Vancouver is Canada's emerald jewel. From downtown you can see the Strait of Georgia's blue-green waters, glacial fjords, islands, and mountains with snow caps and dense forests. Vancouver is home to people from all over the world, and most recently has drawn many immigrants from China and other parts of Asia.
Vancouver is relaxed and outdoorsy, yet cosmopolitan. It's also sports-minded, and Vancouver hockey fans cheer hard for their NHL Canucks. The city also boasts high-fashion boutiques, a good arts scene and a fondness for health-conscious eating. The winter weather of gray skies and drizzle only emphasizes Vancouver's attractions at other times of the year.
Set to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games alongside Whistler, Vancouver will showcase figure and speedskating, ice hockey, freestyle skiing and more. The Olympic venues stretch over a 75-mi/120-km zone from Richmond, just south of Vancouver and northward to Whistler. Some of the competition venues include General Motors Place, Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park, Pacific Coliseum and the CBC Winter Sports Centre.
