ATHENS

Members of Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic organizing committee got a taste of what’s in store for British Columbia six years from now as the 2004 Summer Games kicked off last week in Greece.

A delegation of Olympic representatives from B.C., including Premier Gordon Campbell, travelled to this ancient Greek city to take a first-hand look at the venues, organization, sponsors and athletes as the 28th Summer Olympics prepared for kickoff last Friday.

As well, the delegation delivered a progress report to the 116th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on B.C.’s plans for the 2010 Winter Games.

John Furlong

John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, told reporters B.C. representatives have assured IOC officials that venue construction will be completed within budget and two years in advance of the event.

That will ensure the sites can be tested thoroughly, but will also give Canadian athletes the opportunity to train at home for the 2010 Games, he said. Venue construction was a major stumbling block for organizers of the Athens Olympics.

About 30 people representing VANOC were scheduled to spend time in Athens during the Games to observe what goes on behind the scenes.

“Our team has been practising,” said Furlong. “In order to get a sense of what you have to do at the time, you have to see it done.”

Jack Poole

Vancouver representatives will also travel to the Torino Winter Games (Italy) in 2006 and the Beijing Summer Games (China) in 2008 to help prepare for the B.C. event.

“When you stand and look . . . you can sense the awesomeness of the project,” said Furlong. “You get the sense of the scope and the size and how important it is that everyone is pulling together.”

VANOC chairman Jack Poole said Canadian companies have been visiting Athens to assess the opportunities the Games provide. Speaking to reporters after a ceremony marking 2,010 days to Vancouver’s opening ceremonies, Poole said the committee has received many inquiries from Canadian companies keen to play a role in the B.C. Games.

Former Vancouver Canucks chief operating officer Dave Cobb, the VANOC’s recently named senior vice-president of revenue, marketing and communications, said viewing the Athens experience up close made him recognize the importance of delivering an effective message to the public.

“I think Athens has been treated a little bit unfairly in some of the stories leading up to the Games,” he said. “Through the media I just heard a lot of things that weren’t real positive about Athens, and then you get here and it’s spectacular.

Jan Mansfield photos, Business Edge
Dave Cobb says delivering effective message to public crucial.

“It shows how important it is to get your message out and to be proactive to make sure you are communicating well and often.”

The 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12-28, 2010.

Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

Web watch:
www.vancouver2010.com

(Jan Mansfield can be reached at jan@businessedge.ca)