News

Winners Announced for the Share Richmond 2010 Olympic Winter Games Contest

January 22, 2010

~Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond surprise two Richmond residents with two grand prize packages worth over $12,500~

Richmond, BC - When Richmond resident Lucille Folkeringa opened her front door this morning she was greeted by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and a prize patrol carrying balloons, flowers, and media cameras. But instead of a cheque, Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond surprised Lucille with something even more exciting: the 2010 Olympics Opening Ceremony Grand Prize Package worth more than $12,500.

As part of the package, Lucille’s niece Gracia Folkeringa of Minneapolis, Minnesota and a guest will receive roundtrip air transportation to Vancouver International Airport and five nights accommodation at the new Westin Vancouver International Hotel in Richmond. The grand prize package also includes four tickets to the opening ceremony, four tickets to two different Long Track Speed Skating events at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a Panasonic video camera, a $500 VISA gift card, and VIP passes to the Holland Heineken House Experience and Richmond’s O Zone celebration site.

Lucille entered the contest by sending a Richmond Picture It Postcard to Gracia in Minneapolis. From September to November 2009, Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond invited Richmondites to send a postcard to friends or family members worldwide in order to be entered to win one of two grand prizes. Nearly 4,000 entries were received.

Tourism Richmond CEO Tracy Lakeman was also part of this morning’s prize patrol. “We encouraged Richmondites to get excited about the upcoming 2010 Olympic Winter Games by becoming ambassadors for the city as a tourism destination – and the response was incredible. During Games time, we hope Richmond residents will be just as proud to showcase our dynamic city to the world.”

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Lucille Folkeringa, who says speed skating is her favourite Olympic event. “We tried several times to bid on Olympics tickets, but we didn’t get any. So when we heard of the Share Richmond 2010 contest, our family sent postcards to everyone we know – we probably entered thirty times. I am incredibly excited to be sharing this experience with my niece Gracia.”

Later today the prize patrol showed up at the doorstep of Richmond resident May Mah to present May with the 2010 Olympics Closing Ceremony Grand Prize Package, also worth more than $12,500. May’s guests for the closing ceremony are Isamu and Yoko Yagi of Shizuoka, Japan. The Yagi’s were the Japanese home-stay family for May’s daughter.

May is delighted to share Richmond with her guests from Japan. “What a special way to welcome Isamu and Yoko to Richmond, especially after they welcomed my daughter into their home and their city. We never thought we would win, but we figured it couldn’t hurt to try.”

“During Games time, Richmond will be buzzing with Olympic excitement with the O Zone celebration site in the city centre and all long track speed skating events taking place in the Richmond Olympic Oval,” says Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “In addition to enjoying the Olympic activities, we hope visitors will also take the time to explore our vibrant city.”

Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond would like to thank everyone who participated in the Share Richmond 2010 Olympic Winter Games Contest. This is Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond’s largest 2010 Olympic Winter Games contest to date. Richmond will be a hub of Olympic excitement as the official Venue City for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. As home to the Richmond Olympic Oval, which will host the speed skating competition and the O Zone celebration site, an exciting Olympic-themed festival of entertainment, culture and sports including Holland Heineken House, Richmond will offer plenty for locals and visitors to enjoy in February 2010.

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About Tourism Richmond
Tourism Richmond is a non-profit, membership driven destination marketing organization (DMO). The primary mandate of Tourism Richmond is to enhance awareness about the destination through sales and marketing initiatives and by providing excellent visitor and member services. Ultimately, Tourism Richmond’s goal is to increase economic activity related to tourism for the City of Richmond and all stakeholders. As British Columbia’s 4th largest DMO and Venue City for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Tourism Richmond is one of the tourism destinations that make up the 2010 Tourism Consortium partnership created to coordinate the overall Games plan for the BC and Canadian tourism industry.