Vancouver 2010 aims to keep the flame burning

Four CMAs on the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) are using their strategic management skills to create an extraordinary experience for the athletes, officials and guests of 2010.

In 2010, all eyes will be on Vancouver, B.C. as the world's best athletes compete for gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Games will encompass 17 days of Olympic Games events, 10 days of Paralympic Games events, 5,500 Olympic Games athletes and officials, 1,350 Paralympic Games athletes and officials, 80+ countries participating in Olympic Winter Games, 40+ countries participating in Paralympic Games, 10,000 media representatives and 3 billion television viewers worldwide.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (Vancouver 2010) was established in 2003 to support and promote the development of sport in Canada by planning, organizing, financing, and staging the Games. The Committee is responsible for two key areas - the construction of venues, and the delivery of successful Games on behalf of all Canadians.

Vancouver 2010 comprises of 53 different functions (departments) and follows a formal process for mapping out service delivery and interactions with other functions.

Four CMAs on the Vancouver 2010 team are among a talented group who are working hard to provide top conditions for athletes and a welcome place for spectators to experience the excitement of competition.

"We're responsible for creating the plan and we're also responsible for delivering it," says David Crawford, CMA CCEP, director, accommodation, cleaning and waste. "The CMA designation has certainly enhanced our ability in the areas of clarity and focus, adaptability and contingency planning," all of which Crawford applies to his responsibilities on a daily basis.

Vancouver 2010 legacy plans outlined

The Olympics have a way of leaving a lasting mark where they are hosted, and the organizers of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have every intention of that ringing true for British Columbia. Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) CEO John Furlong had the following comments in a press release by the committee today:

"Since the idea of hosting the 2010 Winter Games surfaced in Vancouver back in 1996, the vision has been consistently clear - in addition to hosting outstanding Games, they must create benefits and legacies for sport and communities."

Among the legacy goals outlined in the press release:

• $110M will be invested by the federal and provincial governments to create the 2010 Winter Games Operating Trust to maintain and keep viable sports facilities like the Whistler Nordic Venue, Whistler Sliding Centre, and Richmond Oval.
• After the games, the Vancouver Olympic village will become a mixed-use community with 1,100 residential units, including 250 non-market, supportive housing units.
• Likewise, the Whistler Olympic village will become a permanent mixed-use community.
• Whistler will see the construction of the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre.
• Medical and sports equipment used during the games will be donated to community organizations.

Source: VANOC press release

1,000 days until the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

With 1,000 days remaining until the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the event is starting to take shape on the planning side of things. Canoe.ca's Terry Jones has an excellent article detailing the various construction and renovation activities planned for 2010, available here.

While it might be an Olympic feat to have the Games remain on time and on budget, VANOC appears to be doing everything right so far.

Business Plan and Games Budget for 2010 released by VANOC

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has revealed it's full Business Plan and Games Budget for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The highlights include:

• The Games Operating Budget is $1.6B (CDN) total, with all costs included less construction costs.
• 74% of the budget comes from private sources, including "international and domestic sponsorships, licensing and merchandising, ticket sales and fundraising, and a portion of the worldwide sale of Games television broadcast rights."
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is responsible for $579M of funding, plus an additional $35M that was apparently "negotiated at the last minute".
• Venue construction is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, filling in the remaining 26% of total funding, with each kicking in $290M.
• The two biggest construction/upgrading costs are $104.9M for the Whistler Sliding Centre, and $119.7M for the Whistler Nordic Competition Venue.
• With a 95% ticket sale ratio, $231M in revenue is expected.

Source: VANOC Business Plan and Games Budget

Taxpayers pay $18M for GM Place during 2010 games

New information about how much VANOC will pay for renting Vancouver's GM Place for the 2010 Games was revealed in a court case. The big $18.5M+ CDN figure came out in a case regarding the ownership of the Vancouver Canucks NHL franchise. Signing bonuses and daily usage fees of $100,000 CDN are included in the startling figure.

Activist group 2010 Watch had this to say:

"It's very clear that VANOC got themselves severely, severely hosed by GM Place. Why? Because they could. Where else were they going to go?"

Could be worse, remember the Montreal Olympics?

Source: Globe and Mail

VANOC presents progress update to IOC

The Vancouver Organizing Committee's CEO John Furlong has presented an interim progress report to the International Olympic Committee detailing progress made in the planning of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Included in the report:

• venue construction program progress
• the release of the VANOC Business Plan and Games operating budget, which has been approved by the VANOC Board of Directors, with a public release date scheduled for May 8
• a sponsorship and licensing update confirming that 80 per cent of the overall 2007 domestic sponsorship revenue target has been met
• accommodation targets and the media accommodation program
• development of the 2010 Winter Games ticketing program
• modifications to the 2010 sport program, including the addition of ski cross and format changes for speed skating team pursuit and skeleton
• finalization of the test event program

Source: Journal of Commerce

Requests for Proposal (RFP) issued for logistics management system

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has issued a new request for proposal (RFP) for businesses to create a logistics management system "manage the planning, allocation, distribution and asset tracking of equipment and materials required by VANOC to stage the Games."

Interested parties can head to the Procurement Opportunities page of the Vancouver 2010 website for more info.