THE CANADIAN PRESS

RICHMOND, B.C. -- The invitation to the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics is now in the mail.

After a day of celebration from coast to coast, the president of the International Olympic Committee issued his official call to athletes at a sunset ceremony at the speedskating oval for the 2010 Games.

"For athletes around the world, the chance to compete next year in Vancouver will be their goal, the culmination of a lifetime's ambition," Jacques Rogge said.

"I wish them all good luck and on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, I invite them to participate in the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver one year from now."

Enthusiastic politicians promised massive Olympic parties Thursday to crowds across Canada who gathered to mark the one-year countdown to the Games.

But no one could have been more jubilant than Gordon Campbell, premier of the host province, who roused crowds in both Whistler and Richmond, B.C.

"Are you ready for the Olympics?" Campbell shouted again and again.

At both a morning celebration in Whistler and the evening party in Richmond the crowds roared back. The event in Whistler was open to the public but the evening program was for an invitation-only crowd of about 1,000 people.

Rogge said the Games will truly benefit all Canadians.

"In the true spirit of the Olympic Games, the people of Vancouver look far beyond the accomplishments of sport, art, and culture," he said.

"They accepted the honour of hosting the Games because they believe that people and nations want to meet in peace through sport."

Moments after he delivered his comments, the countdown clock hanging from the ceiling at the speedskating oval flipped over. Exactly 365 days to the minute were remaining until the opening ceremonies of the Games.

The next 12 months will stretch on like a child waiting for Christmas morning, said John Furlong, the chief executive officer of the Olympic organizing committee.

"There's a lot of positive anxiety," Furlong said Thursday morning in Whistler, where chilly temperatures and fresh snow did nothing to dampen the spirit of the crowd. "We have a big year ahead.

"It's like a dog year. It's going to feel longer. It's a year where we get to perfect our craft."

The ceremony in Whistler was a jam-packed affair where both the Olympic torch and the torch bearer uniforms were unveiled to mark the one-year countdown.

Children waved small flags while perched on their parents' shoulders, while many other people sipped their morning coffee and held dogs on leashes.

Snowboarders and skiers stopped to watch briefly before heading to the nearby slopes.

Whistler will host alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski jumping and the sliding events during the Feb. 12-28 Olympics.

The remaining events will be held in and around Vancouver.

While Olympic organizers promoted the Games, companies took advantage of countdown day to launch and promote new Olympic-themed products.

Even the Royal Canadian Mint got in on the action, inviting Canadians to vote on the top 10 Canadian Winter Olympic moments of all time.

The top three moments will be featured on special 25-cent coins.

.Earlier in the day in Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was joined by former athletes on Parliament Hill to unveil the Olympic flag marking the one-year countdown.

In Fredericton, elementary children sang "O Canada" and shook noisemakers at City Hall while Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean hosted an event at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. In Toronto, hundreds braved rain and brisk winds to celebrate the countdown at Nathan Philips Square.

But it wasn't all celebration.

About 100 people gathered in downtown Vancouver to protest the Games.

Critics say the Olympics carry a heavy price tag in a time of economic downturn, when the money could be better spent fighting the homelessness and drug addiction that plagues Vancouver's Downtown East Side.

"This is 12 months until the 2010 Olympics come to Vancouver and we're here to try and shine a little light on the real impacts of the Olympics, in terms of the police state and the crushing of civil liberties," said Garth Mullins, of the Olympic Resistance Network.

But Furlong argued the Olympics can boost spirits and put money in people's pockets.

"This project needs to glow in the dark at a time when people are struggling," he said. "We need to demonstrate to Canadians that we are going to seize this opportunity and we are going to give Canada something to cheer about and feel great about."

Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said he hopes hosting the Olympics will inspire ordinary Canadians "to get engaged in sport and feel a bit of that experience."

The Games are expected to attract 350,000 spectators, 5,500 athletes and officials, and 10,000 journalists.

Billions have been spent getting Vancouver and Whistler ready for the Games, from upgrades to highways to a convention centre to improvements to city streets.

The Olympics themselves have an operating budget of $1.75 billion, and a venue budget of $580 million.

That doesn't include the costs the various host communities are bearing for venues, such as the $1-billion athletes village.

At the evening celebration Rogge commended Vancouver organizers and the government and people of British Columbia for their work so far on what will be "an extraordinary and memorable event."

And he said the legacy of the Games will benefit all of Canada.