NEWS RELEASE
GE PLAZA OPENS TO
COMMUNITY IN ADVANCE OF 2010
Revitalized ice rink centerpiece of GE, Province activities
VANCOUVER Skaters will take to the
ice at the GE Plaza at Robson Square today the first time the Robson Square
ice rink has seen activity since 2000, thanks to a Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
partnership between GE and the Province of British Columbia.
The GE Plaza will be the centre of holiday
activities in the heart of Vancouver prior to the Games, and home to
performances and events during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The new ice rink will also be a fun, gathering
place for friends and family to enjoy free ice-skating. The GE Plaza will be
open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for skating beginning today. Skate rentals
will be available on-site for a cost of $3.00 each.
Robson Square will host regular
live entertainment from now through the Games and will feature festive, family
activities during December.
GE and the Province of British Columbia
partnered to renovate the GE Plaza, which consists of the ice rink and surrounding
area on the lower level of Robson Square in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
As part of GEs sponsorship agreement with the Province, GE will own the naming
rights to the GE Plaza until the end of the Paralympic Winter Games.
The total cost to upgrade and expand the ice
rink was $2 million, of which GE contributed $700,000. GE products and
technology have been used in the revitalization of the GE Plaza, including the
refrigeration plant electrical distribution system responsible for making the
ice and energy-efficient LED lighting products. The revitalization also
included a new refrigeration plant, mechanical and electrical equipment,
increasing the length of the ice surface by approximately 37 per cent, new rink
boards and protective skate mats and new concession and skate rental kiosks.
GE is a proud partner with the province of
British Columbia to help revitalize the ice rink at Robson Square, said Elyse
Allan, president & CEO, GE Canada. The GE Plaza provides a wonderful venue
to engage Canadians in celebration of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games while also providing a lasting legacy for the Vancouver community.
This revitalized plaza will be a fun and free
place for people of all ages to gather and share in the Olympic spirit and
celebrate during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said Premier
Gordon Campbell. Thanks to GE for their contribution to restoring Robson
Square as a celebration venue. GE Plaza will also play an important role as we
showcase British Columbia to the world through events at Robson Square during
both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The GE Plaza will be the most visible public
symbol of GEs investment in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games. Through The Olympic Partner Program, GE is a worldwide TOP sponsor of
the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The $2-million ice rink upgrade
is part of the Provinces larger, $11-million upgrade to Lower Robson Square,
which includes replacing the entire waterproofing
membrane on the plaza level, removing and replacing the current domes with
larger, more open domes with clear glass for better visibility and installing a
new ceiling with GE energy efficient LED lighting.
The overall budget for all
ongoing renovations and repairs to extend the life of Robson Square is $40.9
million. This includes all Lower Robson Square upgrades, as well as repair of
water features such as the ponds and waterfalls, repair to the Great Hall
glazing and space frame, repair of numerous underground membranes at locations
throughout the property including the mound, the plazas north and south of
Robson St., the Robson Street crossing, and the plaza and entry at the corner
of Nelson and Hornby, and landscaping. Robson Square has been a central part of
Vancouvers community for over 30 years. It is the site
of the Provincial Law Courts, UBC Robson Square, government offices and a
public space connecting to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
About GEs Olympic Sponsorship:
GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative
products and services that are integral to staging a successful Olympic Games.
GE works closely with host countries, cities and organizing committees to
provide infrastructure solutions for Olympic venues including power, lighting,
water treatment, transportation and security, and to supply hospitals with
ultrasound and MRI equipment to help doctors treat athletes. In addition, NBC
Universal, a division of GE, is the exclusive U.S. media partner of the Olympic
Games, with its partnership also extending through 2012. For more information,
please visit www.ge.com/olympicgames.
About GE:
GE is Imagination at Work a diversified technology, media
and financial services company focused on solving some of the worlds toughest
problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power
generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging,
business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE
serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000
people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.
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