The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is erecting a massive, games-filled dome at 13 festivals around the province this summer in an effort to raise excitement for the 2010 Winter Games, of which it is a sponsor.

The BCLC 2010 Winter Games Dome, developed by Vancouver-based agencies Inventa and Altius Sport Marketing, a division of Cossette, sits at 5,500 square feet and has four separate tents. Within the Games Dome, participants can shoot targets while skiing through the winter woods on a simulated biathlon course, or test their wrist shot on the Olympic or Paralympic ice hockey rink. Another tent, the Immersa-Dome, allows visitors to experience what it might be like to compete as a member of Canada’s Olympic bobsled or sit-ski team from the athletes’ perspective through sight, smell and touch.

‘We’re just looking to build awareness about our involvement of the BC Games, and bring the excitement to communities around the province that aren’t going to experience the games first-hand,’ Chris Fairclough, BCLC corporate communications officer, tells MiC.

This Thursday, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) will announce that there are 150,000 tickets left for the games, Fairclough adds. BCLC is also giving away gold medal tickets for the 500m speed-skating event in each community through contests.