And they can thank the Comox Valley Spirit of B.C. Community Committee. The Swedish Team will be coming to the Resort in 2009 and 2010, Spirit Committee Chairperson Susan Kelsey said. “They’ve already booked their accommodation.”
Other teams have also expressed interest in using Mount Washington Alpine Resort as a training facility prior to the 2010 Olympics, and some representatives have even toured the Resort and surrounding area. “We’re continuing with our work on team attractions for training on Mount Washington,” Kelsey said. “We’ve had lots of interest from lots of different teams.”
Even though the Olympics are two years away, the Spirit Committee has been busy. “The work we do touches lots of different areas,” Kelsey said. “It’s non-stop. The main thing is raising spirits about the Olympics and getting people excited.”
In February, the committee celebrated Spirit of B.C. Week, and there are plans to hold celebrations for British Columbia’s 15th anniversary.
In March, John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Olympic Committee, visited the Comox Valley along with Olympic mascots Quatchi, Sumi and Miga. “It was very exciting,” Kelsey said. “John Furlong is an excellent speaker.”
In May, the Cowichan Spirit Pole stopped in the Comox Valley. The pole is on a tour around the Province and will be part of the Opening Ceremonies to the Aboriginal Games in the Cowichan Valley later this year.
Kelsey and other committee members will go to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, singing the praises of both Mount Washington and the Comox Valley.“All the name players in the Olympic movement will be there,” she said.
The committee will lobby some of these people to bring the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay through the Comox Valley on its way across Canada. And in March 2009, Mount Washington will host another International Paralympic Committee World Cup Event.
“We’re going to work hard between now and then to get more community involvement in that,” Kelsey said.