Hosting 2030 Olympics in Vancouver opportunity for economic recovery: councillor

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A city councillor is thrilled about the possibility of Vancouver hosting the 2030 Olympic Games, suggesting it could be the next step toward economic recovery.

After hearing reports that the former CEO of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee has been working on a bid for the city to host the games for more than a year, Coun. Melissa De Genova says it’s encouraging that there is interest in holding the games in the city.

“I’m really looking at this through the lens of an opportunity that comes at a very good time for Vancouver, considering the economic recovery we’re trying to move forward at the City of Vancouver,” she tells NEWS 1130. “Now more than ever, this should be a consideration of Vancouver City Council.”

She brought the idea of hosting the games to the city council a year ago, before the pandemic, and amid the nostalgia of the 10-year anniversary of the 2010 Winter Games.

“We do have the infrastructure, we have a number of facilities that were purpose-built for the Olympic games and I think not looking at this opportunity would be doing a disservice to the people of Vancouver,” De Genova says.

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She believes hosting the Olympics would be an opportunity for the city to bring in tourism, help out struggling local businesses, and possibly build much-needed housing.

“Maybe we would see some of the benefits coming back to Vancouver this time in the way of affordable and supportive housing,” she says.

“I think we could, just like we did last time, create Olympic games where there’s a possibility, not only for opportunities for our city but for the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our city as well.”

De Genova says she is waiting for a staff report on the possibility of Vancouver hosting the games.

-with files from Lisa Steacy