Indigenous-led B.C. bid for 2030 Winter Olympics moving ahead

A partnership of Indigenous leaders is moving forward to host the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver & Whistler. But organizers state that all groups must sign up by December if the proposal is to be approved.

“We do not move forward without one another,” saidTawanee Joseph is the one who will be shepherding Indigenous partnerships in the bid.

“It’s important for each of the organizations that we work with and the nations to make sure that they identify things that are important to them, including challenges, including opportunities. And that’s the process that we’re embarking upon now.”

The Lilwats, Musqueams, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh Nations and Musqueam announced on February 1 that they had signed an accord with the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to explore a bid.

It would be the first Indigenous-led bid to host an Olympic Games.

The partnership provided more details on Tuesday about the proposed bid, including plans to reuse many venues that hosted events during Vancouver’s 2010 Games.

“We’re looking at building no new competition venues. So we’re using what we have,” saidTim Gayda, vice-president of Vancouver Organizing Committee for 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Rogers Arena would host hockey once again, while bobsleds, skeleton, and luge will be back at Whistler Sliding Centre. Long-track speedskating and skeleton will return to Richmond Olympic Oval.

Vancouver’s Hastings Park would be a hub of many sports, including figure skating at Pacific Coliseum and speedkating at Pacific Coliseum, curling in the PNE Agrodome, and snowboarding on a temporary big-air ramp.

The proposed bid would also allow for freestyle skiing and snowboarding events to be held at Sun Peaks near Kamloops (B.C.).

With nearly 1,000 athletes and officials taking part in freestyle events, the sport is like a “mini Games,” Gayda saidIt was difficult to find the right venue.

“I just think when you go to that mountain, it’s got a nice vibe to it in terms of community and a resort destination,” he said. “We just think on television, it’ll be incredible.”

Gayda said organizers like the mountain’s north-facing location, which allows for early and later-season training and will be a place that supports athlete development.

“We feel that it really brings something new to this bid, that we’re tying in the rest of the province and not just Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Whistler,” he said.

In Vancouver, an athletes village would be built with the Musqueam-Tsleil-Waututh Development Corp. using one of two projects (the Jericho Lands or Heather Lands) the group is currently working on developing.

Sun Peaks and Whistler athletes would also be accommodated in villages.

Each group will now present the results from a feasibility report on the potential bid to the community and get feedback.

The costs of hosting the Games are expected to be released in July and the partnership must make a decision on whether to have a “targeted dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee by December.

Vancouver has been in the midst of debate over hosting the Olympics. The city council rejected calls to hold a plebiscite.

Andrew Baker from the Canadian Olympic Committee saidTuesday’s COC meeting informed its partners of the possibility that a plebiscite might impact their ability to meet with the IOC regarding hosting the Games.

“Each partner does have their own leadership and their own processes to go through,” he said. “And each partner will do that. And what we’re focused on is bringing those partners together to have conversations and shape a vision that meets the needs of all partners.”

Kennedy Stewart, Vancouver mayor said Tuesday that the city council would review the results of the feasibility report and decide whether or not the 2030 Olympic bid will be approved.

“Hosting the Olympic Games is a monumental undertaking. Precisely the kind of massive opportunity that must benefit Indigenous people and help us in our journey towards building a more sustainable, equitable and just future for all of us,” he said.

Joseph says that the collaboration between the different groups over the past few months has helped them learn from each other. said.

“Because we’re not at an adversarial place where we’re looking across the table at someone, you’re looking at a circle with one another, standing beside each other,” he said.

“The education opportunity that we have across this country to share not only our history but where we’re going, that’s what this does. It provides hope that we can tackle some of the challenges we’ve had, from culture, to education, to sport, to others.”

The IOC is expected announce the host for the 2030 Games in May 2023.

This report was published by The Canadian Press on June 14, 2022.