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This world famous event is being held this year in Vancouver, Canada, from February 12th to the 28th, 2010, leaving you plenty of time to plan and budget in advance.

Sort out your visa

Probably the first thing you’ll want to look at getting done is to sort out your visa. For people with Western European Residency, getting into Canada will not be a problem – however, people living in Eastern Europe and countries such as Russia and Romania may have to apply for a visit visa.

Book your flight to Vancouver

For those of us who are living in Europe, Canada can be quite an expensive place, particularly the air tickets which are always costly; no matter what time of the year you’re travelling. The most advisable European Airlines which fly directly to Vancouver International Airport are British Airways and KLM.

Pack warm clothing

While Vancouver has one of the mildest climates of any City in Canada, it’s worth bringing reasonably warm clothing, as you’ll probably be sitting inert for large amounts of time in-between events. Remember particularly to take a firm pair of boots or shoes as you may spend some of your time standing in snow, and of course a woolly hat and gloves.

Book your Vancouver accommodation in advance

Winter Olympics or not, Vancouver is a popular destination so it’s probably worth your time booking accommodation well in advance. A good location to stay is in the Downtown Area, otherwise known as Vancouver’s Central Business District, which contains some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the city.

Pack  your camera gears

As far as equipment goes, it’s probably worth investing in a pair of binoculars in order to get a better view of the events – sitting at the very back of the crowd as to only see a little colourful speck skiing far off in the distance is unlikely to be particularly thrilling without magnification. For those who enjoy taking photographs, you’ll likewise want to purchase a big zoom lens just in case. Remember also to stock up on memory sticks for the camera – nothing’s worse than running out of space halfway through the event and having to just stand there helplessly watching everyone else snap away. Be careful though as flash photography is prohibited, as well as video recording. Some events may not allow photography altogether.

Research the rules and current news of winter sports

The amount of events happening at the Winter Olympics is quite extensive. These include Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Speed Skating, Snowboarding, Bobsleighing, and many others. It’s probably worth taking the time researching the rules and current news of these sports, as viewing the game before knowing how it works properly is seldom interesting. You’ll likely find that each of the Eighty-Six events taking place is a world within themselves.

Hope you enjoy your time at the Winter Olympics! Thanks for reading and enjoy your travels!

2010 Winter Olympics Accommodation recommended by Venere.com:

• Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort – A cozy 4-star hotel in Whistler ski resort, venue for alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions.
• North Vancouver Hotel – A budget hotel in Vancouver offering easy access to both Whistler and Downtown Vancouver
• The Westin Grand Vancouver – A modern 4-star hotel in Downtown Vancouver

Photo of Inukshuk ice sculpture (Vancouver Winter Olympic’s symbol) by Tim in Sydney