Whistler Olympic Plaza (formerly Whistler Medals Plaza)

History unfolded at the Whistler Olympic Plaza during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games as athletes realized their Olympic and Paralympic dreams and Whistler celebrated along with them. In fact, more than 100 victory ceremonies took place in Whistler Olympic Plaza, marking the first time a Mountain Host venue has been given such an honour.

Located in the heart of Whistler Village, Whistler Olympic Plaza is designed to be a lasting legacy for generations to come. Following the Games, the plaza will be transformed into an outdoor gathering place for residents and visitors featuring an open grass lawn, amphitheatre seating, an accessible playground, outdoor performance spaces, and public art celebrating the 2010 Winter Games.

The plaza will also include a Legacy Plaza featuring Olympic and Paralympic memorabilia, such as the Olympic cauldron and installations to recognize the contributions of athletes, medal winners, volunteers, government agencies, and partner organizations involved in Whistler's journey to host the 2010 Winter Games.

This major project has been made possible through partnerships with VANOC, the Government of Canada, and a number of charitable organizations. Capital funding from the partners for the construction of the $13.67 million Whistler Olympic Plaza includes $4.2 million from VANOC, $5 million from the Government of Canada, $ .02 million from the RMOW through the hotel tax, and $450,000 from charitable organizations.

The Whistler Olympic Plaza is more than a venue - it will be a permanent gathering place and hub of arts, culture and entertainment for Whistler's locals and visitors alike.

2010 and beyond
Now that the 2010 Games are completed, crews are busy transforming the Whistler Olympic Plaza into a lasting community amenity. Work will be completed in two phases: Phase 2A and Phase 2B. This will include completion of the accessible playground, construction of the legacy plaza and the amphitheatre, as well as extensive landscaping.

Updates
May 4, 2010... Work continues at Whistler Olympic Celebration Plaza. Read more.

Acknowledgements
The Whistler Olympic Plaza project is the result of an extensive community engagement process to establish a collective vision and guiding principles for development, reflecting the long-standing intention of the resort community to develop this site as an important place within the social fabric of Whistler. The Resort Municipality of Whistler recognizes the following partners for their exceptional contributions to this project: Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, and VANOC.