There are only a few days left before the gala opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. We have been led to believe that it will be quite a show, filled with glitz, glamour and talent showcasing Canada’s best. Predictably there will be placard-waving protesters as close to the television cameras as possible to try to shine an international light on the less glamorous side of life; poverty, homelessness and the plight of the inner city resident cast adrift with mental illness, drug addiction or both.
I have been involved in my share of street-based protests, taking issue with everything from the Vietnam War, fundamental human rights and freedoms, anti-nuclear demonstrations, and environmental concerns. Those of us who participate feel better for having done so, but I can’t honestly say that, beyond some fleeting media attention, those protests actually changed anything.
I listened to Premier Gordon Campbell on CBC The Early Edition this morning, and Campbell was asked by radio host Rick Cluff if, as the Premier of all British Columbians, he was hearing the concerns of those who chose to protest on Vancouver’s streets. The Premier’s response was not surprising. He dismissed them outright, saying that nothing could be said or done that would satisfy those who didn’t want the Winter Olympics to come to Vancouver. The Premier then rolled out the well-rehearsed and grossly overstated list of economic benefits that allegedly have or will accrue to the Province as a result of Olympic spending.
The problem with the street protest is that they will adequately fill the flip side of the media balance sheet, in terms of “fair” reporting, and will probably turn more people off than attract them to what really needs to be discussed in this province, namely government accountability for their spending priorities and the extent to which the public has been informed about the real cost of these games created by the IOC and VANOC.
What’s really at issue is “The Olympic Movement” and the International Olympic Committee that runs it. This private club with closed membership garners multi-millions of dollars through corporate sponsorships and television rights for broadcast and causes billions of public dollars to be spent by the governing authorities of the cities, provinces and/or countries who are awarded the games. Once the games are awarded the IOC, or their local committee like VANOC, oversees the spending of billions of tax dollars without any public scrutiny in order to build the facilities, set up security and maximize their own marketing potential for the event.
The Premier was spot on this morning when he said that hosting the Olympic Games is like having a private house party where you have to try to pay equal attention to invited guests. But, he told those listening, the Olympic movement will do wonders to promote sport and culture and to inspire kids to become the best they can be.
Really?
On Friday July 24, 2009 British Columbia School Sports, the governing body responsible for the delivery of high school sports and programs across the province of British Columbia through its 425 member schools, received notification that the entire provincial government operating grant for the organization had been cut. What about those kids? In August of the same year, the Campbell government cut roughly $20 million from previously promised and budgeted arts funding. The loss of those funds proved, and continues to prove, devastating to British Columbia artists.

Perhaps now is not the time for this debate. It’s like trying to debate the wisdom of committing troops to a war zone after they have already landed and engaged. Any dissenting voice will be quickly dismissed as being anti-Canadian and not supportive of the troops. So, in the case of the Winter Olympics “Go Canada Go” is the appropriate slogan to spur on our athletes, after all the games will be open in a few days and we will all take pride and rejoice in the personal accomplishments of individuals who compete for Canada, as we should. We should not fault the athletes for gross overspending and the elitist structure to the games, anymore than we should blame our troops in the field. They worked hard, and we should applaud them for their accomplishments and the sacrifices they have had to make to be the very best in their sport.
So let those who are invited enjoy this private house party, but don’t make the mistake that issues that surround these games will be swept away with the placard signs off Vancouver’s streets. There is a real debate needed. One that should seriously question need for this “Olympic Movement” but one that will, more importantly for British Columbians, demand accountability from their government.

1. Taylor Verrall Says:
   February 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm

   Mr Wilson,

   You stated the facts brilliantly. I only have one question, what do you recommend WE do following the Olympics?

   Taylor Verrall

2. Gordon Says:
   February 8th, 2010 at 10:58 pm

   Taylor, I think that we have to demand some answers from our politicians with respect to the real costs of these games. Then I think we have to engage at the grass roots level with our local school boards, municipal councils, and health authorities to make sure that government spending priorities change. it is going to be important to take back this province and we are going to have to do it one neighbourhood and at a time.

   Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.