, our speaker today was Russ Horner, Team Leader for Vancouver 2010 Mascot Program/Community Engagement, who offered us a video and informative overview of the 2010 Winter Olympics. He also brought a sample Olympic torch for us to try.

Russ joined the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in January 2008 after a long career in marketing promotions and special events. He has an extensive and unique background in the design, implementation and management of mascot and licensed character programs for theme parks, special events, sports teams and companies. His primary role for the past year included leading the Vancouver 2010 mascots, Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, to more than 300 events in BC, across Canada and around the world. Find out more at http://www.vancouver2010.com/mascot.

Starting in February 2009, there will be a full year of pre-games events, culminating in the Olympic Torch relay in October 2009.  The relay will start in Victoria & be carried by canadians all over Canada by many different forms of transportation.

In January 2010, an Arts Festival will begin and carry on during the Winter Olympic games in February 2010 & the Para-Olympic games in March 2010.  There are plenty of volunteer & homestay opportunities for anyone interested.

Read about all of it at http://www.vancouver2010.com.