Winter Olympic Games
Events > Olympics > Winter > Hosts > Vancouver > Trivia
Vancouver Winter Olympic Trivia
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The 2010 WInter Olympics were the second time that Canada has hosted the Winter Olympics, having been the host for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Canada has also hosted the summer Olympics, in Montreal 1976.
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There were 15 sports on the Winter Olympic Program for 2010 (see current list of sports). The sports of Snowboard Cross and Skier Cross had been added to the program.
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The mens and women's hockey games were played on smaller (60 x 26 m vs 60 x 30) NHL-sized ice for the first time, saving millions of dollars by not having to build a new rink.
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Vancouver became the first Winter Olympics host city to hold the opening and closing ceremonies indoors.
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The three Vancouver Games mascots were Miga, Quatchi and Sumi. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia. Quatchi is a young sasquatch, a popular figure in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. (more about Winter Olympic Mascots).
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At these games Canada won its first gold medal at an Olympic Games it hosted, and also topped the medal tally for the most number of gold medals (14). This was also the record for the most golds won at a single Winter Olympics by any country.
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Ghana's first ever participant at the Winter Olympics, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong (nicknamed the 'Snow Leopard'), competed in the men's alpine skiing slalom event, finishing in 47th (2nd last) place.
