Vancouverites to vote on 2030 Olympic bid if TEAM wins election

People in Vancouver will have the chance to have their thoughts on the Indigenous-led Olympic bid heard if Colleen Hardwick gets her way.

Former city councillor and now a mayoral candidate for TEAM for a liveable Vancouver, Hardwick is proposing a plebiscite on the 2030 Olympic bid if she and her party win in the upcoming civic election.

“I’m not going to get into a discussion about the politics of the IOC [International Olympic Committee] or sports, that’s outside of scope. My objection is one about democracy and being sidelined as an electorate,” Hardwick said.

While on city council, Hardwick tried to push ahead with a plebiscite earlier this year, but the rest of council disagreed with the proposal, saying it would violate a memorandum of understanding with local First Nations —Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) — who are leading the bid.

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The understanding was signed in December, 2021, marking the first step in the bid process.

Hardwick believes a plebiscite is the only way to find out if there is support for the bid.

“This is one of the reasons why I want to bring back this subject into the public eye, on a decision that involves billions of dollars and our collective future.”

Hardwick argues a public vote was held ahead of the 2010 Olympic Games, and wonders why 2030 should be any different.

“In 2003, I’ll point out that 65 per cent voted in favour of having a plebiscite. And having the will of the people behind the Olympics strengthens the bid.”

In a series of tweets earlier in the year, Stewart claimed Hardwick’s plebiscite would violate the memorandum of understanding. Hardwick then complained to the Integrity Commissioner, who ruled Stewart had breached the city’s Code of Conduct in making that claim.

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Speaking to CityNews in July, Squamish Nation spokesperson Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) says the potential of an Indigenous-led Olympics doesn’t just show the power of sport, but the power of unity, and shows Indigenous Peoples that they can be leaders in their broader communities.

“And be role models for reconciliation throughout the country,” he said. “When we put things in context like that, it becomes bigger than us — in our roles as either politicians or leaders of our respective communities.”

Working with the Indigenous-led Olympic bid is reconciliation in action, Williams said, and provides an opportunity for a stronger relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people moving forward.

“If we’re looking at really becoming not just the city of reconciliation, but we look at all respective communities that are involved, it’s changing the narrative with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee. We’re strengthening our ties with the Municipality of Whistler, the City of Vancouver, and the four Nations are really leading the way for other Nations to say, ‘Hey, this is reconcili-‘action’ here.”