Joon Lee / Staff reporter
Vancouver and Whistler city officials along with four First Nations representatives have announced the formation of a partnership that will explore the feasibility of making a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
According to Ben Miljure’s article “Indigenous-led group taking next step in possible Olympic bid.”
“If the host nations decide that they don’t feel like the Olympics is a benefit to their community, I will not be supporting the Olympics,” said Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart
No Aboriginal group has previously led an effort to host a game. but they have an effort to bid on the Olympics this time. If accepted by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) this will be the first Indigenous-led Olympics Canada has ever hosted.
“To me personally, it’s putting Indigenous peoples at the forefront. You know, I’m big on sharing who we are and where we come from. We have many stories to tell,” said Wilson Williams, an elected councillor with the Squamish Nation.
“If First Nations Peoples were to bid for the Olympic Games, it would bring about several positive outlooks for them. Their culture and traditions can be more widespread and allow the world to view how people still have various views about society,” said Ryan Kim.
“It can display and allow more exposure to the terrible conditions that the First Nations people are living in as I have heard that their water system was degrading each year. Furthermore, people who had Aboriginal people as their ancestors may finally experience their own culture for themselves and learn new things about themselves. Hosting the games by indigenous-led groups allows for the diversity of multiculturism spread deeper into people’s hearts as Canada is best known for accepting all beings.” he added.
According to “Vancouver, Whistler and First Nations to explore feasibility of 2030 Olympics bid” by The Canadian Press, the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations announced they have jointly entered into a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to begin the process.
Canada has hosted three previous Olympics, most recently the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver B.C.
The previous 2010 Games cost about $4 billion, including an expansion of the Sea-to-Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler. The organizing committee has said the Games broke even financially.
Calgary considered hosting the 2026 Winter Games at an estimated cost of $5.1 billion. The decision went to a public vote in 2018, with 56 percent of those who voted saying ‘no’ to putting in a bid.
“Olympics should be held even if it costs so much money,” said Daniel Sue, grade 11. “The Olympics is incredibly a good chance to reveal the country and to have diplomatically intimate each other. Also, the Olympics is not an event that happens often like any other competitive sport. When it comes to people’s prejudice, there is a possibility that opening an Olympics might change people’s prejudice in a good way,” he added.
Sources :
“Indigenous-led group taking next step in possible Olympic bid to bring 2030 Games to B.C.”
“Vancouver, Whistler and First Nations to explore feasibility of 2030 Olympics bid”
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