2010 Paralympics
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Greetings, 2010 Paralympic Hopefuls and Paralympic Team Staff,
This e-mail contains important information on 2010 Paralympic Games ticket sales. Please read the entire e-mail.
The 2010 Paralympic Games are just around the corner and Im sure you are all anxious and excited.
I am working with the USOC as the 2010 U.S. Paralympic Team Friends and Family (F&F) Liaison. I will be the primary point of contact for questions and concerns you and your F&F might have about F&F travel, accommodation, tickets, and other Games-related activities.
CoSport, the official ticket vendor for the USOC, www.cosport.com, will begin selling Paralympic tickets mid-day Friday, October 30th. Tickets will be available to the general public right from the launch, but we are notifying athletes, team staff, and F&F of the launch prior to the national press announcement that will occur on Monday, Nov. 2nd. So, if you want the best chance of getting tickets to the events you desire, please log on over the weekend and purchase your tickets.
The USOC will provide 2 complimentary tickets to each athlete for each event in which you are competing. This includes medal round games/matches for hockey and curling. If more than 2 F&F will be coming to Vancouver or Whistler to watch you compete, you must purchase tickets through CoSport for those above and beyond the first 2. No complimentary tickets for F&F are provided to team staff.
The USOC will NOT provide tickets for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Team members (athletes and staff) do not need tickets to attend either of the Ceremonies, but any F&F who wish to attend Opening or Closing Ceremonies must purchase the tickets through CoSport.
Athletes who plan to attend events in which they are not competing (same sport or different sports) do not need tickets, except for the Sled Hockey Gold Medal Game. The USOC will work hard to secure tickets for USA athletes and staff, but if you want to guarantee that you have a ticket, you should purchase one from CoSport now.
While we expect the ticket sale to go on for some time, we have no way of knowing if/when tickets may sell out. We encourage you to purchase tickets now for the best availability and best seats.
All tickets will be held by CoSport for will call in Vancouver. The USOC will work closely with CoSport and each sports team leader to manage the pick up process for F&F.
Wheelchair accessible seating is available at each venue, but should be requested at the time of ticket purchase. Read the process set out on the CoSport site for obtaining wheelchair accessible seating if you need it and make these requests early. There is expanded wheelchair accessibility, but it is the Paralympics wheelchair accessible seating is at a premium! If you require other special accommodations, again, follow the process set out on the CoSport site.
For hotel and travel information please log on to www.usparalympics.org and click on the 2010 Games link in the upper right hand corner. We will be updating this information regularly, so check back if the information you need is not available or send me an e-mail and I will do my best to answer your questions. NOTE THAT ALL HOTEL ROOM BLOCKS (RATES AND AVAILABILITY) EXPIRE IN NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER. There are reasonable cancellation policies on many of these deals, so we strongly encourage you to make the reservations you need and pay close attention to the cancellation policies. For additional Paralympic Games resources and info log onto: www.vancouver2010.com and click on the Paralympic Games tab.
Muffy Davis
