Raising our Game for Vancouver 2010
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are a golden opportunity to celebrate Canada’s official languages and to showcase its English- and French-speaking communities.
The Commissioner of Official Languages, whose mandate is to protect Canadians’ language rights and to promote English and French, wishes you an excellent Olympic celebration.
Do you have questions or comments about English and French at the 2010 Games?
Please do not hesitate to contact us! During the Games, our office will be open until 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Telephone (toll free):
1-877-996-6368
TTY: 1-800-880-1990
Facsimile: 613-993-5082
On-line: comment form
Athlete profiles
Is it useful to be able to speak both English and French in sports? To find out, we met with athletes and professionals in the field.
- Mark Tewksbury
- Atina Ford Johnston
- Clara Hugues
- Sally Rehorick
Figure skating and second languages
Other articles
- 1988 – The First Winter Olympic Games in Canada
- One Thousand and One Ways to Celebrate the Francophonie in Maillardville
- Welcome! Bienvenue! Canada prepares to welcome athletes from around the world in English and French!
Monitoring preparations
- The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are a golden opportunity for Canada to celebrate its official languages. That is why the Commissioner of Official Languages is keenly interested in the state of preparations for this event that the entire world will be watching.
- In 2008, he published a study that examined how the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Canadian Heritage were preparing to ensure the event fully represents Canada’s linguistic duality.
- He then conducted an awareness campaign with federal institutions that will have a key role in the Games, encouraging them to take concrete measures.
- In 2009, the Commissioner published a follow-up to the study of 2008, in which he also discussed the results of the awareness campaign.
Interesting links
- Vancouver 2010
Get regular, up-to-date information on preparations and coming events by visiting VANOC’s Web site. Explore the Olympic Torch Relay route, which will cover 45,000 kilometres and visit more than 1,000 Canadian communities and sights.
- Bonjour le monde!Created by the Fondation canadienne pour le dialogue des cultures and the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (in French only) (in French only), this site contains bios of Canadian Francophone athletes, information on Games-related events that highlight the contribution of the Francophonie and news on upcoming events.
- Together in 2010
The Government of Canada’s Web site for the 2010 Winter Games provides information for foreign visitors, news on Canada’s participation in organizing the Games and a history of the Olympic Games in Canada.
