Communicating Weather during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver

Environment Canada was specifically contracted by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) to provide weather services to ensure the safety of the athletes, officials and spectators and to ensure the fairness of the sporting events at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. A dedicated team of forecasters was trained and devoted to this contract.

However, with millions of tourists and 10,000 media from all over the world and a fully-engaged local, national and international emergency management community, Environment Canada's regular mandate to provide and communicate weather information to the public and these additional clients would be seriously challenged. The shear volume, variety and the multiple languages of requests for weather information was potentially overwhelming.

In anticipation of the onslaught, Environment Canada developed and tested a variety of new communication methods, using technology to better engage and serve these clients. This talk will outline some of these service innovations, experiences, and lessons learned.