The first big international event of the year is the Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler. (© VANOC/COVAN)

Still lots to do during Games without having to spend a fortune The decade in travel Best in travel for 2010 What others said about Canada this year

Several big events taking place next year are sure to attract tourists from around the world.

If you are looking for something different, the choices are wide ranging and include the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, a once-a-decade passion play in Germany, the Shanghai World Expo 2010, and two European capitals of culture: Ruhr, Germany, and Istanbul, Turkey.

B.C. goes for gold

The first big international event of the year is the Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler (Feb. 12-28, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games March 12-21). But, sports aside, there are also a host of cultural events and activities before, after and during the games. These include:

- The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, 36 multi-disciplinary festivals and digital programs showcasing the best in Canadian and international arts and pop culture. A highlight is Passion of Russia with the Kirov Ballet's prima ballerina Uliana Lopatkina, in her Canadian debut.

- The re-opening of Robson Square's outdoor ice rink, which will feature athlete demonstrations, family events and B.C.-themed programming.

- A First Nations Pavilion (Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza) will showcase arts, crafts, food, stories and culture in a Coast Salish longhouse.

- Granville Island will be home to Place de la Francophonie celebrating French culture.

- Molson Canadian Hockey House will be a unique entertainment venue and the heart of the hockey world during the 2010 Winter Games.

Morning sun falls on the city of Istanbul, one of two European Capitals of Culture for 2010. (Brad Honywill/QMI Agency files)

- Grouse Mountain will remain open 24 hours a day during the Winter Games, offering snow sports and alpine recreation, including night skiing. NBC's Today show will also broadcast live from Grouse each morning and fans will get a chance to meet Olympic athletes.

- The City of Richmond will host a celebration site called O Zone with multicultural programming, entertainment and the popular Holland Heineken House.

If you can't get a ticket to an Olympic event, you can watch the action on giant screens on Georgia St. and in David Lam Park, which will also feature a nightly laser light and water show. For more, check vancouver2010.com.

- Whistler will also have giant screens showing the day's events. And along the Village Stroll will be the Whistler Live Program -- a network of sites that during the Games will feature daily and nightly family friendly programs with live performances, interactive events and exhibitions across a broad spectrum of arts and entertainment. All free.

And don't be deterred from going skiing or snowboarding at Whistler. Only four runs will be closed during the Olympics. That leaves 90% of terrain (about 200 runs) open on Whistler Blackcomb mountains before and during the games. See Whistler2010.com.

Shanghai world

So far, 242 countries (including Canada) and international organizations have confirmed their participation in Shanghai World Expo 2010, which takes place from May 1 to Oct. 31. Spanning both sides of the Huangpu River, the Expo site covers a huge 5.28 sq km -- 20 times bigger than the 2008 Expo in Zaragoza, Spain.

The Better City, Better Life theme explores the relationship between the city and humans. More than 20,000 events will be held during the 184-day Expo. On average, there will be more than 100 performances each day at 32 venues. The budget of Expo 2010 is estimated at $4.47 billion.

Feel the passion in Oberammergau

In the early 17th century, besieged by war, poverty and plague, the villagers of Bavaria's Oberammergau, in southern Germany, vowed if they survived, they would put on a "passion play" every 10 years. Their descendants have kept their promise and the next edition of this once-a-decade event is scheduled to run from May 5 to Oct. 3.

About 2,000 villagers, half the town's population, will reenact the life, death and resurrection of Jesus on an impressive open-air stage in a play that lasts five hours (with a three-hour break for dinner). Plan ahead, the 41st Oberammergau Passion Play is bound to be popular. See passionsspiele2010.de.

European culture capitals

- Once the industrial heartland of Germany, the Ruhr River Valley area has undergone such a remarkable transformation, it's been named a European Capital of Culture for 2010.

This northwestern region -- with 5 million people and 53 cities and towns -- has the first UNESCO Industrial World Heritage Site, Zollverein coal mine in Essen. The site is part of a 400-km long Industrial Heritage Route that takes visitors past converted former industrial complexes. In 2010, look for two new museums: The Ruhr Museum on the Zeche Zollverein site, and Essen's Folkwang Museum, which reopens in January after being rebuilt.

And don't miss some of the 2,500 planned events. These include the world's first Biennale for International Light Art; a theatrical marathon in which six leading dramatists will rewrite Homer's Odyssey; an exhibit of local scenes by 11 famous photographers; the conversion of a main road into a 60-km long banquet, where everyone is invited to book a table and stage their own party or performance; the simultaneous release of hundreds of gigantic balloons and much more! See ruhr2010.de. If you can't make it in 2010, the Ruhr Valley has 250 annual festivals and fairs you can take in another time.

- If you've ever thought of visiting Turkey, next year would be a good time. Along with Ruhr, Istanbul, is also celebrating its selection as a "European Capital of Culture" with a year of special events. Among the highlights: The Photograph Parade brings everyday life in Istanbul into focus from January to October at the Fototrek Photography Center; an International Istanbul Puppet Festival March 21-26; an International Ballet Competition July 5-10; and a U2 concert on Sept. 6 at Ataturk Stadium.

In preparation for 2010, the city is refurbishing the Ataturk Culture Center and opening the Maslak Cultural Center as a new venue for performing arts; initiating a Frank Gehry-designed opera house; renovating the famous Topkapi Palace museum and Hagia Sophia mosque; and restoring numerous monuments. For more, check istanbul2010.org or call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY.

WRITER@INTERLOG.COM