Vancouver – A dynamic new identity representing the journey of a Paralympic athlete was introduced today as the Official Emblem of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
The unveiling of the emblem before a crowd of thousands was the highlight of a free outdoor celebration in mountain resort of Whistler, BC featuring Canadian music stars, including Manitoba’s Chantal Kreviazuk, Toronto’s The Philosopher Kings, Vancouver’s Spirit of the West and Jim Byrnes and Victoria’s Jeremy Fisher.
The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Emblem – Man Becomes Mountain – incorporates a dynamic human form into West Coast blue and green colours in clean graphics that represent Vancouver and Whistler’s lush coastal forests, dramatic mountains and majestic sky.
The emblem also reflects the athletes’ mountainous inner strength and personal transformation as they push themselves to new heights in the pursuit of excellence. Man Becomes Mountain symbolizes the heart of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, a celebration that will bring together Paralympic athletic heroes and Canada’s passion for sport and nature in one of the world’s most breathtaking winter playgrounds.
The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Emblem was designed by Karacters Design Group of Vancouver. It joins the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Emblem – a contemporary interpretation of an inukshuk known as Ilanaaq – to form the core visual identity for the 2010 Winter Games. Over the next three and a half years, the emblems and associated designs and colours will be featured in thousands of applications such as licensed products, street banners, publications and rink boards at sport venues. These applications will make the Vancouver 2010 Emblems some of the most recognized marks in the world.
A number of decorated winter and summer Paralympians including Brian McKeever (cross-country skiing), Lauren Wolstencroft (alpine skiing), Brad Lennea (alpine sit ski), Phil Chew (alpine skiing), Sonja Gaudet (wheelchair curling),VANOC Board member and Paralympian Patrick Jarvis (athletics) and Canadian Paralympic Board Member Carla Qualtrough (swimming) offered their stories of competition, struggle and dedication throughout the celebration.
Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined the celebrations and addressed the spectators through a special video message. A number of VANOC partners and officials also participated including Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada; Hon. Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and the Olympics, Province of British Columbia; Chief Leonard Andrew, Lil’wat Nation; Jack Poole, Vancouver 2010 Board Chair; John Furlong, Vancouver 2010 CEO; Mayor Sam Sullivan, City of Vancouver and Mayor Ken Melamed, Resort Municipality of Whistler.
The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will include alpine skiing, cross country skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling and will be staged in venues throughout the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Vancouver. More than 40 countries are expected to participate with an estimated 1,700 Paralympic athletes and team officials. The 10-day competition with more than 55 medal events will take place from March 12 – 21, 2010 following the Olympic Winter Games.
Please note: Graphic standards and media usage guidelines are available at http://www.vancouver2010.com/ . For all other emblem formats, please contact VANOC media relations.
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.
Media Contacts:
Mary Fraser
Vancouver 2010
+001 778.328.3667
Chris Brumwell
Vancouver 2010
+001 778.328.6269