VANOC released the official sport medals of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games today.

The designs are inspired by the ocean waves, drifting snow and mountainous landscape found in British Columbia and throughout Canada.

Each medal features aboriginal artwork and no two medals are alike.

The medals are circular in shape and, at between 500 to 576 grams, are the heaviest in Olympic and Paralympic history.

The medals are based on two large artworks of an orca whale and raven by Canadian designer Corrine Hunt.

For more on the medals, and a look back at the history of Olympic Winter Games medals, check out this CTVOlympics story.

This story from VANOC’s website shows the reverse sides as well as the Paralympic medals, and this VANOC video explains the concept, manufacturing and so on.

VANCOUVER – Something wacky and wonderful happened at the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Centre this morning. And The Curling News was there.

Everything was supposed to have been torn away following the last shot of the 2009 World Junior Curling Championship. The media tribune, offices, pipe and drape, signage etc.

And it was all gone, except for the field of play. The blue carpeting stood out with vibrant colour, the ice glittered under the lights, and there was even a set of rocks set up on sheet C.

VANOC extended the complete tear-down of the facility by a day, so that a group of celebs could gather and film a segment of the popular CBC comedy show Rick Mercer Report.

Canadian comedian Rick Mercer was there. So was British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell. And so was the back end of Canada’s 2009 world champion wheelchair curling team, Jim Armstrong and Darryl Neighbour.

Apparently, Mercer is in town filming various paralympic sport segments. Today was wheelchair curling. Other days will feature sledge hockey, skiing and more.

This is for the final show of the season, to air in April. Ironically, the opening episode of the Mercer Report’s 2008-09 season featured Paralympic sports – the summer disciplines, which featured in Beijing.

This from the funnyman who already had his staff produce an amusing mock-commercial in an earlier episode this season, entitled Full Contact Curling.

Anyway, The Curling News was there to give an exclusive preview of the raw material being filmed for the show.

In the photo above, lensed by Dallas Bittle, we have a bunch of odd pre-shoot things going on.

The guy on the far left is expressing something with his hands, but no one is paying attention.

The Premier (medals on his chest) is looking at, well, nothing.

Mercer (far right in the Canada top) is looking at Neighbour, and the guy he’s supposed to be talking to (hoody under his jacket) is aware that something is going on behind him.

Finally, Neighbour is looking down and is seemingly unaware that his skipper, Armstrong, is giving him THE EVIL YET INCREDULOUS GLARE!

Wow. What a start to a funny film shoot! Click on the image to zoom in somewhat.

More photos – four more, in fact – will follow shortly. Stay tuned, folks!

Curling fans are known as superlative volunteers.

In what other sport can up to 1,000 people take a week or more off work to volunteer support of an event… and pay for game tickets and their own uniform, to boot?

A new level of volunteerism begins right now, as of 6:00am today, Feb. 12. Because VANOC, the organizing commitee of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, has just opened the doors for some 25,000 “chance of a lifetime” volunteer positions.

Today also marks the official two-year countdown to the start of Vancouver-Whistler 2010. And what better way to kick off the stretch run?

“It’s the chance of a lifetime to join the team of volunteers as we welcome the world,” states the VANOC website.

“We’re looking for enthusiasm, dedication and a commitment to VANOC’s values of team, trust, excellence, sustainability and creativity. There are many shoes to fill and we need talented people to fill them – one of them could be you.”

They say it’s not a case of first-come first served; the online app will take around 35 minutes to complete, and some 40,000 telephone interviews will take place as a follow-up in the spring. So it might not be a footrace, despite what the Globe has written.

But if you’re a keener, you are well-advised to sign up right now, even if you’re not sure about the logistics of being in Vancouver two years from now. To be specific, who cares… apply anyway.

Imagine… the Olympic experience, from the inside!

Who knows, you might even request – and get – a gig with the curling operation.

Russ Howard is in Toronto this morning, helping to announce the news and rally the troops. Then he’s back in New Brunswick to try and qualify for the Brier… although he will be there with TSN, anyway.

There are other street festivals in other city centres across Canada, too.

So, take a moment and check out these three stories, located here, and here, and also here.

And then get your eyeballs over to the VANOC website, or this special Workopolis page, and get going.

It’s game on for Vancouver 2010!

Have we got a job for you.

Actually, it’s the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee – known as VANOC – that wants someone. Perhaps it could be you.

You have until February 3 – that’s this Sunday, folks – to send your resume in for the job of Coordinator, Curling. And if you love curling, and meet the requirements, it sounds like a dream. The location of gorgeous Vancouver (above) ain’t so bad, either.

You would support the Sport and Venue Planning Manager, Curling – this may or may not be Neil Houston, whom we thought had the more simple yet official title of Curling Manager – by “coordinating projects and initiatives relating to the Curling planning process.”

This involves everything from planning and managing all aspects of all curling events – including the 2009 World Junior Championships and a major wheelchair curling championship – to dealing with field of play preparation, liaising with CCA, WCF and CurlBC, building content for curling publications, and so on. From next month (we guess) right up to and past the Games, ending in March, 2010.

Well? What are you waiting for?

Find this dream job through VANOC’s website, located here (look under “Job Opportunities” at the bottom left) or you can go straight to this quick cached link, right here.

Speaking of Vancouver 2010, longtime Canadian national team coach Jim Waite thinks he’s already got “the best job in the curling world”. Jimmy will be stepping down after the Olys, but he provides a sneak peek into some of the planning underway already.

As in past Olympic years, the CCA has plans to find accommodation for the athlete’s families, and the athletes themselves will spend much of their time away from competition also away from the athlete’s village.

Tomorrow on the blog: big news on the February issue of The Curling News, and a very cool announcement for curling fans …

Remember going hogwild for The Gushues as they won gold two years ago in Turin?

Ever imagined what it would be like to actually be there (photo)?

One year from today – October 11, 2008 – curling tickets for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will go on sale.

That’s the word today from VANOC, and here’s the scoop, according to this new page (prices in Canadian dollars):

Nope, unlike other sports there are no other curling ticket categories: it’s “A” for one and all.

Yesterday, pundits were predicting the best tickets to the 2010 curling event would be the highest ever charged for the sport in the Olympics. Considering these are single ticket prices for single (non-packaged) draws, we’d have to agree.

Maybe not. Take a good look, and imagine the frenzy for curling tickets that will ensue. VANOC could have jacked the prices higher, folks, and they didn’t. Kudos, say we.

FYI, sports like figure skating and hockey top out at around $420 (each), while others like Cross-Country Ski and Bobsleigh peak at about $80 (each).

Priciest ducat? The Opening Ceremonies, at a whopping $1,100 (although the cheapest seats are $175).

There’s more on tickets, in general, located here …

Elsewhere:

• It’s almost official: tomorrow the Canadian Curling Association will announce Calgary as the host of the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier …

• British Curling has launched its website, located here …

• Meanwhile, Scotland’s popular Perth Masters tournament has the draw posted online. Once again again a strong contingent of vistors will descend on the town, including three Canadian squads: Glenn Howard, Kerry Burtnyk, and living legend Eddie Werenich …

• Scott Taylor of Team Glenn Howard (and BalancePlus) fame has won a coaching award …

• Is the sky falling? Maybe, because PattyMac is on The Curling Show …

• Congrats to Quebec’s Magog Curling Club, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this Saturday …

• Joe sez that two of the final failed candidates for the CCA CEO job hail from Ottawa: one was Rachel Homan’s team coach, Doug Kreviazuk, and the other has requested anonimity …

• Here’s a call to curling arms – er, brooms – in the Boston area …

• And finally, Mendacious D offers a fine ode to curling here …

Lots of pickup of the WCF announcement of the 2009 Ford Worlds in Moncton, including Bill Graveland’s story featuring local hero Russ Howard.

Russ was there for the announcement, of course, alongside a series of curling legends (see photo)… in fact, can anyone name these past heroes? Post to our blog’s Comments section below this story, and you just might win something.

We fully expect Bacon to be among the first respondents… will someone else top him to win?

Still with Moncton, Lorne Mitton – the curling mayor – has announced he will not run for another term… so, will Mitton take a volunteer role with the Ford Worlds organizing committee?

• Finally, Russ Howard will help hockey’s Moncton Wildcats offer a $10,000 prize to a spectator during an on-ice curling challenge. The fun takes place on September 23 …

Elsewhere:

• There are multiple events on tap this weekend – Shorty, Galt, Oslo, Edmonton etc. – and all results are available on CurlingZone’s Gameday Scoreboard, right here in the middle of your page when you log in. Boom. There’s nowhere else you need to go!

• Ontario curling fans can tune in this weekend and see the Galt finales on local TV …

• The International Olympic Committee and the seven Olympic Winter Sport Federations recently met in Vancouver to discuss the progress of the 2010 Games, and the World Curling Federation has posted an update …

• Kelly Scott’s defending world champions are in Regina tomorrow and Sunday, promoting the 2008 Scotties in the Queen City, where they will represent Team Canada. Also on the agenda is a challenge match against Joel Jordison’s men’s team …

• The Manitoba Curling Tour finally has a good date for their championships, plus a new website, too …

• Denver has won the right to host the U.S. Nats/Trials in 2009… and perhaps this angry bird might even attend. Meanwhile, there’s almost as much media coverage of Bismark’s loss…

• Finally, it seems these guys have discovered the Norberg/Hammerfall video… nearly two years after the fact. We thought the internet worked faster than that …?

Hans Wuthrich of Gimli, Manitoba has been named Head Ice Technician and Dave Merklinger of Vernon, British Columbia has been named Assistant Head Ice Technician for the XXI Olympic Winter Games, taking place February 12-28.

The pair will also team up to test the competition surface a year earlier. The 2009 World Junior Curling Championship will be staged at the Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park and will serve as an official test event.

Wuthrich is generally acknowledged to be the world’s leading ice technician. Last year he steered the playing conditions of various major events, including the 2006 Le Gruyère European Championships in Basel, Switzerland and the 2007 World Women’s Championship in Aomori, Japan.

“I’ve done so many events, I don’t know the actual number,” said the 50-year-old Wuthrich. “I started keeping track of them in 1993, after I did my first big one, the men’s worlds in Geneva in 1992.

“Just the prestige of doing the Olympics will make it different from anything I’ve experienced.”

Wuthrich already serves as a consultant to the 2010 Olympic process, as a technical advisor to the The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). Wuthrich will continue to serve in this role, a position he considers critical to the success of the eventual playing surface.

“The only concern is going to be the building itself,” said Wuthrich. “It’s a temporary curling facility, so we have to be careful about every step in the process.”

After the 2010 Winter Games, the curling venue will become a multi-purpose community recreation centre that will include an ice hockey rink, gymnasium, library and the new eight-sheet Vancouver Curling Club. In addition, an aquatic centre with a 50-metre pool and leisure pool will be attached and will be managed by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

In the 52-year-old Merklinger, Wuthrich sees a familiar face. The two have worked together on more than 10 major curling events over the years, both overseas and within Canada. Merklinger has recently headed the ice crew at the 2007 Canadian men’s championship and the 2007 Ford World Men’s Championship at Edmonton’s Rexall Place.

“I pebbled my first sheet of ice in 1969,” said Merklinger, who also competed at the 1985 Canadian championship at second position. “My first head ice job was in 1974. But I’ve been hoping for the Olympic job for the past few years.

“I’ve always said, once I get to do the Olympics, I’ve done it all.”

Merklinger will move to Vernon from Vancouver next month to become the head ice technician and club manager at the Vernon Curling Club. He will also lead the ice crew when that city hosts the 2008 Ford World Women’s Championship in March.

Elsewhere:

• Here’s a mildly amusing tale from Alaska, by way of Scotland …

• Speaking of the motherland, there could be mucho trouble looming as the new Scottish government has pledged to mothball sportscotland, which is disbursing some £600m to sport and athletes all the way up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London …

• Finally, two curling teams will be inducted tonight into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum: the 2003 double world junior champions, skipped by Steve Laycock (men) and Marliese Miller (now Kasner) …