Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Encyclopedia
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) was the non-profit organization
responsible for planning, organizing, financing and staging the 2010 Winter Olympics
and 2010 Winter Paralympics
. Established on September 30, 2003, about four months after the 2010 games were awarded to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, it performed these roles with "the mandate to support and promote the development of sport in Canada
."
VANOC was led by chief executive officer
John Furlong
, an Irish-born
long-time member of the Canadian Olympic Committee
. Its board of directors
consisted of 20 members, with seven chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee
, one from the Canadian Paralympic Committee
, three each from Canadian
and British Columbian provincial
governments, two from the City government of Vancouver, two from the Resort Municipality of Whistler, one chosen jointly by the Band Councils of the Lil'wat
and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations, and a final director chosen by the other 19 members.
was set at CAN$1.76 billion, with a contingency of $77 million. This reflected an increase of $130 million over the $1.63 billion operating budget announced in May 2007, though VANOC said that if the accounting principles applied for the 2009 budget were retroactively applied to the May 2007 budget, the operating budget would have remained "relatively unchanged." The VANOC operating budget was financed by private sector
sources such as sponsorships, licensing, merchandising, ticket sales and fundraising, as well as with a contribution from the International Olympic Committee
; it was separate from the CAN$580 million spent on venue construction, costs for which were shared equally by the government of Canada
and the provincial government of British Columbia
.
One of VANOC’s goals was to achieve "unprecedented" First Nations
, Inuit
, and Métis
participation in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.
VANOC also sought to place a broader emphasis on sustainability
, integrating it into purchasing and daily operations and expanding to include "social and economic dimensions" , such as an effort to include "inner-city residents and businesses in the economic opportunities."
, where the freestyle (aerials, moguls, ski cross) and snowboarding events were held. With the opening in February 2009 of the $40-million Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre
at Hillcrest Park
, every sports venue for the 2010 games was completed on time and about a year prior to the start of the games.
, VANOC officially dissolved.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
responsible for planning, organizing, financing and staging the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
and 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
. Established on September 30, 2003, about four months after the 2010 games were awarded to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, it performed these roles with "the mandate to support and promote the development of sport in Canada
Sport in Canada
Sports in Canada consists of a variety of games. Although there are many contests that Canada value, the most common are Ice hockey, Lacrosse, Canadian football, basketball, soccer, curling and baseball...
."
VANOC was led by chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
John Furlong
John Furlong (Canadian)
John Furlong, O.C, O.B.C was the President and Chief Executive Officer of VANOC which oversaw the preparation and execution of the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics Games...
, an Irish-born
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
long-time member of the Canadian Olympic Committee
Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee - COC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian athletes in the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Games. It was formally recognized by the IOC in 1907. The COC also represents the selection of Canadian cities in their bid for...
. Its board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
consisted of 20 members, with seven chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee
Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee - COC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian athletes in the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Games. It was formally recognized by the IOC in 1907. The COC also represents the selection of Canadian cities in their bid for...
, one from the Canadian Paralympic Committee
Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee - CPC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian Paralympic athletes in the International Paralympic Committee and the Parapan American Games...
, three each from Canadian
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and British Columbian provincial
Politics of British Columbia
The Politics of British Columbia involves not only the governance of British Columbia, Canada, and the various political factions that have held or vied for legislative power, but also a number of experiments or attempts at political and electoral reform....
governments, two from the City government of Vancouver, two from the Resort Municipality of Whistler, one chosen jointly by the Band Councils of the Lil'wat
Lil'wat First Nation
The Lil'wat First Nation, aka the Lil'wat Nation or the Mount Currie Indian Band, is a First Nations government located in the southern Coast Mountains region of the Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia...
and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations, and a final director chosen by the other 19 members.
Goals
On January 30, 2009, VANOC announced its updated budget for the 2010 games. The operating budgetOperating budget
An operating budget is the annual budget of an activity stated in terms of Budget Classification Code, functional/subfunctional categories and cost accounts. It contains estimates of the total value of resources required for the performance of the operation including reimbursable work or services...
was set at CAN$1.76 billion, with a contingency of $77 million. This reflected an increase of $130 million over the $1.63 billion operating budget announced in May 2007, though VANOC said that if the accounting principles applied for the 2009 budget were retroactively applied to the May 2007 budget, the operating budget would have remained "relatively unchanged." The VANOC operating budget was financed by private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
sources such as sponsorships, licensing, merchandising, ticket sales and fundraising, as well as with a contribution from the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
; it was separate from the CAN$580 million spent on venue construction, costs for which were shared equally by the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and the provincial government of British Columbia
Politics of British Columbia
The Politics of British Columbia involves not only the governance of British Columbia, Canada, and the various political factions that have held or vied for legislative power, but also a number of experiments or attempts at political and electoral reform....
.
One of VANOC’s goals was to achieve "unprecedented" First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
, Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, and Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
participation in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.
VANOC also sought to place a broader emphasis on sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, integrating it into purchasing and daily operations and expanding to include "social and economic dimensions" , such as an effort to include "inner-city residents and businesses in the economic opportunities."
Site preparation
VANOC spent $16.6 million to upgrade facilities at Cypress MountainCypress Mountain
- External links :* *...
, where the freestyle (aerials, moguls, ski cross) and snowboarding events were held. With the opening in February 2009 of the $40-million Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre
Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre
The Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre is a new community centre and curling rink located at Hillcrest Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Construction started in March 2007; it has already been host to the 2009 World Junior Curling Championships but parts of the building are still under...
at Hillcrest Park
Hillcrest Park
Hillcrest Park is located in the Riley Park-Little Mountain neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is located immediately north of Queen Elizabeth Park and west of Riley Park....
, every sports venue for the 2010 games was completed on time and about a year prior to the start of the games.
After the games
After VANOC submitted their report to the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
, VANOC officially dissolved.