Concept unveiled: Indigenous-led bid for 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Whistler

If the Olympics and Paralympics in 2030 end up being hosted in B.C., Sun Peaks ski resort near Kamloops would play a major role.

Indigenous, municipal, and Olympic committee leaders officially unveiled their concept for the games in Whistler on Tuesday. Sun Peaks was named as a venue for most of the freestyle skiing and snowboard events on the traditional unceded territories of the Adams Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, and Neskonlith Indian Bands.

Vancouver would host the big air events at a temporary venue at the Hastings Racecourse.

The biggest change from 2010 is the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations have governance-level oversight at every stage of the project. Last time, the Four Host First Nations joined the bidding process after it had already started.

Work on a formal bid will continue through this year.

Costs for hosting the Olympics are expected to be released in July and a decision on whether to have “targeted dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee on potentially hosting the Games must be made by December.

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This would be the first Indigenous-led Games.

Wilson Williams, a spokesperson with the Squamish Nation calls the unveiling of this concept an “important step in our consideration of a potential Indigenous-led bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The plan reuses and revamps several existing venues, including UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre for ice hockey and Para ice hockey; the Richmond Olympic Oval for long track speed skating; and the Whistler Sliding Centre for bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge.

A new stadium and courses would be constructed at Whistler Ptarmigan for alpine skiing technical events as well as para alpine skiing.

Whistler Creekside would be used for alpine skiing, speed events, and para snowboard. Whistler’s Olympic Park would host biathlon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and para Nordic skiing.

Ice hockey events would also once again take place at Rogers Arena, while the Pacific Coliseum would be used for figure skating and short track speed skating.

Just like in 2010, BC Place would be the venue for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre would be located at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

“Today is a very important day, as we enter into the next phase of this Olympic journey,” said Chief Jen Thomas with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation said in a statement. “Tsleil-Waututh is honoured to stand with our families from the Four Host Nations and our partners as we continue the good work to move towards the first ever Indigenous-led Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The 2030 Games will be the first mandated by the International Olympic Committee to have a net negative carbon footprint.

An online community engagement survey has been launched, where people can share their thoughts.