Whistler Medals Plaza to Host World's Best Paralympians & World-Class Talent

The six concerts from 13-18 March, as well as the Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony on 21 March, will take place at the world-class outdoor amphitheatre, which also played host to the nightly Victory Ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The headline musical artists are: singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards (13 March), award-winning indie rock band The Weakerthans (14 March), francophone composer/performer Antoine Gratton (15 March), rockers The Trews (16 March), singer/songwriter Justin Hines (17 March), and Juno winner Serena Ryder (18 March). Local Whistler artist and fan favourite Chili Tom will act as the nightly pre-show DJ.

“We are honoured to celebrate the athletic achievements of the competitors at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games with a lineup of talent worthy of both our medal winners and the world,” said Christy Nicolay, VANOC’s vice president of sport production and Victory Ceremonies.

Spectator access is free to the Victory Ceremonies at Whistler Medals Plaza and via an at-venue queue, located in Village Stroll directly outside the plaza. Spectator access is limited to 5,000 people nightly. Gates open at 17:30.

Medals will be awarded in the Paralympic sports of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing at Whistler Medals Plaza. Ice Sledge Hockey and Wheelchair Curling medals will be awarded in-venue in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia (also known as the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre) and the Vancouver Paralympic Centre. From 19-21 March, Whistler event medals will also be awarded in-venue so the plaza can prepare for the Closing Ceremony.

In just 10 days, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will officially open the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games on 12 March at BC Place in downtown Vancouver.

The Opening Ceremony will be a wonderful, affordable celebration with spectacular performance components that showcase dance, highlight unique abilities and celebrate the athletes. More than 4,000 volunteer performers including dancers, singers, acrobats, athletes, and musicians will celebrate the compelling achievements of the 1,000 athletes and officials from more than 40 countries around the world at the Games. The ceremony’s grand finale will be the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron, signalling the official start of the Games and the end of the 10-day Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay, which starts on Wednesday, 3 March in Ottawa.

Tickets to the Opening Ceremony range in price from CAN$30 to CAN$175 and are available now to Canadian residents on a first-come, first-served basis at www.vancouver2010.com. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony on 21 March at Whistler Medals Plaza is already soldout.

Tickets for all Paralympic events are available at www.vancouver2010.com. Individual ticket prices to sport events start at CAN$15. Group ticket prices - available for most sport events for groups of 20 or more people - are just CAN$10. More than 70 per cent per cent of all individual tickets are priced at CAN$20 or less.

For more information, visit www.vancouver2010.com.