Vancouver 2010

The 10th Winter Paralympics came to an end with the closing ceremonies in Vancouver on Sunday (March 21, 2010). The International Paralympic Committee and Otto Bock first presented their joint exhibition “Spirit in Motion – Discover What Moves Us”. 23,749 visitors were welcomed to the exhibition in the Snow Dome.

These numbers exceed even the boldest expectations. What also impresses employees in the Snow Dome is the emotions evoked among guests by the presentation. People come to Whistler in order to go skiing or watch events at the Paralympics. Yet the stream of visitors to the Snow Dome, which is open daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, never stops.

Many guests thanked the IPC and Otto Bock employees as they left the exhibition. Comments were frequently heard that insights into the history of the Paralympics, athlete biographies and medical technology that restores everyday mobility and supports a career in sports revealed interesting background information. “To be honest, I wondered what the point of this event just 14 days after the Olympic Games was supposed to be,” so one Canadian living in Whistler. “Now I know why the Paralympics are important to us.”

The Canadians are proving to be excellent hosts. Interest was first sparked by the opening ceremonies in Vancouver.

After Beijing 2008 set the bar for the Summer Games, Vancouver can now make the claim to have hosted “the best games ever” for the Winter Paralympics. IPC President Sir Phil Craven and Professor Näder agreed on that point early on. There is widespread agreement that this exhibition has to be seen again. Delegation members from London and Sochi indicated their interest.