Victoria Mundell
Staff Reporter
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committee have signed onto an Indigenous-led bid to get the winter Olympics back to Vancouver, according to Ben Miljure’s article “Indigenous-led group taking next step in possible Olympic bid to bring 2030 Games to B.C.”
No Indigenous-led bid has been proposed before, and if accepted by the IOC, International Olympic Committee, this will be the first Indigenous-led Olympics Canada has ever hosted.
“Having the 2030 Olympics be Indigenous-led would be an opportunity to genuinely and authentically represent Canada to the rest of the world.” said Selin Hekimoglu, grade 11. “Indigenous people need to be allowed to display their culture, this is their land, they should get to benefit from it too.”
As reported by The Canadian Press“2030 Olympics: Indigenous-led bid takes next step to bring Games back to Vancouver”the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations and the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced the signing of their collaboration agreement on February 1, in which they will be completing a feasibility assessment and developing the concept of the games.
The COC has come out stating that it will pay in full for the feasibility assessment and developmental process of the bid.
“It’s a good start [towards reconciliation]. More definitely needs to be done, but it’s a good jumping point for more actions to be taken. Giving Indigenous people the chance to play a pivotal role in a worldwide event is a great way to empower them within their country.” said Hekimoglu.
Canada has hosted three previous Olympics, most recently the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver B.C.
As stated by The Canadian Press “Vancouver, Whistler and First Nations to explore feasibility of 2030 Olympics bid” the 2010 winter Olympics cost about $4 billion alone. This will be considered during the feasibility process. However, as a result of the viable infrastructure from the games hosted 20 years ago, the Indigenous-led bid will be at a significant financial advantage.
According to Hekimoglu, everyone should care about the Indigenous-led bid.
“Indigenous people have gone through many years of mistreatment in our home, and for one of the first times, they can show the world that this is their home too.”
The decision to submit a formal bid to the IOC is expected to happen in the fall of 2022 if all goes well during the preliminary stages of planning.
Sources:
Indigenous-led group taking next step in possible Olympic bid to bring 2030 Games to B.C.
2030 Olympics: Indigenous-led bid takes next step to bring games back to Vancouver
Vancouver, Whistler, and First Nations to explore feasibility of 2030 Olympics bid