| Renting a home for the 2010 Winter Olympics in | | | | The Games venues can be easily accessed by |
| Vancouver or Whistler? | | | | Vancouver's excellent public transportation system |
| The Winter Olympic Games like the Summer | | | | which consists of public buses, Sky Train (light |
| Olympic Games are held once every four years. | | | | train), Sea Bus(passenger ferry) and the West |
| The last Winter Olympic Games were held Torino | | | | Coast Express( rail service). The Canada Line, a |
| in Italy in 2006. On July 3rd 2003, the Canadian | | | | new rapid rail service linking the Vancouver |
| city of Vancouver was awarded the Winter | | | | waterfront to Richmond and Vancouver |
| Olympic Games and subsequently the mayor of | | | | International Airport will also become functional in |
| Vancouver, Sam Sullivan received the Olympic | | | | mid- 2009 well in time for the games. Additionally |
| flag during the closing ceremony of the Torino | | | | the Olympic Bus Network will provide access to |
| games. This flag is currently on display at the | | | | the games venues located in Whistler. Further |
| Vancouver City Hall where it will remain until the | | | | Vancouver's public transport network is disabled |
| Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic | | | | friendly as well. VANOC wants the Games to be |
| Games. These Winter Olympic Games which will | | | | environmentally sustainable and are encouraging |
| be known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or | | | | spectators to only make use of Vancouver's |
| the 21st Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver | | | | excellent public transport to gain access to the |
| and its nearby resort city of Whistler, British | | | | many events of the Games. |
| Columbia between February 12th and 28th 2010. | | | | 2010 Accommodations :: Vancouver Rental Homes |
| After the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, | | | | for the Olympic games |
| Vancouver will also host the 2010 Paralympic | | | | Along with the various sports and infrastructural |
| Winter Games from the 12th to the 21st of | | | | facilities, VANOC is also involved in creating |
| March 2010. | | | | accommodation facilities for the many athletes, |
| Vancouver Rentals -an ideal location | | | | officials and accredited media personnel for the |
| Vancouver which is often ranked as one of the | | | | 2010 Winter Games. While the athletes will be |
| top cities in the world to live in is known for its | | | | housed at the newly constructed Olympic Villages |
| beautiful natural scenery, temperate climate, | | | | in downtown Vancouver and in the scenic |
| cleanliness and vibrant multi-cultural society. | | | | Cheakamus Valley in Whistler, VANOC has also |
| Vancouver's International Airport which is located | | | | negotiated with local hotels to provide rooms for |
| in Metro Vancouver has direct air links with | | | | 20,000 officials, media personnel and sponsors |
| various major cities around the globe as well as | | | | under a contract that it has with the IOC. As a |
| several other Canadian cities. This makes getting | | | | result of which there is currently a room block in |
| to Vancouver relatively easy for participants and | | | | place for many Vancouver hotels and hotel |
| spectators. Moreover the resort city of Whistler | | | | inventory will only become available closer to the |
| which is co-hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic | | | | Games. |
| Games and is located just 125 km away from | | | | If you have been lucky enough to score a ticket |
| Vancouver is renowned for its excellent winter | | | | for one of the many events of the 2010 Winter |
| sports and various other recreational facilities. | | | | Games, you might want to make accommodation |
| Preparing for the Games | | | | plans for the Games at the earliest so as to avoid |
| Both the host cities of Vancouver and Whistler | | | | paying astronomical rates closer to Games. Apart |
| have been undergoing intense preparations for the | | | | from hotels, a variety of nontraditional |
| games in the form of creation of new sporting, | | | | accommodation options are also available to you |
| transport and infrastructural facilities in order to | | | | both in Vancouver and Whistler like B&Bs, |
| welcome the many participants, officials, | | | | cruise ships and the increasing popular home |
| members of the international media and | | | | rentals. In fact many Vancouver homeowners are |
| spectators who will be traveling to Vancouver for | | | | looking to cash in on the Olympics by offering |
| the games. It is estimated that 5500 athletes and | | | | their homes for rent during the Games. These |
| officials from more than eighty participating | | | | rental homes are being advertised on various |
| nations will be attending the Winter Olympic | | | | vacation rental websites. A search in Yahoo using |
| Games while 1350 athletes and officials from over | | | | the search phrase Vancouver Rental Homes will |
| forty nations will attend the Paralympics Games. | | | | point you in the right direction. |
| In addition to these athletes and officials, more | | | | How much will it cost you to rent a vacation |
| than 10,000 media personnel from various national | | | | rental for the 2010 Winter Games? |
| and international agencies will also come to | | | | A quick examination of these classifieds and |
| Vancouver to cover the 2010 Winter Olympic | | | | websites reveal that vacation home rentals for |
| Games. Both the Winter Olympic Games and the | | | | the 2010 Winter Games have an average nightly |
| Paralympic Games are being organized by | | | | asking rate of $1000. These rates further vary |
| Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC). | | | | according the size of the home being offered and |
| Participating Countries | | | | the proximity of the home to the Games. One |
| The National Olympic Committees of more than | | | | bedroom homes in Vancouver currently have an |
| 80 nations will field teams for the 2010 Winter | | | | asking rate that range from approximately $464 |
| Games. Nations need to qualify at least one | | | | upwards per night while homes with more than |
| athlete or team to be a participant in the games. | | | | four bedrooms have an asking rate of |
| The list of participating counties includes countries | | | | approximately $1,500 upwards per night. In |
| that have a long tradition of winter sports like | | | | Whistler, the asking rates for rental homes is |
| Austria, Norway, Denmark, USA and Great Britain | | | | higher as in certain areas there is a shortage of |
| and also several others countries like Kenya and | | | | supply and here rates are as high as $484 per |
| Thailand who are not usually known for their | | | | bedroom night. |
| winter sports exploits. In fact, the games will | | | | In addition to these steep rates, most renters |
| feature many firsts like the first time participation | | | | also expect you to put down a steep damage |
| of the Western African nation of Ghana. The | | | | deposit as a part of your rental agreement. This |
| debutant Ghanaian team will feature 34 year old | | | | damage deposit can range from $1000 to an |
| Ghanian skier Kwame Nkrumah - Acheampong | | | | astronomical $3000 per week. Though this deposit |
| who is known as 'Snow Leopard' and who will be | | | | is refundable it significantly adds to the cost of |
| competing in the slalom and giant slalom skiing | | | | your accommodation at the 2010 Winter Games. |
| events. Similarly the team of the Islamic Republic | | | | If however you want to avoid these steep |
| of Iran will for the first time field a women skier | | | | charges and want to book your vacation rental |
| at the 2010 Winter Games. | | | | from a well established trusted source you might |
| Sporting Events | | | | want to have a look at the rental homes being |
| The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will feature | | | | offered for the 2010 Winter Games by regarded, |
| eighty six medal events in 15 sporting disciplines. | | | | highly ranked and TRUSTED vacation rental |
| These sports include Skiing (alpine skiing, cross | | | | websites. |
| country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, | | | | Bill Board Websites jammed and over crowded |
| freestyle skiing, and snowboard), Skating (speed | | | | with homes will lead to a ton of frustration for |
| skating, figure skating, and short track speed | | | | 2010 Vancouver Whistler accommodations. |
| skating), Bobsleigh (bobsleigh and skeleton), Luge, | | | | Vacation home rental websites also offers a wide |
| Biathlon, Ice Hockey, and Curling. The Paralympic | | | | variety of vacation rentals but there are websites |
| Winter Games will feature five sports Alpine | | | | where the owners and the renters are |
| Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, Ice Sledge | | | | authenticated unlike other channels who offer |
| Hockey, and Wheelchair Curling.. Approximately 1.6 | | | | homes which are not attested or verified. This |
| million tickets have been issued for the various | | | | increases the transparency of the rental process |
| events of the 2010 Winter Games. These tickets | | | | as both the owner and the renter are assured |
| have been available in staggered sales since | | | | that they are entering a genuine agreement. |
| October 2008. | | | | When using one of the many billboard site it is up |
| Many of the 2010 Winter Games venues are | | | | to the renter to investigate the home, owner, |
| located in downtown Vancouver and include the | | | | amenities and location of that particular home. This |
| Canada Hockey Place (Ice hockey), Vancouver | | | | requires lots of time and effort but worth it so |
| Olympic Center, (Curling and Wheel chair | | | | travelers do not show up to a vacant lot. There |
| Curling)the Pacific Coliseum( Figure Skating) and | | | | are a couple TRUSTED SITES for 2010 Winter |
| the UBC Thunderbird Arena( Ice Hockey and ice | | | | game rentals that take the investigation to the |
| sledge hockey). Additionally the Richmond Olympic | | | | next level by using a Vancouver law office to |
| Oval which is located on the banks of the Fraser | | | | facilitate the rental contract for you and verify |
| River will host all the speed skating events while | | | | the home and true owner exist. - For first time |
| Cypress Mountain located in West Vancouver will | | | | travelers spending lots of money on |
| be the location for many of the skiing events. | | | | accommodations this is something to seriously |
| Venues in Whistler include the Whistler Sliding | | | | consider. |
| Centre, Whistler Creekside and the Whistler | | | | How does the rental process at one of the better |
| Olympic Park. | | | | Vacation Home Websites work? Having decided |
| Non Competitive events | | | | on a rental, the renter then pays the rental fees |
| Apart from these sporting venues, the games will | | | | into a trust account that is maintained by a law |
| also feature several non competition venues like | | | | office retained by the company. The rental fees |
| the BC Place Stadium located in downtown | | | | are then held in this account to be dispersed to |
| Vancouver which will be the location for the | | | | the owner only after the renter has vacated the |
| Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2010 | | | | premises. This process ensures that you are not |
| Olympic Winter Games and the Opening | | | | sending your rental money to an unknown |
| Ceremony for the 2010 Paralympic Winter | | | | unverified entity that can misuse the funds and |
| Games. This 55,000 seat stadium which features | | | | scam you out of your money. The process also |
| the largest air-supported stadium roof in North | | | | aids the owner who is comforted by the fact |
| America will also be the site for the nightly | | | | that he will be paid for the lease of his property |
| Victory Ceremonies presentations which will be | | | | and will not be subject to payment frauds which |
| held before a live audience of 35,000 people. | | | | are quite common with rental agreements that |
| Medals won in Whistler will be awarded nightly at | | | | are finalized on the Internet. The rental process |
| the Whistler Olympic Celebration Plaza with about | | | | also doesn't require you to plunk down a hefty |
| 8000 people in attendance. | | | | damage deposit for your rental; instead all renters |
| This is the first time in the Olympic Games | | | | have to purchase a $39 insurance plan which |
| history that the Opening and Closing ceremonies | | | | covers home owners up to $3000. This rental |
| will be staged in an enclosed venue which will | | | | process instituted by safeguards the interests of |
| afford the participants, performers and | | | | both the renters and the homeowners. The |
| spectators protection from the elements. The | | | | process is transparent, trusted and relatively |
| hosting of the ceremonies in an indoor venue will | | | | inexpensive as well. |
| also help the organizers in conceptualizing, creating | | | | Owners should look for websites that are actively |
| and hosting a spectacular show which is rumored | | | | spending money advertising their homes to |
| to feature state of the art lighting, projection, | | | | renters. |
| sound and special effects as well as all kinds of | | | | The bottom line here is that if you are just one |
| performers, dancers and athletes who will | | | | of hundreds of homes on a website for |
| showcase the vibrant history and culture of | | | | 2010Rentals and the site in not being promoted |
| Canada. | | | | with Facebook, Google, Yahoo, AdWords etc... in |
| Excellent Public Transport system | | | | Countries beyond BC look elsewhere!! |