International Olympic Committee : Vancouver 2010

Vancouver 2010: En route for perfectly bilingual Games

Like Athens in 2004, Turin in 2006 and Beijing in 2008, Vancouver 2010 will be closely examined by a Grand Témoin de la Francophonie, this time the former President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin, who was appointed by the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Abdou Diouf. The role of the Grand Témoin is to lead activities promoting awareness and observation of the French language, and increasing its use.

Solid experience

At the announcement of this nomination, IOC President Jacques Rogge stated: “We are looking forward to working with Mr Couchepin. We have already had the opportunity of working with him in the framework of his functions within the federal government. His solid international experience and his knowledge of the sports world will certainly be valuable assets in his new role of Grand Témoin de la Francophonie.” Pascal Couchepin is a key figure in the Swiss political landscape. He was President of the Swiss Confederation twice, in 2003 and 2008. Within the Federal Council, he led the Federal Department of Economic Affairs from 1998 to 2002. In this function, he was in charge of the ministries of agriculture, foreign trade, labour and professional education. During this period, he represented Switzerland within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and served as Governor of the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Currently Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, responsible for questions of social security, health, education, university education, research and culture, he will leave this post in October 2009 to devote himself to his new mission promoting the French language at the Olympic Games.

Olympic attachment to the French language

As President Rogge often stresses, the IOC is deeply attached to the defence of the French language, as it was created in French, by Pierre de Coubertin, the reviver of the Olympic Games, in an era (end of the 19th century) when French was the language of diplomacy. Since April 1915, the IOC headquarters have been in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. We should also recall that, in accordance with Rule 24 of the Olympic Charter, French is an official IOC language, alongside English, and is therefore of fundamental importance for the Olympic Games. Furthermore, if there is a discrepancy between a French text and an English one in the Olympic Charter, or any other IOC document, the French text prevails, in the absence of any written instruction to the contrary.

A satisfactory place in Beijing

Last August in Beijing, the French language had a satisfactory place, thanks to the organisers’ considerable efforts. This was the conclusion of the Grand Témoin for these Games, former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in his report on the use of French at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. A copy of this report will be officially presented today to President Rogge at a meeting in Lausanne with Pascal Couchepin, who will be accompanied by Pierre de Cocatrix, the Chief of Staff of the Secretary General of La Francophonie. Besides the presentation of the Grand Témoin’s mission in Vancouver, and a discussion on preparations for the Games, the cooperation project between the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the Olympic Movement will also be addressed, with the focal points being the first Youth Olympic Games in August 2010 in Singapore, the next edition of the Francophone Games in Beirut, and preparations for the 2013 edition.

Vancouver 2010, devoted to Francophonie

Canada is recognised throughout the entire world for its bilingualism and diversity. The Federal Law of 1969 made French and English the two official languages of the Canadian Federal State. The Organising Committee for the Games in Vancouver (VANOC) has therefore made a strong commitment to ensuring that the 2010 Olympic Winter Games respect the linguistic reality of the host country. The creation of a VANOC advisory panel on the official languages is a perfect illustration of this. A multi-party agreement between VANOC, the federal government and the host cities of the Games was signed, fixing very high standards in the area of bilingualism. To underline the important contribution of the country’s French-speaking communities, VANOC also signed a collaboration agreement with the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue and the British Columbia Francophone Federation. Reflecting this agreement, the Place de la Francophonie, situated in downtown Vancouver, will be, throughout the Games, a place of gathering, celebration, artistic creation, economic exchange and gastronomy.

Discover the report on French at the Beijing Games on the official web site of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

IOC Congratulates VANOC On Sporting Success

With 317 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission has finished its penultimate visit to the next Olympic Host City by congratulating the Vancouver Organisers (VANOC) for the high quality of the recently completed sports events. The Commission meeting also overlapped with the 8th IOC-UNEP Sport and the Environment Conference, which was held in Vancouver from 29 to 31 March. This Conference once again underlined the Olympic Movement’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.

A Great Olympic Experience

Speaking at the end of the Commission meeting, Chairman René Fasel said, “After six years of planning, we have finally seen athletes on the field of play, with the successful completion of the recent sports events and we congratulate VANOC and its hugely supportive partners on this achievement. While some of the spectators have had the opportunity to learn about new sports, it has also been the occasion for VANOC to learn and understand how its planning assumptions will operate in reality. There have been some important lessons learned, and VANOC’s team has taken them on board. We are confident that they will translate them into a great Olympic experience for the athletes, spectators and everyone else who will attend the Games or watch them on TV.”

A Positive Sustainable Legacy

In parallel to the Commission meeting, the 8th IOC-UNEP Sport and the Environment Conference also took place in Vancouver this week. The Conference is a bi-annual forum for bringing together the world of sport to talk about the environment and sustainability. The Games have sustainability right at their core from the bid stage, and no where has this been taken more to heart than in Vancouver. Commenting on VANOC’s work, Fasel said, “We often speak about the legacy of the Games for a community. One of the great legacies of the Vancouver Games will surely be VANOC and its partners’ work in the area of sustainability. From brand new venues that were built with the environment in mind to initiatives like their carbon offset plan, the Vancouver Games will leave a positive sustainable legacy to future generations. As Chairman of the Coordination Commission, it’s one of the things that makes me very proud about the work that we have accomplished thus far with VANOC.”

VANCOUVER 2010

Vancouver and Whistler will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010. The seven Winter Olympic sports that will be on show in Vancouver are Luge, Skiing, Skating, Ice Hockey, Biathlon, Bobsleigh and Curling.

IOC supports the sustainable sport and environment toolkit

While the 8th World Conference on Sport and Environment is starting today in Vancouver, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already pledged its commitment to provide sustainable legacies by strongly supporting the Sustainable Sport and Event Toolkit (SSET), a joint initiative by the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) and the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). In fact, the IOC is the Principal Supporting Partner of the new toolkit, the SSET.

Best practices and innovations from sports organisations

“As one of its founding members, the IOC is proud to partner with the AISTS to support new projects that promote sport and sustainable development,” stated Gilbert Felli, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games. “The SSET initiative profiles best practices and innovations developed by VANOC and other Olympic Games Organising Committees, federations and sport organisations, as well as the AISTS, a leading academic research centre in sport.”

A toolkit as a guide

Specifically designed as a “How To” guide for sports organisers, as well as national and International Federations and National Olympic Committees, the SSET provides a practical way to create a sustainable commitment and strategy around environmental, social, and economic issues ranging from selection and construction of the venue to community and supply chain involvement, and from transportation and accommodation to marketing and communications.

Learn more about the IOC policy on promotion of sustainable development

For more information on the SSET, please visit www.aists.org/sset.

Coca-Cola�s Top Environmental Sponsorship

To coincide with the 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment, which is being held in Vancouver, Canada, Worldwide TOP Partner Coca-Cola has announced details of its environmental action plan.

The plan demonstrates how the company is using the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games as a forum to showcase its ”Olympic Games Sustainability Programme” and its ongoing environmental commitments.

The Programme was created through consultation with WWF-Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, and includes targets of 100% collection of all PET containers in the Olympic Village and the venues during the Games, and 100% reduction in Olympic carbon emissions.

Live positively and run with the Torch
Coca-Cola is also rewarding Canadians who Live Positively and reduce their environmental footprint, by providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic torch in the build-up to the Games. Any Canadian who increases the amount they recycle, conserves energy and water and/or sets examples of environmental sustainability, can nominate themselves to become an Olympic torchbearer by logging on to www.icoke.ca.

Coca-Cola has announced that Gerald Butts, President and CEO, WWF-Canada has been nominated by Coca-Cola as its first environmental Olympic torchbearer. He said: “We are excited by Coke’s commitment to introducing an Olympic Games Sustainability Programme at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and by its efforts to support Canadians in living more sustainable lives."

“Congratulations to Coca-Cola,” says Linda Coady, Vice President, Sustainability, VANOC. “This is an example of a business using its Olympic sponsorship to incorporate and highlight environmental innovation in its own practices.”

For more information on Coca-Cola’s environmental programme in Canada visit:

http://www.cocacola.ca/corporate_responsibility_environment.htm

All eyes on Vancouver 2010

After a successful International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission visit to Vancouver last October, the Commission will make its eighth visit to Vancouver at the end of this month. The visit is particularly notable as it is the penultimate time the IOC Coordination Commission will be present in Vancouver before the city hosts the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The Countdown Begins

With less than one year to go until the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the spotlight is well and truly on this city. The Coordination Commission will attend various meetings and receive updates and presentations from the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee (VANOC) regarding its progress in a number of key areas, including sports events, venues, transport, and culture and education.

IOC member René Fasel is the Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and will lead the two-day visit, which will take place from 31 March to 1 April 2009.

VANCOUVER 2010

Vancouver and Whistler will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010 and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010. The seven winter Olympic sports that will be on show in Vancouver are Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Curling, Ice Hockey, Luge, Skating and Skiing.

Last Call for Registrations: 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment

If you want to save your spot at the 8th World Conference on Sport and the Environment (WCSE) in Vancouver, register now at www.wcse2009.com. The event will be held from 29 to 31 March 2009 in the host city of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and is being organised jointly by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Vancouver 2010 Organising Committee (VANOC), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Exciting programme – top level speakers
How to achieve environmental progress during economic uncertainty. Which are the best models to reduce the environmental footprint in sport? How to apply green planning, design and construction principles for Olympic venues. What is the role and power of athletes to raise awareness for environmentally friendly behaviour in and through sport? And how to engage communities at large and the youth in particular in these processes. These are but a few of the topics that will be discussed in plenary sessions, panels and workshops and during armchair dialogues under the main conference theme "Innovation and Inspiration". The list of speakers is impressive, featuring top-level representatives from the sporting family, UN bodies, Worldwide TOP Partners, civil society and the world of business and politics.

Vancouver – best practice for itself With VANOC being the first Olympic Games Organising Committee to have integrated "sustainability" into its vision statement, Vancouver is the perfect location for such a conference. VANOC successfully incorporated its sustainability performance objectives into its business systems. A tour of the venues of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will enable the conference participants to learn about building processes, challenges, sustainability attributes and site-selection considerations. Past and other future Organising Committees will also share their experience in working towards "Green Games". It was only in mid-February that UNEP assessed and praised the outstanding environmental initiatives of the organisers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in its report "Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – Final Environmental Assessment".