About the 2010 Olympic Games

The 2010 Winter Olympic games are being held in Vancouver, a city in the province of British Columbia located in the country of Canada. This marks the 21^st Winter Olympic games, with the previous games being held in 2006 in Turin, Italy. Vancouver managed to beat PyeongChang, South Korea and Salzburg, Austria as possible hosts for the games.

The official 2010 Olympic motto is "With glowing hearts", which is a line in reference to the country's national anthem (O' Canada). The opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled for February 12 and February 28, and both will be held in the BC Place stadium. Venues for games are scattered across Vancouver and Whistler, which is a city atop the Rockie mountains. Venues include the BC Place Stadium, UBC Winter Sports Centre, the Pacific Coliseum, and the Richmond Olympic Oval.

The Olympic mascots were unveiled on April 23, 2005 and are named the Inunnguaq, meaning friends in Inuktitut. They include:

1. Miga, a "mythical sea bird" that is part kermode bear and part orca whale.
2. Mukmuk, a Vancouver Island marmot that is currently listed as an endangered species
3. Sumi, the composite of the hat of an orca whale, the wings of a 'thunderbird' and the legs of a black bear. Sumi is supposed to represent an animal guardian spirit, protector of the wilderness and ancients.
4. and lastly Quatchi, a sasquatch like creature
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The official logo for the Vancouver 2010 games is an inukshuk, which is an intricate stone statue traditionally built by carefully stacking rocks to form shapes and patterns. The logo resembles a standing human with arms outstretched and an open mouth. There has been controversy over the logo, with some Native and indigenous groups claiming the logo appropriates and cheapens their cultural and spiritual heritage. Additionally the destruction of the Eagleridge Bluffs to make room for the olympic village caused further anger as the spot served as an enviornmentally and culturally significant area.

Regardless, the Olympic games marks a period of time where nations across the world can for a short while take rest from the regular war and crime stories that usually make the headlines, and unify as one under the spirit that Olympic games stand for - peace, progress and feats of courage and strength.