2010 Winter Games team to learn from Beijing 2008

OTTAWA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is sending a team to the Beijing Olympics hoping to gain operational experiences.

"While this will be Beijing's moment on the world stage, there will still be much to learn from their hard work and preparations," said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer in a press release issued on Wednesday.

"This will be our last opportunity to see, first-hand, the impact of the Games on a host city, how the organizing committee handles the unexpected incidents and to identify areas where we might find further efficiencies to create the best possible experience in 2010." He said.

In addition to various working meetings with stakeholders and partners, VANOC team members will participate in Olympic and Paralympic observer tours and round table sessions in areas such as accommodation, ceremonies, sponsorship, technology, transportation, ticketing and volunteer management.