It’s official! After much back-and-forth, discussions, negotiations and re-negotiations – Whistler will indeed be the site of nightly medal presentations during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
In February 2009 as a cost-cutting measure, Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic organizers (VANOC) told Whistler that medals would be awarded at event venues instead of at Whistler’s Celebration Plaza – already under construction. But after much lobbying from Games athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and broadcasters, VANOC was convinced to reconsider the medals plan. The revised $12.8 million Whistler Celebration Sites program, including medals presentations at the plaza site, now includes $6.8 million from VANOC, $5 million from the federal government and $1 million from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).

Whistlers Annual TELUS World Ski and Snowboard festival came to an end on Sunday with tourists coming from all over to enjoy the 10 days of music, arts and world class skiing and snowboarding competitions.

Showcasing the latest progressions in the skiing and snowboarding world, with even the arts events packed full of adrenaline. Combining Canada’s largest free outdoor concert series with career-making showdowns of action sports and lifestyle fashion, photography and film, the best spring snow conditions, and burn-the-candle nightlife, it’s a celebration of everything that’s core to mountain culture. In 14 years, the festival has become North America’s largest annual snow sports and music celebration, spawning imitators around the world, and earning the tag, ‘Mother of All End of Season Parties’.

Each year the festival attracts record numbers to Whistler and with our hotels reporting high occupancy levels, this year was no different. Despite the difficulties in our world wide economy, traveler’s came to Whistler to enjoy the incredible ‘top to bottom’ spring skiing and take in the endless free events including the renowned free outdoor concert series.

Interest in the Whistler Real Estate market has also increased these past few weeks, with sales picking up in most segments of our market.

Last week the Bank of Canada lowered rates by a quarter point resulting in Canada’s prime rate reducing to 2.25%. This came with a commitment, conditional on inflation outlook, to hold the current policy rate to the second quarter for 2010.

This is great news for those looking to buy real estate in Whistler. With our rates at record lows and a buyer’s market mentality, now is the time to take advantage of the incredible Real Estate opportunities available in Whistler.