HSAL and Vancouver-based REWERX were selected by the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation to conduct public consultation and complete a preliminary social impact assessment (SIA) of the potential impacts of hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky Highway and Whistler/ Blackcomb communities.
We realized from the outset that the majority of the published material is based on 'expected impacts' and until our study, there was little case study research on the actual impacts of the games. Thus, our research involved extensive literature review based on documented material and primary research based on telephone interviews with past Olympic/Paralympic Bid and Games organizers and community members from around the world. The actual socio-economic effects of Vancouver EXPO (1986) and the Games in Calgary (1988), Lillehammer (1992), Atlanta (1996), Nagano (1998), Sydney (2000) and Salt Lake City (2002) were considered. We also collected hard data characterizing the existing social strengths and weaknesses of all of potentially affected communities in lower mainland British Columbia and communties up to Whistler.
REWERX completed a large group facilitation process that allowed us to hear from many types of people in a controlled setting. As a result, we were able to obtain valuable constructive community-based data from many communities stretching from the Fraser Delta, along the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler Blackcomb. Again we found it to be important to separate concerns and fears from factual data about potential benefits and problem areas needing mitigation.
The study submitted to the International Olympic Committee and was instrumental in the City's successful bid to host both events.
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