Vancouver+2010+Information

media type="youtube" key="y8gtUJfb3PM" height="344" width="425" align="right"Welcome to the Vancouver 2010 debate preparation wiki!

Here you will find information from pro-Olympic sources, and those who are against it. Make sure to take this information in with a critical eye as this debate is very emotional for many stakeholders and many opposing facts, figures, and statements are thrown around daily. As we get further away from the Olympics, we will begin to see more official data come out. But until then, we must BE AWARE OF BIAS!

Take this video as an example. Though this video is designed to protest the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympic Games, the first 1:15 is relevent to the Vancouver game. Watch out for bias in the video as there are several clips used together and it is not possible to understand each's context. This video is valuable however, as it may raise questions for use in the debate or for further questioning later in the webquest.

Following this, you should look at a NY Times debate which took place after the 2016 Olympics were awarded to Rio De Janeiro. It takes the opinions of experts from multiple fields and includes them in one article about the costs and benefits of hosting the olympics. This should lead you to consider some more possible points which can be raised in debate.

For anit-Olympic websites, we will look at the two largest and best organized.

First, we will begin with a large anti-Olympic website, 2010 Watch. This site is linked to many articles and has a great deal of information on it. Definatly worth a look for the "con" side of the debate.

Next you should take a look at the website for "Resist 2010." Note their list of reasons for speaking against the 2010 Olympics, many of which should be considered as topics to be brought up in the debate.

Watch this newscast from Global news which aired after it was announced that the cost of the Olympic athletes village would be the responsibility of taxpayers. Make sure to listen for information about previous Olympics and also to keep in mind what is missing from the report. (An example of this last point could be the positive returns on the investement after the games are completed.) media type="youtube" key="eoSct1kZuYY" height="344" width="425" align="center"

Speaking to the other side of the debate, you should take a look at the BC government commerce site This shows a number of business opportunities which are expected to come from hosting the games including increased tourism, and the influx of money from increased visits from wealthy tourists, company visits to the city etc.

Follow this with a glance over the Vancouver Olympic Committee's description of 5 positive economic impacts associated with hosting the games found in the link below.

Next look at the BC business 2010 site. This offers links to many articles of interest. Though there are more of interest, I will link to three that I have found to be most useful for this assignment. "Ring Cycle", "Debt Left Over", and Olympic Legacy.

Finally, take a look at the Benefits to host Country article. This provides a good idea for many of the benefits that arise from the Olympics in a more social than Economic Sphere.

The last resource to be inluded in this section of the webquest is the UBC pre-Olympic benefit assessement. It provides information about the economic outlook of the games, and its potential costs/benefits. When the games are over, we will update to include more detailed economic information as it becomes available, leaving this assessment up for comparison!

Now that you have completed the webquest, consider how you would debate both the "pro" and "con" sides of the resolution. You will not know until class begins what side you will be on so be prepared for each! Also, you may be required to switch sides part way through the class so ensure that you are able to predict arguements on both sides.