CNW Group | BANFF LAKE LOUISE TOURISM BUREAU | Ice Magic Festival Event gets ready for 2010 Olympics

CNW Group | BANFF LAKE LOUISE TOURISM BUREAU | Ice Magic Festival Event gets ready for 2010 Olympics: "The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Lake Louise Tourism team up to transform Lake Louise into a magical wonderland of ice but this time its sights are set much higher. The International Ice Sculpture Competition, part of the festival set against the backdrop of the Victoria Glacier, has become a qualifying event for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Sanctioned by the National Ice Carving Association, renowned international accredited teams are given 15 blocks of ice and 34 hours of carving time over a 2 1/2 day event to create masterpieces. Beginning in 2009, the bar has been set higher as carvers will accumulate points needed to qualify for the International Ice Competition in Whistler, BC, in 2010. The Lake Louise competition is the only qualifying event in Western Canada. 'This recognition is a great step forward for the festival. Ice Magic has been growing exponentially and several new events have been added this year. We look forward to showcasing Lake Louise to the world through this special acknowledgement' says Andrea Thiessen, Director of Events and Special Projects for Banff Lake Louise Tourism. This year's theme 'Celebrating Snow Queen, Ice Fairies and The Enchanted Forest' will bring ice carving teams from as far away as Nigeria, as well as the Banff Centre's Ca"