AOC Media Centre - 2010 Vancouver

Around VancouverTake a tour around the host city for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver.

Blackcomb mountain

A general view of Blackcomb mountain in Whister, Canada.

Whistler Ski Resort

The main entrance of the Whistler ski resort February 20, 2009 in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

Vancouver Skyline at nightThe Vancouver skyline is pictured at night February 18, 2009 in Vancouver

English Bay - VancouverThe cargo ship UBC Laguna at anchor on English Bay in Vancouver

Vancouver skyline

A great blue heron and crow walk along the English Bay in front of the city skyline February 17, 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Meet Elliot Shriane

Short Track driver Elliot Shriane is a Vancouver hopeful

Meet Hannah Campbell-PeggLuge pilot Hannah Campbell-Pegg is a Vancouver hopeful.

Meet Jeremy RollestonBobsleigh pilot Jeremy Rolleston is a Vancouver hopeful

Meet Jono BrauerAlpine Skier Jono Brauer is a Vancouver hopeful going for his second Olympics.

Meet Torah Bright

Snowboarder Torah Bright is a Vancouver hopeful.

Govt. Delays DisappointingAOC President John Coates expressed his disappointment in the delay by the Federal Government to act on a lack of sports funding. The 2009 Benchmark Study shows that Australia is falling behind its competitors who are spending twice as much.

Benchmark Study 2009On the 27th of October 2009 AOC President John Coates held a press conference outlining the decline in Australia's position as an Olympic force and the immediate need for Federal Government Funding to avoid the decline to the days of no Olympic gold for Australia.

No Target FundingAOC President John Coates explains why target funding is not the answer during a press conference highlighting Australia's decline in benchmark Olympic events and the bleak future unless the Federal Givernment injects much needed funding.

Medal Slide - 2009 BenchmarksThe AOC's Annual Benchmark Study show that Australia would drop to 7th on the medal tally if the Olympics were this year. Without an injection of funding the slide will continue.

White dove is releasedA priestess releases a white dove during the Ceremony of the Lighting of the Olympic Flame. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Pass of the flameMaria Nafplotou (L), who plays the role of high priestess, passes the olympic flame to first torchbearer olympic skier Vassilis Dimitriadis (R) during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

High priestess lights olympic fireMaria Nafplotou lights the olympic flame during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games at the Ancient Olympia site in Olympia, Greece.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Sacred olympic flameMaria Nafplotou holds a pot with the sacred olympic flame during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Maria Nafplotou holds the flameMaria Nafplotou holds the olympic torch during a rehearsal for the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Rays of the sunThe torch was lit using the rays of the sun in the ancient sanctuary where the Olympic Games were started in 776 BC, near the temple of Hera. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through Greece for eight days before a hand-over event on October 29 in Athens, after which it then goes to Canada.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

The torch in Ancient OlympiaThe olympic torch is carried through the Ancient Olympia site during a rehearsal for the Lighting Ceremony.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

The pass of the torchMaria Nafplotou (R) passes the flame from the olympic torch at the Ancient Olympia site.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Jaques Rogge speechJaques Rogge, president of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) gives a speech during the Ceremony of the Lighting of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games at the Ancient Olympia site in Olympia, Greece.(Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

John Furlong holds a potJohn Furlong, chief Executive Officer of VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games), holds a pot during the Ceremony of the Lighting of the Olympic Flame for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games