Vancouver bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics

Last updated

Bids for the
2030 (2030) Winter Olympics and Paralympics
Overview
XXVI Olympic Winter Games
XV Paralympic Winter Games
Details
City Vancouver, British Columbia
NOC Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)
Previous Games hosted
2010 Winter Olympics

The Vancouver bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics was a proposed bid to bring the 2030 Winter Olympics to the province of British Columbia in Canada, with Vancouver and Whistler were expected to serve as the main host cities. [1] Vancouver and Whistler previously hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Paralympics, while Canada also hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto and the 1988 Winter Olympics with Calgary as main host, along another venues in the province of Alberta.

In May 2014, with many potential candidates withdrawing their bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics due to several motives, the idea for Vancouver to host the Olympics again began floating around. At that time, Stockholm and Kraków already withdrew their bids, along with Munich and St. Moritz who got negative referendums for their candidacies. Given Lviv's candidacy to be eliminated due to the Ukrainian political crisis, this meant Oslo would have been considered the frontrunner. However, on 1 October, Oslo also withdrew. This raised questions about whether Almaty or Beijing could be selected to host the 2022 Winter Olympics; Beijing was ultimately selected. Due to the troubled bidding process, some specialists[ who? ] wondered about the possibility of a recent host such as Vancouver or Salt Lake City could be invited directly to host the games. A similar situation occurred in 1976, when Innsbruck, the host of 1964 Winter Olympics, replaced Denver as host of the 1976 Winter Olympics.

In October 2021, it was revealed that 43% of people in British Columbia supported the bid, a considerable drop from 60% a year earlier. [2]

Another poll by Leger and Leger conducted in December 2021 showed that more than 65% of British Columbians were supportive or neutral about the candidature. 62% supported the bid that won the 2010 Winter Olympics. [3] [4]

In February 2022, the Canadian Olympic Committee and its Paralympic counterpart signed an agreement with the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, as well as several B.C. First Nations organizations, to explore the feasibility of a bid for 2030. The bid group's current goal is to host the games in B.C., without reference to a primary host city at this time, under the interim name "B.C. 2030". [5] The COC has also disavowed any relationship with an unofficial "Vancouver 2030" organization, which had been reported in some media as being the official bid committee. [6]

More detailed plans were revealed in June 2022; about 85% to 95% of the existing venues from the 2010 games would be reused, but with some small changes such as the creation of a cluster in Hastings Park that would encompass the Pacific Coliseum, the PNE Agrodome (which would host the curling in place of the Hillcrest Centre, which in 2011 turned a community center) and provisory infrastructures for the Big Air. Another changes is about the no use of Cypress Mountain (due environmental issues), whose events would be moved to the Sun Peaks Resort in Kamloops and the use of BC Place, that will be an exclusive venue to the opening and closing ceremonies. A new and provisory Medals Plaza is planned to be at the Hastings Park. This venue is planned to host the Paralympics Closing Ceremonies in place of Whistler Medal Plaza. Three or four New Olympic Villages would be constructed on First Nations-owned lands and after the Games will turn a low-cost and quality housing for these communities and they will be built with the goal of a 'climate-positive' outcome - leaving the natural environment in a better state than before the Games. [7]

In October 2022, the BC Government decided to not support the bid, citing high costs. The bid is over according to Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Olympic Games</span> Major international multi-sport event

The Winter Olympic Games is a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were held in Chamonix, France. The modern Olympic Games were inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, from 776 BC to 394 AD. The Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 1,500 years later in 1894, leading to the first modern Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. The original five Winter Olympic Sports were bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, Nordic skiing, and skating. The Games were held every four years from 1924 to 1936, interrupted in 1940 and 1944 by World War II, and resumed in 1948. Until 1992, the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games were held in the same year. A decision to change this was made in 1986, when during the 91st International Olympic Committee session, IOC members decided to alternate the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games on separate four-year cycles in even-numbered years. Also, at that same congress it was decided that 1992 Winter Olympics would be the last to be held in the same year as the Summer Games and that to change the rotation, the edition that would be held in 1996 would be brought forward by two years, being scheduled to 1994.After this edition, the next one was to be held in 1998 when the 4-years Olympic Cycle resumed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Winter Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games and also known as Vancouver 2010, were an international winter multi-sport event held from February 12 to 28, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the surrounding suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, and in the nearby resort town of Whistler. It was regarded by the Olympic Committee to be among the most successful Olympic games in history, in both attendance and coverage. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in fifteen disciplines. Both the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), headed by John Furlong. The 2010 Winter Games were the third Olympics to be hosted by Canada, and the first to be held within the province of British Columbia. Canada had hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Winter Olympics</span> Multi-sport event in Calgary, Canada

The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Calgary 1988, was a multi-sport event held from February 13 to 28, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to be held for 15 days, like the counterpart Summer Olympic Games. The majority of the contested events took place in Calgary itself. However, the skiing events were held west of the city at the Nakiska ski resort in Kananaskis Country and the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park in the town of Canmore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Winter Paralympics</span> Multi-parasport event in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada

The 2010 Winter Paralympics, or the tenth Paralympic Winter Games, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The opening ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler Medals Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Summer Paralympics</span> Multi-parasport event in Toronto, Canada

The 1976 Summer Paralympics, branded as Torontolympiad – 1976 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled, was the fifth Paralympic Games to be held. They were hosted by Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from 3 to 11 August 1976, marking the first time a Paralympics was held in the Americas and in Canada. The games began three days after the close of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bids for the 2010 Winter Olympics</span>

Three cities made the shortlist with their bids to host the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which were awarded to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on July 2, 2003. The other shortlisted cities were Pyeongchang and Salzburg. Although Bern was originally shortlisted along with Vancouver, Pyeongchang and Salzburg, a referendum held in September 2002 revealed that a majority of the citizens of Bern did not support pursuing the candidacy. There were four other cities vying for the hosting honour, that had been dropped by the International Olympic Committee: Andorra la Vella, Harbin, Jaca and Sarajevo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bids for the Olympic Games</span> Bids to host the Olympic Games

National Olympic Committees that wish to host an Olympic Games select cities within their territories to put forth bids for the Olympic Games. The staging of the Paralympic Games is automatically included in the bid. Since the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, which successfully appropriated the name of the Ancient Greek Olympics to create a modern sporting event, interested cities have rivaled for selection as host of the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. 51 different cities have been chosen to host the modern Olympics: three in Eastern Europe, five in East Asia, one in South America, three in Oceania, nine in North America and all the others in Western Europe. No Central American, African, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Southeast Asian city has ever been chosen to host an Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Olympic Oval</span>

The Richmond Olympic Oval is an indoor multi-sports arena in the Canadian city of Richmond, British Columbia. The oval was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics and was originally configured with a speed skating rink. The venue has since been reconfigured and now serves as a community multi-sport park and includes two ice hockey rinks, two running tracks, a climbing wall, a rowing tank and a flexible area which can be used for, among other sports, basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and table tennis.

Canadian Olympics can mean:

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) was the non-profit organization responsible for planning, organizing, financing and staging the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics. Established on September 30, 2003, about four months after the 2010 games were awarded to Vancouver, British Columbia, it performed these roles with "the mandate to support and promote the development of sport in Canada."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 2010 Winter Olympics, a total of ten sports venues were used, seven in Vancouver, and three in Whistler. The majority of ice sport events were held in Vancouver, while Whistler, which normally serves as a ski resort, hosted the snow events. Six non-competition venues, three each in Vancouver and Whistler, provided athlete housing, space for media, and locations for ceremonies associated with the Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium</span> Consortium of broadcasters that aired 2010 and 2012 Olympic coverage

Established in 2007, Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium was a joint venture set up by Canadian media companies Bell Media and Rogers Media to produce the Canadian broadcasts of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England, as well as the two corresponding Paralympic Games. Bell owned 80% of the joint venture, and Rogers owned 20%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Own the Podium</span> Canadian not-for-profit sporting organisation

Own the Podium is a Canadian not-for-profit organization. Originally created as Own the Podium - 2010 to prepare Canadian athletes to reach medal finishes at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the program has since expanded to include a division for summer sports as well, known as Road to Excellence. As of 2012 the program's CEO is Anne Merklinger following the resignation of Alex Baumann for health reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Furlong (sports administrator)</span> Canadian businessman

John Furlong, OC, OBC is a Canadian sports administrator who oversaw the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics and was President and CEO of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bids for the 2022 Winter Olympics</span>

A total of six bids were initially submitted for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Four of the bids were subsequently withdrawn by 1 October 2014, citing either the high costs of hosting the Games or the lack of local support, leaving Almaty, Kazakhstan and Beijing, China as the only two remaining candidate cities. Beijing was then elected as the host city at the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 31 July 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bids for the 2026 Winter Olympics</span>

A total of seven bids were initially submitted for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Four of the bids were subsequently withdrawn after entering the candidature stage, leaving Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and Stockholm–Åre, Sweden as the only two remaining candidate bids. Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo was elected as the host city at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 24 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invictus Games</span> International Paralympic-style multi-sport event

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event first held in 2014, for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. The word 'Invictus' means 'unconquered', chosen as an embodiment of the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and what they can achieve, post-injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lara Mussell Savage</span>

Lara Mussell Savage is a two-time world champion in Ultimate, earning a gold medal in both 2000 and 2004, as well as bronze medals in 1998 and 2008. Leading up to 2010, Lara was a part of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) as Project Manager for Aboriginal Sport and Youth. Previous to this, she was the Operations Manager for the Air Canada PGA Tour Championship. Adding to her resume, in 2015 Mussell Savage became an ambassador for viaSport’s Gender Equity #LevelTheField campaign promoting gender equity in sport and became a Trustee for the British Columbia (BC) Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games</span>

The Victoria bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a cancelled bid by Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and Commonwealth Games Canada to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. On 24 August 2017 Victoria withdrew its bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, leaving only Birmingham and Liverpool in the race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2030 Winter Olympics</span> Upcoming multi-sport event

The 2030 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXVI Olympic Winter Games, is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 8 to 24 February 2030. The host city will be elected at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on 23 July 2024, on the eve of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

References

  1. Morris, Jim (30 November 2020). "Vancouver mayor wants Indigenous leaders to head possible 2030 Olympic bid". CBC Sports . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  2. Berkeley, Geoff (26 October 2021). "Public support for 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver falling, survey says". Insidethegames.biz. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  3. "Postmedia Study – Opinions on a Vancouver Bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games" (PDF). December 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2022.
  4. Todd, Douglas (10 January 2022). "2030 Winter Olympics a hard sell for British Columbians". Vancouver Sun.
  5. Dichter, Myles (4 May 2022). "Reconciliation through sport inspires Indigenous-led bid to bring the 2030 Olympics, Paralympics to B.C." CBCSports.ca . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  6. Dichter, Myles (5 May 2022). "Unaffiliated 'Vancouver 2030' group causing confusion for official Olympic bid team". CBCSports.ca . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  7. Dichter, Myles (14 June 2022). "B.C. 2030 Olympic, Paralympic bid group unveils venues, dates planned for Games". CBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. "First Nations chief says 2030 Olympic bid over after B.C. declines support". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 28 October 2022.

Further reading