Communities

Introduction

In the years leading up to the Winter Olympics, nations from around the world will seek venues and communities to train in prior to the Games themselves.  While many of the teams will look for training space and time at the Olympic Venues, many other teams will look for the support and partnerships that other regional communities and sport venues can provide.  The Communities program will work to promote, educate and introduce the area to teams coming to train in our region.  The Initiative will also work to boost the visibility and visits to the Partner Communities.  Below are outlined a number of programs that directly involve Five Two Ten Communities.

1.      Community participation levels (proposed)

a.       Host Communities (H) These towns, cities and population centers are at the very heart of the Communities program.  They will be involved with every part of the program, including team hosting, education, sports and business programs. As partners, they will be included in all Five Two Ten Communities Program press releases, public relations and marketing materials.  They will also be included in general information regarding events in their region.

b.      Partner Communities (P) These are areas that will take part in many of the Communities programs, but may not be able to take part in some of the sports programs due to geographical factors.  They will be included in State/Province wide public relations and event information from their region.

c.       Support Communities (S) Cities and towns that are not directly able to participate in more than half of the Communities program, but are interested in supporting the Five Two Ten Program and benefiting from components that they can host.

2.      Community Programs (With proposed participation-H, P, S)

a.       Host Communities

1.      Hosting Host communities are included in every aspect of the Five Two Ten Communities Program.  One of the greatest parts of being a host community is the chance to host teams from around the world.  Visiting athletes, officials and coaches will be invited to join local citizens for activities surrounding their event.  You will have the chance to build relationships that will establish long term opportunities and friendships with people from all parts of the globe.  (H)

2.      Visitors Program This program will work with schools and community groups to connect them with visiting athletes, coaches and Five Two Ten Legacy Leaders (See Below).  They will be invited to speak and take part in discussion panels about their sport, country and other topics. (H)

b.      Promotion and Development

1.      Promotion The Five Two Ten Initiative will work with communities and snow sports areas to bring international snow sport competitions to the region.  The Organizing Committee will work with hotels and other businesses in Host Communities to increase overnight stays.  Participants in the events will be directed to these businesses through print and interactive media.  (H)

2.      Five Two Ten Database The Initiative will work with various national teams to build a database of participant communities.  This database will be made available to all teams that will travel to the 2010 Olympics, and will include in-depth information on lodging, support businesses, training facilities, Five Two Ten Initiative Participation, geographic and other participation.  Five Two Ten Business Partners will be directly linked to the database as well. (H,P,S)

3.      Special Development Areas The Five Two Ten Organizing Committee in special cases, may consider working with Host Communities to improve winter sports infrastructure.  Examples may include ski jump development.  This would only be done in conjunction with existing community groups. (H)

c.       Education

1.      Five Two Ten Indoor Classroom Over the course of the program, the Five Two Ten Program will work with Educational leaders to develop an integrated educational program for Middle School and, possibly, High School programs.  Components will include geography, history, and social studies related to participant countries.  Math and Science units focusing on winter sports will be developed as well.  A winter physical education program will also be developed along with national coach leaders.  (H,P,S)

2.      Five Two Ten Outdoor Classroom In conjunction with the indoor classroom program, the outdoor program will include on-snow sport training, ecology and natural components that help students increase understanding of their region and the wider world.  Visiting Athletes or coaches will be invited to participate where possible.  (H, P, and were practical, S)

3.      Visitors Program This program will work with schools and community groups to connect them with visiting athletes, coaches and Five Two Ten Legacy Leaders (See Below).  They will be invited to speak and take part in discussion panels about their sport, country and other topics (H)

The Communities Program strives to work with local leaders and existing initiatives to augment them.  As such, we seek to build local groups that know their community best, to help implement the Program.  As a benefit to all partnership levels, they will be invited to use the Five Two Ten Communities Logo in their own promotion efforts. 

Here are some possible Community participants: 

BC- West Vancouver, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Penticton, Fernie, Kamloops, Kelowna, Sun Peaks, Whistler, Campbell River, Prince George, Golden

WA- Bellingham, Leavenworth, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Enumclaw, Green Water, Skykomish, Kendall, Sumas, Wenatchee, Winthrop, Spokane

OR-Hood River, Government Camp, Bend, Sun River, Portland

ID-Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene