Kevin Wang
Student Reporter
It was announced on February 1st that an agreement was made between four Indigenous nations and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and the City of Vancouver. They are all in support of the bid to bring the Olympics back to Vancouver. In the announcement last Tuesday, the COC and CPC will be funding a feasibility assessment.
Vancouver’s 2030 bid is led by four First Nations groups, the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. According to Wilson Williams of the Squamish Nation, the bid will be the first of its kind and the first time an indigenous group has made an effort to host the games.
The bid is certainly an essential step toward truth and reconciliation. An Indigenous-led global sporting event will undoubtedly create awareness and help share First Nations people’s rich culture and understand the dark reality of Canada’s past.
In addition, Vancouver’s bid will also promote and improve the environmental sensibilities of the Olympics.
The Vancouver bid fits precisely in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) “Agenda of the IOC.” This includes the reuse of existing infrastructure, a suitable city for winter events, a pro-environment organization, and a slim budget. According to Dr. Bill Mallon, the co-founder and former president of the International Society of Olympic Historians, in an interview for The Province, the IOC would defiantly be appealed by Vancouver’s modest price tag as they have been trying to shift toward a smaller financial and ecological footprint in recent times.
Mallon also added “Vancouver bid will benefit from having existing ultra-modern and ecological infrastructures, having hosted the Games so recently, which will reduce costs,” and that “the IOC would very well likely look favourably upon an Indigenous-led bid”.
A few Gleneagle students have already stated their support for the bid, including Joshua Li (Grade 11) and Dominic Runghen (Grade 11). In addition to his support, Runghen also believes that the indigenous led Olympics is a great way share Indigenous culture with the world. Li also added that he believes that the bid is “cool and creative”.
Vancouver’s bid is currently contending against proposals made by Japan, the United States, and a co-op bid between Spain, Andorra, and France. Vancouver is currently the favourite to win the bid. Still, it is uncertain when the IOC will announce the host city.
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