No doubt, Vancouver is a spectacular venue for the Winter Olympics, and Goodyear is giving TV viewers some of the best looks at the city and surrounding countryside.

For the ninth time in its history, Goodyear is coordinating aerial coverage of the Olympic Games. But, surprisingly, it is not using its iconic blimps.

Goodyear’s coverage of the Winter Games is being provided by an airplane and helicopter, both equipped with high-definition cameras and working with the production teams at the various venues around Vancouver. Weather conditions in the area make it difficult to utilize the blimp fleet.

The 88-year relationship with the Games started in 1932 when the Goodyear blimp Volunteer gave a local radio station a bird’s-eye view of the summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“Goodyear works at the request of the networks and has supported the Olympic Games in Los Angeles twice, Lillehammer, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Turin, Beijing and now Vancouver,” said Sara Waldman, Goodyear’s airship public relations manager. “We’ve used our famous blimps, planes, helicopters and tethered aerostats to provide the aerial views.”