Whistler gets a final breather before Olympic party (News Feature)

By Marc Zeilhofer Feb 5, 2010, 11:36 GMT

Whistler, Canada - Olympic fever was due to arrive in Whistler on Friday as the torch relay stopped over at the major mountain venue for the Vancouver Games.

The evening ceremony at Skiers Plaza should set off the party mood after recent days in the final countdown to the Olympics had seen empty ski slopes during the day and relatively uncrowded bars at night.

'I have never seen so few people in the skiing area in 25 years,' said German Heinz Laub, who has a apartment in the famous resort.

Laub speaks of 'Olympic aversion' one week ahead of the February 12 opening ceremony of the Games. Traffic restrictions are being implemented, meaning that Vancouverites or visitors from Seattle and elsewhere must leave their car at home and take the bus instead.

Hotels are also not filled to their capacity, but long queues at the local Olympic ticket offices show that the sports-crazy Canadians are ready to embrace the Games.

Anyone who has a bed in Whistler can buy tickets as transport capacities from vancouver are exhausted for the Games and the tickets now sold directly in Whistler.

Olympics-crazy Vancouver locals are expected to move into their holiday homes and visitors from abroad to arrive along with the athletes who have started filling the Whistler athletes' village.

After all, Whistler will host plenty of exciting skiing events (alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and biathlon) and it is the sliding venue as well.

There is also a daily evening party at the Medals Plaza, where the winners receive their medals.

Laub, 65, will also be engaged in the Games as a volunteer at the alpine skiing events.

His family will also get a firsthand view of the Games as he has bought tickets for the women's super-g ski race and the 30km cross-country event, even though prices rices can be steep in a place where the skiing day pass costs 93 Canadian dollars (87 US dollars) - far more than anywhere in Europe.

The women's super-g seat on the tribune sets him back 83 Canadian dollars but the cross-country ticket comes for 30 Canadian dollars.