Daniel Jee / Staff reporter
An Indigenous-led group is carrying forward a bid to bring the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver. The agreement announced on Tuesday includes that First Nations, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee will assess a feasibility and develop initial concept to bring the Games back to the Vancouver area.
The COC announced that it would fully fund key technical work and local engagement necessary to complete the feasibility assessment.
According to Global news, Officials from the Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat), xwmə kwəy’əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, along with the mayors of Vancouver and Whistler, started the process on Dec. 10 when they announced their partnership to explore a 2030 bid.
“I think it is a very good start and a very big step into the right direction to include every kind of ethnical group and to fight against racism,” said Elias Wortig, grade 11.
No Indigenous group has ever led an effort to host the games before while Calgary and Vancouver have hosted the Winter Olympics each in 1988 and 2010.
All partners in the group will make the decision by debating and voting whether summiting a formal bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which will be extensive public consultation once the feasibility and initial assessment is completed.
Vancouver and the group can be running in the race for hosting 2030 Winter Olympics against Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sapporo, Japan, also both former host cities if the formal bid is made.
The IOC has not set a firm timeline on when the winning bid could be announced.
Truth and reconciliation have become primary issues in Canadian society after dark history in residential schools discovered across Canada has been revealed.
Through this attempt, the partnership of the indigenous group and Vancouver is taking a step of understanding and cooperation that maybe expanded to a global scale from Canada.
“I am glad that people actually started to try cooperating and understanding each other. Even though it is just a one step, it would make a little advance between Indigenous people and us. I know Canada has a heartbreaking history, but without these actions, nothing will be changed,” said David Jee, grade 9.
Sources:
CTV News – Olympics with Nations
Global News – cities participate in
CTV News – residential schools
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