Story
The 2008 Whistler Men's and Women's World Cup for alpine skiing received $30,000 from Hosting BC. Regarded as a test event for the 2010 Winter Games, the World Cup allowed athletes to race at home on an Olympic track. There were 200 athletes, aged 18-35, who came from 19 countries including Argentina, Serbia, Croatia, the US as well as four Canadian provinces. Five thousand spectators watched the event, the TV audience was estimated at 75 million daily, and millions more viewed the webcast.
The event allowed Canadian athletes to compete internationally without significant travel expense. Direct economic benefit was estimated at $4 million in revenues for hospitality industries and local suppliers. The event also allowed Olympics organizers to evaluate and modify the site leading to the 2010 Winter Games. Officials and volunteers upgraded their skills to international level to form an experienced resource pool to serve the 2010 Winter Games. Safety equipment purchased for the Cup can be used at future events at the venue and across Canada.
