Leading up to the games, we planned, prepared, and set our sights on a gold medal performance to ensure that passengers would have an efficient and memorable experience at the airport. The Airport Authority and our partners worked hard to implement these plans, especially on YVR’s biggest day -  March 1, 2010 when 39,000 passengers departed from the airport.

Our hard work has not gone unnoticed; Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) British Columbia chapter felt that our performance was worthy of their annual Influence Award. The Influence Award is given to an organization that is not directly linked to the meeting planning industry, but supports the development of meetings and conventions in B.C.

Paul Levy, Vice President, Planning 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games accepted the award on behalf of Vancouver Airport Authority on National Meeting Industry Day (April 15) at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

For more information about the Meeting Professionals International BC Chapter visit their website.

Images from the MPI B.C. website

On the day following the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, YVR said goodbye to Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee and numerous Paralympic athletes, coaches and team members as they travelled home.  Many of the athletes seen at the airport today have become familiar faces after their memorable and inspirational performances during the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Sir Philip Craven shook hands with athletes and volunteers as he made his way through YVR on his return journey to England.

Russian national team members checked in for their flight home carrying with them unforgettable experiences, souvenirs and great stories to tell  — along with a lot of oversize luggage and specialized equipment.

Specialized equipment and oversize luggage check in at YVR

YVR staff and VANOC volunteers and were on hand to ensure their departure from YVR was smooth and seamless.  Musical entertainment throughout the terminal provided a celebratory theme to the day.

German Gold medalists Verena Bentele and Wilhelm Brem at YVR

There was even time for German Biathalon and Cross-country athletes, Verena Bentele and Wilhelm Brem, to relax and enjoy a golden moment in the warm spring sunshine, much to the enjoyment of passers by.

Sir Philip Craven leaves Vancouver

With March 1, the busiest day in YVR’s history, successfully behind us it would be easy for everyone here at the airport to sit back and reminisce about Olympic arrivals and departures. However, the Games are not over yet! The Paralympic closing ceremonies taking place on March 21 and YVR is expecting busy departure days on Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23.

Although the overall number of departing Paralympians is less than what we saw on March 1, the athletes and teams travel with an extraordinary amount of luggage and equipment. We’re made preparations for the extra people and bags coming through the airport; however, passengers travelling on Monday, March 22 and Tuesday, March 23 are reminded to YVR 3 hours ahead of your flight.

Passenger pick-up and drop-off is still available at the curb, but a large number of buses will also be dropping off athletes and luggage, so you may want to look at alternate means of transportation, such as Canada Line.

YVR and our partners will be working hard to process everyone as quickly and smoothly as possible – but as with any busy day, you may experience lineups. Leave yourself plenty of time to check-in and get through security so you’re not rushed. If you have time to spare you’ll be able to grab a bite to eat, shop at the Olympic stores and enjoy some of the entertainment we have planned.

Czech athletes arrive at YVR to fly home. Having placed their Olympic sized bags in line for airline check-in, some team members limber up for the long flight home by finding space in the busy airport to play hacky sac. Drawing fascinated onlookers, BeeBop, the Vancouver Aquarium mascot, joins in the game and makes an impressive show in his ability to kick the hacky sac and keep it in play.

The Czech Olympians were soon able to move through the check-in process and onto security screening.

Thanks to the Czech team for the great entertainment both at the Olympic Games and at YVR!

Barb, one of our many Airport Authority employees assisting passengers down on the floor, has been documenting Olympic arrivals with her camera - meeting athletes and travellers from around the world.  

Pakistani Alpine Skier, Muhammad Abbas, arrived at YVR yesterday.  What makes his arrival so special is that this is the first time Pakistan has been represented at any Winter Olympics.  Muhammad will make history just by attending these Winter Games.  After his long flight, he was smiling and willing to pose and talk to his well wishers.  His team encouraged people for photo ops and were very excited to discuss this momentous event.  

During the Olympic and Paralympic period, I have been redeployed into an Olympic role where I have been tasked to roam the airport and take pictures to document the event.  From behind the lens, I am in somewhat of a detached observer role.  However, in this instance, I was caught up in the excitement and joy that surrounded this athlete and pleased to be part of a history of Pakistan’s first Winter Olympics.”

- Barb

From roving reporter Meg Comiskey…

Somehow, they know when their teams are arriving. Local communities come to Vancouver International Airport to welcome their athletes and cheer on their upcoming performances at the Games. Armed with flags and signs and frequently in traditional costume, the greeters bring their athletes a little sense of home.

Members of the Korean community waiting to greet their athletes.

While all of the fans cheer on their homeland teams, some are a bit louder than others.  We tend to think of the Swiss as a quiet, conservative people. Not so quiet when they welcomed their athletes on February 5 with cow bells.  Check out the video.

On Sunday, February 7, fans were on site to welcome the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team to YVR. Hayley Wickenheiser signed autographs for proud Canadian supporters.

Growing Champion: Braydon Luscombe, Para Skiing, 16 years old. Hometown: Duncan, Vancouver Island/Coast

Vancouver Airport Authority is proud to announce our sponsorship of Braydon Luscombe, within the Growing Champions™ program where athletes directly benefit from funds to offset their training and competition costs.  As a sponsor, Vancouver Airport Authority will help Braydon get one step closer to his dreams of becoming one of B.C.’s best and representing Canada on the world stage by helping with travel expenses, “It is challenging to meet all the expenses that my training and competition require,” says Braydon. “My parents work very hard to support me in every way they can. It would be great to not have to struggle so much to get to every event because of the cost.”

Braydon Luscombe is an active young athlete with big dreams for the future. “I am 16 years old and a right leg amputee,” says Braydon, who won the Alpine Giant Slalom at the 2005 BC Provincials in addition to placing in the top three in three slalom events at the 2007 BC Winter Games. “I love spending time with children and seeing other disabled people being all they can be.”

Braydon Luscombe, para skiier

Grade 12 student, Braydon participates in many sports including volleyball, basketball, ball hockey and mountain biking. Braydon also volunteers in the community (helping with yard work at a local retirement home) and at school (he was both an organizer and volunteer when his school hosted the 2007 Girls Soccer Championships). In addition, he is a junior counsellor with the War Amps BC Seminar. “I am involved with younger amputee children as a role model and educator,” says Braydon. “We learn to speak on the topics of safety, issues of being an amputee, health and education.”

Braydon was inspired to participate in Para Alpine skiing after meeting Gord Tuck, Paralympian who won medals at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games. Braydon joined the Mt. Washington Adaptive Skiing Program and was hooked, not afraid of failing or falling, Braydon has been skiing competitively ever since and is a proud member of the B.C. Para Alpine Ski Team. Braydon’s goal is training to compete and reach the podium at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

On a recent trip to London,Vancouver Airport Authority employee Shari Sinclair discovered the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games  and sent us a few photos:

Recently, my daughter Asia and I took a trip to Europe visiting Paris, Nice, Venice, Florence, Rome and finally London. On our first day in London we decided to take a three-hour double decker bus tour around the city. Much to my surprise (and delight!) we discovered a Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralymic Winter Games banner at Canada House – right in the middle of Trafalgar Square. Very Cool!We arrived too late to go inside, but got some nice shots of the outside.Trafalgar Square was like the Canadian intersection of London – foreign buildings with Canadian titles; It felt a little like home….

 

This week, we kicked off a cool new program called B.C. Communities Showcase to show off our great province when the world arrives for the 2010 Winter Games.

We’re giving 15 communities across B.C. $10,000 to create an original three-minute video that celebrates what makes their little corner of the province so fantastic.

Between October and the end of the Paralympic Games in March, these 15 mini films will be shown on some of the airport’s large screens, and here online at YVRConnections.com.

Over the next four weeks, our team will be visiting the 15 communities to announce the program and present the cheques, including:

• Campbell River
• Castlegar
• Cranbrook
• Fort St. John
• Kamloops
• Kelowna
• Nanaimo
• Penticton
• Port Hardy
• Prince George
• Prince Rupert
• Terrace
• Tofino
• Victoria
• Williams Lake

It’s up to the local spirit of B.C. Committees in each community to decide who will play filmmaker, and what they want to profile about their region – whether it’s Okanagan wine country, sport fishing in Terrace, or surfing in Tofino. So get out that director’s chair.

We can’t wait to see the results. Check back here for program updates and to see the videos later this summer.