37 Social Legacy Promises | Vancouver 2010 Olympics
The Vancouver Winter Olympics are here, watching the torch relay this morning got me thinking:
1. Michael J Fox should be the final torchbearer.
2. I'm not really for or against the Vancouver Olympics, I see great pros and glaring failures in the whole thing, regardless I'm going to enjoy the experience.
3. Planned protesting on Vancouvers east side.
I question how effective re-routing the torch really was, but appreciate the want to protest. Whether or not you agree with the protests is one thing, but blind opinion is another. I'm by no means well versed on all the issues surrounding the Vancouver Olympics which made this article on Who are the 2010 Protesters interesting(via @kk)
One item that jumped out to me while reading this was reference to a 7+ year old document titled "37 Social Legacy Promises", this was created in 2002 during the bidding process. Many of these promises have not been realized, in April 2009 IOC Olympics Games executive director Gilbert Felli reportedly said:
Considering this I couldn't resist downloading the 37 Social Legacy Promises document. I understand that no project ever really finishes the way it was originally planned but I feel that many of the items in this document have been almost entirely ignored. for anyone interested here is what the document said:
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2010 Winter Games Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement
The Bid Corporation and its Member Partners are pleased to present the 2010 Winter Games Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement. This Commitment Statement builds from the attached Inclusive Intent Statement, endorsed by the Bid Corporation and its Member Partners, which speaks to participation and equity for all British Columbians, including low and moderateincome people. The Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement outlines the goals and objectives in the planning for and hosting of a inclusive Winter Olympics Games and Paralympics Winter Games. The intent is to maximize the opportunities and mitigate potential impacts in Vancouver’s inner-city neighbourhoods from hosting the 2010 Winter Games.
The inclusive approach to planning and implementing the Winter Games is being undertaken in two phases. During the current bidding phase, the emphasis is to ensure that inclusive goals and objectives are set for Vancouver’s inner-city neighbourhoods. Should Vancouver be awarded the right to host the 2010 Winter Games, planning will move to the organizing phase which will be led by the Organizing Committee and its Member Partners. The Member Partners are committed to ensuring that the Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement is adopted by the Organizing Committee. During the organizing and implementing phase, there will also be opportunities to use this Commitment Statement as a model for applying the concepts in other communities.
In addition, during the organizing phase, programs and policies will be developed that support the goals and objectives in the Commitment Statement to create a strong foundation for sustainable socio-economic development in Vancouver's inner-city neighbourhoods, particularly in Downtown Eastside, Downtown South and Mount Pleasant. The programs will be a shared responsibility of the Member Partners and the Organizing Committee. They will be developed in the context of existing government activities and take into account fiscal limits. Also during the implementation phase, steps will be taken to ensure incorporation of the interests of different groups, such as aboriginal people, women, youth, people with disabilities, people of colour, immigrants and other groups.
As an indication of the intent to implement the goals and objectives contained in this Commitment Statement, a program “Opportunities Starting Now” is being initiated through the Vancouver Agreement. Its purpose is to identify, develop and build positive legacies now for the inner-city neighbourhoods.
The Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation and its Member Partners have adopted the following goals and objectives to ensure that the interests of those living in Vancouver’s inner-city neighbourhoods are addressed:
Accessible Games
a) Develop barrier free venues for people with disabilities
b) Ensure reasonable accessibility for people with disabilities
Affordable Games Events
a) Make affordable tickets available for Vancouver's low-income inner-city residents, including
at risk youth and children
Affordable Recreation and Community Sport
a) Maximize inner-city residents' access to the new and public upgraded facilities after the
Winter Games
b) Ensure inner-city community centres have equitable access to surplus sporting equipment
c) Maximize access by inner-city residents, at-risk youth and children to sport and recreational
initiatives by building from the current sport delivery infrastructure
Business Development
a) Develop opportunities for existing and emerging local inner-city businesses and artisans to
promote their goods and services
b) Develop potential procurement opportunities for businesses that employ local residents
Civil Liberties and Public Safety a) Provide for lawful, democratic protest that is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms
b) Ensure all inner-city residents' continued access to public spaces before, during and after
the Games and provide adequate notice of any restrictions of the use of public
space/facilities and prominently display alternate routes and facilities
c) Maintain the current level of public safety and security in inner-city neighbourhoods during
the Winter Games
d) Commit to a timely public consultation that is accessible to inner-city neighbourhoods,
before any security legislation or regulations are finalized, subject to lawful and legitimate
confidentiality requirements
e) Ensure RCMP is the lead agency for security
f) Reflect the aesthetic design standards of Vancouver in all security related measures
Cultural Activities
a) Showcase the diverse cultural, multicultural and aboriginal activities of inner-city residents
Employment and Training
a) Create training and a continuum of short and long-term employment opportunities for innercity
residents to encourage a net increase in employment
b) Provide reasonable wages and decent working conditions for any local worker producing
Games related goods and services before and during the Winter Games
Environment
a) Ensure environmental "best practices" in inner-city neighbourhoods
Financial Guarantees
a) Provide adequate funds to maintain and operate the new or upgraded public recreational
facilities after the Games to maximize the number of facilities available to inner-city residents
b) Provide adequate programming funds for the new or upgraded public recreational facilities
to encourage maintenance or increase in recreation programs
c) Provide disclosure of all financial aspects of the Games, including expenditures and
revenues, in the bidding and organizing phase of the Games
d) Commit to a comprehensive annual financial audit
Health and Social Services
a) Maintain delivery of health and social services to inner-city residents during the Winter
Games
b) Showcase a commitment to public health issues, including a comprehensive alcohol and
drug strategy
Housing
a) Protect rental housing stock
b) Provide as many alternative forms of temporary accommodation for Winter Games visitors
and workers
c) Ensure people are not made homeless as a result of the Winter Games
d) Ensure residents are not involuntarily displaced, evicted or face unreasonable increases in
rent due to the Winter Games
e) Provide an affordable housing legacy and start planning now
Input to Decision-Making
a) Provide inclusive representation on the Bid Corporation's and Organizing Committee’s
Board structures and all relevant Bid Corporation and Organizing Committee's work groups
b) Ensure inner-city inclusive work continues to operate under the Organizing Committee and
its Member Partners
c) Work with and be accessible to an independent watchdog group that includes inner-city
residents
d) Develop full and accountable public consultation processes that include inner-city residents
e) Document opportunities and impacts experienced in inner-city neighbourhoods in a
comprehensive post-Games evaluation with full participation by inner-city residents
Neighbourliness
a) Stage events that respect adjacent neighbours
Transportation
a) Ensure all Vancouver Games events and venues can be reached by public transit at an
affordable cost
b) Minimize any potential adverse transportation impacts on inner-city residents
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