This last point is of particular importance to this project. The IOC has recently made the "environment" the third pillar of the Olympic movement, alongside sport and culture. The IOC has set out environmental guidlines that all host cities must meet in order to hold the event. However the Vancouver Whistler bid is seeking to set a new benchmark in 'sustainable Olympics', an honor currently held by the last Olympics in Sydney in 2000.
The Vancouver Whistler Bid Corporation was created in June 1999 to organize
and form a bid. Extensive studies has indicated that it will be necessary
to construct a new Olympic speed skating facility in the Lower Mainland. Options
for expanding existing facilities have proved unfeasible. This project is
concerned with locating a site for this facility.
Determining where this facility will be built is of great importance on many
levels. First of all it must be an attrative site and contribute to the chances
of actually winning the Olympics. More importantly however, is that the facility
leave a positive legacy for the community in which it is located. The concept
of 'legacies' is an integral part of the bid. The Olympics should contribute
to the well being of the city and the region for the long term, rather than
simply a two week period in 2010. The criteria in the analysis of the site
location takes this into consideration and attempts to balance the more conventional
aspects of site location with social factors.
Determining a site is just the first step however, and from here a number of parties will have to be involved in order to get this facility built. It will involve multiple levels of government support as well as community and business involvement. The process of siting and building this facility must be as inclusive as possible if it is to leave a positive legacy.
