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The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will show case some of Canada’s finest cultural diversity. One of the highlights of the games is the popular mascots that attendees of the games will enjoy. Various regions of Canada design the products as a symbol of their culture and values. The province hosting the games is British Columbia while provinces and territories make important contributions. These provinces and territories include: Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and the Yukon. The four host First Nations include: Lil’wat First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Squamish First Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.

Mascots include: 1. Miga is a snowboarding sea-bear inspired by the First Nations’ legends of the Pacific Northwest 2. Quatchi is a young Sasquatch who is a well known character in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. 3. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi’s name comes from the Salish word ‘Sumesh’ which means ‘guardian spirit.’ 4. .Mukmuk is a small and sociable Vancouver Island marmot. Mukmuk gets his name from the word ‘muckamuck,’ which is Chinook dialect for ‘food.’

Those who want a keepsake of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have the opportunity to purchase mascot products. There are a variety of product items that are both diverse and unique.

Mascot clothing items are available that includes shirts sweaters and Hoodies, jackets, hats, toques, ties, scarves and much more.

For kids, items that are available include Vancouver 2010 Mascot Story Book, Vancouver 2010 Children’s Mascot Hooded Towel - Quatchi, Vancouver 2010 Quatchi 13.5″ Plush, Vancouver 2010 Miga 12.5″ Plush , Vancouver 2010 Mascot Story Book, and much more.

Collectable items include jewelry by Birks such as Vancouver 2010 Silver-Plate Nature Business Card Case by Birks, Vancouver 2010 Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet by Birks, Vancouver 2010 Enameled Silver-Plated Cell Phone Charm by Birks, as well as coins, pins, and more.

Aboriginal products include Vancouver 2010 Authentic Aboriginal Large 3-D Pin Thunderbird, Vancouver 2010 Thunderbird Salad Servers - Wilderness, Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Picture Frame, Charcoal, Vancouver 2010 Authentic Aboriginal Musqueam Nation Pin, Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Thunderbird Story Box - Wilderness, and much more.

Gift ideas for him include: Vancouver 2010 Sea to Sky Hockey Pin Set, Vancouver 2010 16 oz. Huntsville Travel Mug, Vancouver 2010 “Hockey 2010″ Puck, Vancouver 2010 Sterling Silver Small Cufflinks by Birks, and more

Gift ideas for her include Vancouver 2010 Sterling Silver Logo Heart Pendant by Birks, Vancouver 2010 Sterling Silver Heart Charm Bracelet, Vancouver 2010 Park Life for Aritzia Organic Fleece Hoodie, and more.

For your home, items that are available for purchase include picture frames, spoons, playing cards, coasters, bookmarks, magnets, drinkware, Vancouver 2010 Photo Album - Mascots Orange Vancouver 2010 Wayside Cooler Bag, and more.

Fun accessories include bags, umbrellas, pendants, earrings, key chains, and more.

Executive gifts that are available include Vancouver 2010 Silk Tie - Landscape Olympic Blue, Vancouver 2010 100% Polyester Satin Scarf - Salmon Thunderbird Olympic Blue and more.

There is also a host of other merchandise available such as gift certificates and products for your pet. Merchandise that is available is made in Canada.

Tourists from all over the world will love the items and will have a memory of a time well spent at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The mascots, the rich cultural heritage displayed for all to see, and the games themselves, will the celebration a time to remember.

There were a lot of dissimilarities in the rules which governed the Olympics during those early years and after 1920, archery was no longer treated as a sport event. After many years, the international participant countries agreed to the Olympics rules but archery could only be seen as a sport during the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1988, team competitions were held in addition to the individual events.

From 1992, the schedule of the event is head-to-head competition amongst the top 64 athletes. There are four archery events: Individual competitors (men and women) shoot 72 arrows at a ‘bulls-eye’ target from a distance of 70 meters (229 feet, 8 inches). One shot must follow the other in a matter of 40 seconds and the ideal score is 720 with a ’sudden death’ overtime shot which happens when there is a tie.

In the team events there are totally 16 teams where each team has 3 archers, who, like the individual game, have to throw 72 arrows from a distance of 70 meters. Each archer shoots an arrow and the arrow which gets closest to the target, wins the game. The scoring in this game is according to where the arrow hits the target, which consists of 10 rings so if the arrow hits the outermost ring, the archer gets 1 point, 2 points for the next ring and finally 10 if the center of the target is hit.

Olympic archery events involve using a recurve bow which enables the arrow to traverse at the speed of 150 mph. These technologically advanced bows are made from graphite, wood and fiberglass which stabilize the motion of the arrow which has to travel in a perfect straight line and helps the archer to aim perfect. The total cost of the equipment goes over 00 with strings made from hydrocarbon or from Kelvar and the arrows from aluminum or carbon graphite.

Olympic archers usually would undergo training for ten years. Every player has to be in superb form during participation. You need the right coach and the ideal equipment too. Luckily, archery is a n affordable sports compared to many others. You need to learn the subject thoroughly, read as much about it as possible and communicate with other archers and then gradually start to participate in local and national events but most critical of all these is that you need to practice regularly and with all earnestness.

Athletes with disabilities can also engage in archery as a sport. For instance Neroli Fairhall was the first woman paraplegic who not only competed in the Olympics but this New Zealander also won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. This game is such that you can enjoy it with all the members of your family and if you so desire, can go on playing it for the rest of your life.