Module 1

Understanding the Opportunities

• An Introduction to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
• Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
• The Role of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
• Government Partners
• Sport Partners
• Corporate Sponsors
• Broadcasters
• Other Organizations
• Related Business Opportunities
• 2010 Is Only the Beginning

UNDERSTANDING THE OPPORTUNITIES

This module outlines the scope of business opportunities related to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and introduces the major organizations that will be seeking suppliers.

An Introduction to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games

On July 2, 2003, Vancouver was named the Host City of the 2010 Winter Games.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (sometimes referred to in this handbook as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games or the 2010 Winter Games) consist of 17 days of Olympic Winter Games events and 10 days of Paralympic Winter Games events, staged over a 60-day period of celebration in February and March 2010.

Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Olympic Winter Games — February 12–28, 2010 Paralympic Winter Games — March 12–21, 2010 1 Festival, 2 Games, 27 Days of Sport, 60 Days of Celebration

All the sport and ceremonial activities will take place within a 120-kilometre corridor in British Columbia, stretching from Richmond, just south of Vancouver, through downtown Vancouver, to the mountain resort of Whistler.

During the 2010 Winter Games, the Vancouver–Whistler area will host some 6700 athletes and officials, and 10 000 media representatives. About 25 000 volunteers will be recruited. Event tickets will number approximately 1.8 million, and the expected worldwide television audience is 3 billion.

To prepare for all this, a great deal needs to be done. New venues must be built and existing facilities upgraded. Accommodation must be built for athletes and officials. All these facilities, whether newly constructed or upgraded, must be specially furnished and equipped. Provision must be made for transportation and telecommunications, for lighting and signage, and for services ranging from food and beverages to waste management, specialized medical services, and security.

All this translates into an enormous range of contracting and purchasing requirements, and that means outstanding opportunities for Canadian businesses to:

• supply products or services directly to the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
• contract with one of VANOC’s Vancouver 2010 partners for venue construction projects or related requirements
• supply products or services to one of the “Olympic and Paralympic family” organizations, such as official delegations, official sponsors and broadcasters
• subcontract with a winning bidder on contracts from VANOC, its partners or an Olympic and Paralympic family organization
• win contracts or subcontracts for related infrastructure projects or for other sporting events leading up to the 2010 Winter Games and beyond

Subsequent modules in this handbook describe how the purchasing process works and provide advice on how your company can be successful at winning bids. This module introduces you to the key purchasers. Hosting the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games requires the resources and efforts of many organizations. By understanding the role of each, you will have a better appreciation of their purchasing requirements and constraints.

The Role of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)

VANOC was established on September 30, 2003, to oversee the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the 2010 Winter Games. VANOC is guided by a board of directors nominated by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and local First Nations. VANOC’s mission is “to touch the soul of the nation and inspire the world by creating and delivering an extraordinary Olympic and Paralympic experience with lasting legacies.”

VANOC has two core areas of activity: venue development and Games delivery. VANOC is also committed to work with its partners to support the development of legacies with benefits lasting well beyond 2010.

VENUE DEVELOPMENT

Wherever possible, existing facilities are being adapted and upgraded for use as Games venues, although construction of several new venues is required. Except for a few temporary structures, each of the venues, whether new or upgraded, is designed for ongoing use after the Games. While VANOC is responsible for insuring that all of the venues meet the specific requirements of the 2010 Winter Games, the ultimate owner of each particular facility may oversee the construction or upgrade of that facility and manage the bidding process. These “venue partners” are the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the City of Richmond and the University of British Columbia.

The competition venues for the 2010 Winter Games are as follows:

• Vancouver
  
  • General Motors Place (upgrade)
    
  • Hillcrest / Nat Bailey Stadium Park (new)
    
  • Pacific Coliseum (upgrade)
    
  • UBC Winter Sports Centre (new)
    
• Whistler
  
  • Whistler Creekside (upgrade)
    
  • Whistler Nordic Venue (new)
    
  • Whistler Sliding Centre (new)
    
• Richmond
  
  • Richmond Oval (new)
    
• West Vancouver
  
  • Cypress Mountain Resort (upgrade)

Non-competition venues include all the other sites necessary for staging the Games, from parking lots to storage facilities. The major non-competition venues are as follows:

• Villages for Athletes
  
  • Vancouver Olympic Village (new)
    
  • Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village (new)
    
• Ceremonies Sites
  
  • BC Place Stadium (upgrade)
    
  • Whistler Celebration Site (temporary)
    
• Main Media Centre
  
  • Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre (currently undergoing a major expansion)

The Vancouver 2010 website (www.vancouver2010.com) provides a description of each of these venues, its location, its use during the Games, the plans for post-Games use and a construction update.

Design and construction are at various stages for each of these venues, but there are substantial contracting and subcontracting opportunities still to come. In addition to the construction work itself (most of which is contracted by the facility owner, not by VANOC), each venue will require an “overlay” to fit out the facility with all the temporary furnishings, equipment, signage, etc. required for it to serve its particular function as a 2010 Winter Games venue. Providing this overlay is the responsibility of VANOC.

GAMES DELIVERY

Venue development is only one of VANOC’s responsibilities. VANOC has more than 50 business functions to plan and carry out the various activities necessary to stage the 2010 Winter Games. Here are just a few examples:

• ticketing
• torch relay
• accommodation
• catering and food services
• opening and closing ceremonies
• cleaning and waste
• logistics
• transportation
• look and wayfinding
• venue overlay
• medical services
• event services
• anti-doping
• venue management

For many of these functions, VANOC will require an array of products and services from business.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WITH VANOC

VANOC offers three types of business opportunities: sponsorship, licensing and procurement.

A sponsor contributes a combination of cash, products and/or services in return for the exclusive right to associate with the 2010 Winter Games and to use the Vancouver 2010 emblems and other Games-related marks in its advertising and promotions within Canada. A licensee is granted a licence by VANOC — usually based on a fee-plus-royalty arrangement — to use the Vancouver 2010 brand and trademark on specific products and accessories created for sale in retail outlets or used by official sponsors to promote their association with the Olympic Games. The VANOC website (www.vancouver2010.com) offers further information on sponsorship and licensing opportunities.

Most small and medium-sized Canadian businesses will focus on VANOC’s procurement opportunities. VANOC has a procurement process to purchase the products and services it requires that are not otherwise provided through a sponsorship agreement. Module 2 examines this procurement process in detail.

During the early stages, VANOC has focused its purchasing activities in areas where immediate requirements for goods and services exist: office operations, construction activities and Games-specific planning expertise. As VANOC moves from the strategic to the operational stage (roughly 2007 to 2010), both the variety and volume of its purchasing requirements will increase dramatically.

Don’t forget subcontracting opportunities. As noted in Module 9, VANOC publishes a complete list of bid results. This is a valuable resource for businesses that are looking for subcontracting opportunities with VANOC suppliers.

Do not expect that becoming a supplier to VANOC will give you any special status for marketing purposes. The right to advertise or promote oneself as an “official supplier” belongs to sponsor organizations, as do the rights to use the official marks or symbols associated with the 2010 Winter Games. VANOC does not provide suppliers with the right to advertise or promote themselves as official suppliers, nor does it allow suppliers to claim any official affiliation with VANOC or with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. In fact, you must be very careful to ensure that you don’t use any Olympic logos or official marks unless this right has been explicitly granted to you through a sponsorship or licensing agreement.

VANOC is not the only purchaser to consider. Following is an overview of some of the key organizations involved in planning, organizing and participating in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games — the “Olympic and Paralympic family” that includes government partners, sport partners, corporate sponsors and broadcasters.

Government Partners

Government partners at all levels — federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations — have important roles in hosting the 2010 Winter Games.

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

The Government of Canada is a proud partner of the 2010 Winter Games and has made a major investment to the event. The Games represent an opportunity to shine a light on Canada as an innovative, inclusive, and progressive nation that boasts one of the highest standards of living in the world.

The Government of Canada’s total commitment to the Games is $1.23 billion distributed to a number of initiatives, as described on Canada's Investments section.

The Government of Canada is responsible for delivering a range of essential services that are imperative for the safe and successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. These include:

• Border services — to control the entry of goods and individuals into Canada
• Intellectual property protection — to provide protection against the illegal use of protective marks such as Olympic and Paralympic symbols
• Radio spectrum — to ensure reliable telecommunications for visiting delegates, tourists, journalists and broadcasters, and for security and public safety personnel
• Meteorological services — specialized weather forecasting for event organizers, participants and spectators
• Public health and safety — emergency preparedness and response
• Security planning

The Government of Canada is committed to working with its partners to deliver the best possible Games. It recognizes the 2010 Winter Games as an opportunity to showcase Canada as an innovative, inclusive and progressive nation. At the same time, the federal investment in the 2010 Winter Games is intended to promote lasting benefits and positive legacies for Canadian businesses, communities and citizens in such areas as:

• sport development
• social and economic benefits
• environmental sustainability
• Aboriginal participation
• official languages

Since most of the federal investment in the 2010 Winter Games is allocated to particular projects and programs managed by VANOC and other Vancouver 2010 Winter Games partners, direct purchasing opportunities from the Government of Canada for Games-related products and services are limited. However, federal departments and agencies responsible for providing essential services may require some specialized expertise and technologies. Further, there may be opportunities for businesses that can assist the federal departments and agencies that are actively involved in efforts to maximize the positive legacies to Canada from the 2010 Winter Games.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Federal Secretariat is the focal point for the Government of Canada’s participation in the 2010 Winter Games. For further information, see the Canada 2010 website (www.Canada2010.gc.ca).

GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Including its share of the 2002 Multi-Party Agreement, the Government of British Columbia has committed a total of $600 million to the 2010 Winter Games’ venue construction, endowments and legacies. British Columbia’s Olympic vision is to host the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, resulting in lasting economic, sport, cultural and social legacies that benefit communities throughout British Columbia and Canada.

The British Columbia Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat (BC Secretariat) is the provincial agency responsible for overseeing British Columbia’s financial commitments and ensuring that British Columbia’s Olympic vision is achieved. The BC Secretariat also has a key role in ensuring that sustainable economic opportunities associated with hosting an Olympic event are realized before, during and after the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games and evolve into enduring legacies for communities and businesses throughout the province.

The BC Secretariat established the 2010 Commerce Centre (www.2010CommerceCentre.gov.bc.ca) to ensure that businesses and communities throughout the province of British Columbia are able to take advantage of the economic opportunities associated with hosting the 2010 Winter Games, and to assist British Columbia companies to leverage the Olympic experience to develop new skills and new business relationships that will lead to increased trade and investment activity prior to, during, and long after 2010. (The 2010 Commerce Centre is discussed in Module 9.)

Much of the provincial investment in the 2010 Winter Games is allocated to particular projects and programs managed by VANOC and other Vancouver 2010 partners. However, some Government of British Columbia ministries and agencies, and the BC Secretariat itself, do have Games-related purchasing requirements. Module 9 provides information about finding specific Government of British Columbia purchasing opportunities.

For further information, visit the BC Secretariat website (www.BCSecretariat.gov.bc.ca).

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

As the Host City, the City of Vancouver is a full partner in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (the Host Mountain Resort) and the City of Richmond have significant roles as well. Most of the Games venues will be located within these municipalities’ jurisdictions, and they have a direct interest in maximizing the post-Games legacy value of these facilities for their residents. The Vancouver Olympic Village, for example, which is being developed by the City of Vancouver, will be converted into a mixed-use model sustainable community following the Games.

The Richmond Oval, which is being built by the City of Richmond for the Olympic long track speed skating events, is intended to be a showcase multi-use community facility after the 2010 Winter Games.

All participating municipalities view the 2010 Winter Games as an opportunity to stimulate business activity and create social legacies that will benefit all residents. The City of Vancouver has further committed to specific initiatives to benefit inner-city businesses and residents in areas such as employment and affordable housing, and to promote environmental sustainability.

For the participating municipalities, the 2010 Winter Games presents an opportunity to show their best to the world, and they are working with VANOC and the other Vancouver 2010 partners to ensure that the experiences of visitors are overwhelmingly positive.

The websites of the City of Vancouver and the City of Richmond provide information on the status of their respective Games venue construction and upgrade projects. Prime contractors have already been selected for most of the large construction projects, but you may be successful in finding subcontracting opportunities. Participating municipalities will have other purchasing requirements to support their commitments and objectives for the 2010 Winter Games. Here are some relevant websites:

City of Vancouver	olympichostcity.vancouver.ca
Resort Municipality of Whistler	www.whistler.ca
City of Richmond	www.richmond.ca/home.htm

FOUR HOST FIRST NATIONS

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be held on the traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. On November 24, 2004, the Chiefs and Councils of these four host First Nations entered into a Protocol Agreement in which they agreed to coordinate their collective efforts to host and support the 2010 Winter Games. The Four Host First Nations are active partners in the planning and hosting of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

The Four Host First Nations Society (FHFNS) works with VANOC and the other Vancouver 2010 partners to ensure that the Games are successful and that the First Nations’ languages, traditions, protocols and cultures are meaningfully acknowledged, respected and represented in the planning, staging and hosting of the Games. The objectives of the FHFNS include:

• welcoming the world to their shared traditional territories
• achieving unprecedented Aboriginal participation
• taking advantage of the social, sport, cultural and economic opportunities and legacies that will arise as a result of the Games
• showcasing First Nations’ cultures to Canadians and the world as a vibrant and integral part of Canada’s rich and diverse heritage

For further information, visit the FHFNS website (www.fourhostfirstnations.com).

Sport Partners

THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is an international non-profit organization and the creator of the Olympic Movement. The IOC serves as the Olympic Movement’s umbrella organization, and it owns all rights to the Olympic symbols, flag, motto and anthem, as well as the Olympic Games. Its primary responsibility is to supervise the organization of the summer and winter Olympic Games. The IOC website is www.olympic.org.

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) promote the fundamental principles of the Olympic Games at a national level. NOCs select and send the teams and competitors from their respective nations to participate in the Olympic Games. There are currently 203 NOCs in five continents, and about 80 of them will participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. For further information, visit the IOC website.

Canada’s NOC is the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), a not-for-profit organization and the largest private sector funder of high-performance sport in Canada. The COC has evolved into a multi-faceted sport organization that provides financial support, services and leadership to the Canadian amateur high-performance sport community. The COC website is www.olympic.ca.

THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of sports for athletes with disabilities. The IPC develops sporting opportunities around the world for athletes of all levels, from grassroots to elite levels. The IPC website is www.paralympic.org.

The IPC is formed and run by 162 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) that promote the Paralympic Movement at the national level. About 40 of these NPCs will participate in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. For more information, see the IPC website.

The NPC in Canada is the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). Its mission is to develop and expand the Paralympic Movement in Canada. The CPC website is www.paralympic.ca.

National Olympic and Paralympic teams, athletes and coaches will require everything from basic accommodation and transportation to specialized sports medicine and therapeutic services. Some national teams send their athletes to the host country to acclimatize and train months or even years prior to the Games. This presents an opportunity for sport facilities and their communities well beyond the Vancouver–Whistler area.

Corporate Sponsors

WORLDWIDE OLYMPIC PARTNERS

The Olympic Partner (TOP) program is managed and negotiated directly by the International Olympic Committee. TOP program partner companies are multinational organizations that are able to provide direct support, sponsor services or expertise for the staging of the Olympic Games. TOP program partners also support National Olympic Committees. TOP sponsors that are recognized as Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Partners are:

• Coca-Cola
• Atos Origin
• GE
• McDonald’s
• Omega
• Visa International

For more information on The Olympic Partner program, visit the IOC website at www.olympic.org.

NATIONAL SPONSORS

National sponsors are companies that negotiate sponsorship rights directly with VANOC. There are several sponsorship levels: National Partner, Official Supporter and Official Supplier.

Several Tier 1 National Partners have negotiated eight-year agreements with VANOC:

• Bell Canada (Premier National Partner)
• RBC (Premier National Partner)
• Hbc (Premier National Partner)
• RONA
• Petro-Canada
• General Motors of Canada

In addition to sponsorship rights for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these National Partners also have sponsorship rights for the Canadian teams for the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

VANOC expects to negotiate sponsorship agreements with approximately 50 Canadian companies in total. Most of these will be designated Official Supporters or Official Suppliers. Check the VANOC website regularly for new sponsorship announcements.

Beyond basic services such as accommodation and transportation, corporate sponsors will require many products and services to make the most of their marketing opportunity and support their presence at the 2010 Winter Games — everything from gift articles to catering and event management. The sponsors’ strong focus on hospitality means significant business opportunities for companies that can provide high-end services and specialty products.

Broadcasters

There will be approximately 80 official host broadcasters providing coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games to an estimated audience of 3 billion around the world. Each country planning to broadcast the 2010 Winter Games has one official host broadcaster. The media and broadcasters play a major role in staging the 2010 Winter Games, and each broadcaster will have teams of people (some as large as 200 to 300 people) on-site.

CTV has won the rights to be the Canadian host broadcaster (www.ctv.ca). NBC is the host broadcaster for the United States (www.nbc.com).

Media organizations will require a range of specialized technical and translation services, as well as basic accommodation and office support.

Other Organizations

There are a few special organizations that have been created to support the broader opportunities (volunteerism, arts and culture) of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

2010 Legacies Now works in partnership with community organizations throughout British Columbia to develop and support participants and athletes from playground to podium, and to develop vibrant volunteer sectors, healthy and active communities, and diverse arts and cultural activities. 2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit organization and has its head office in Vancouver (www.2010legaciesnow.com).

More than 90 Spirit of BC Community Committees around the province work with 2010 Legacies Now to leverage Olympic and non-Olympic community opportunities in the areas of sport and recreation, arts and culture, human resources, literacy and volunteerism. The 2010 Commerce Centre works with Spirit of BC Community Committees to engage the local business community in the opportunities of the 2010 Winter Games (www.spiritofbc.com).

These organizations have some purchasing requirements to support their programs and initiatives. Check the 2010 Commerce Centre for more information about these opportunities (see Module 9).

Related Business Opportunities

REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Several major infrastructure projects that were already under way or in the planning stage have been scheduled to ensure completion in time for the 2010 Winter Games.

The Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion will more than triple the existing Centre’s available space. The expanded facility will serve as the Main Media Centre for the 2010 Winter Games. The project is jointly funded by the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada and Tourism Vancouver. The Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre Expansion Project, a company owned by the Province of British Columbia, is managing the expansion. The project website (www.vccep.bc.ca) has a procurement section that has notices of current bidding opportunities and a complete list of contractors and consultants on the project.

The Canada Line — previously known as the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Rapid Transit line — will provide a new rapid transit link in the region’s transportation network, providing fast and convenient service between downtown Vancouver, Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport. The Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (Translink) and the Vancouver International Airport Authority are funding the Canada Line project. Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc., a division of Translink, manages the project. The Canada Line is being designed, built and operated under a 35-year contract with InTransitBC. The Canada Line project website is www.canadaline.ca.

The Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project will improve the safety, reliability and capacity of Highway 99 between West Vancouver and Whistler. This is a project of British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation. Project completion is scheduled for 2009. The project website (www.seatoskyimprovements.ca) provides further information and construction updates.

The Vancouver International Airport Expansion is a $1.4-billion capital program over 2005–2013 to accommodate the expected increase in passengers and the larger aircraft of the future. The program includes an expansion of the International Terminal and construction of the airport portion of the Canada Line. The expansion project, funded primarily through Airport Improvement Fees, is being conducted by the Vancouver International Airport Authority (www.yvr.ca).

Each of these projects represents potential opportunities for your business. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to be a major construction firm to participate in infrastructure projects like these. Consider the potential subcontracting opportunities with a major contractor.

SPORT EVENTS

Leading up to 2010, a number of Olympic and Paralympic test events will be held to prepare venues, volunteers and officials for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. All of the Olympic Winter Games sports will hold a major championship in Canada prior to 2010. These events will be national and world championship-level events that draw large numbers of spectators. The organizers of all of these events will need a wide range of goods and services during the planning and staging phases. Check the VANOC website for information as these events are scheduled.

In addition to the Olympic and Paralympic test events, groups all across Canada are actively bidding to bring major sport events to their community. Here are a few of the confirmed events:

• 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, Halifax, Nova Scotia (www.worldindoorlacrosse.com)
• 2007 World Freestyle Kayak Championships, Ottawa, Ontario (www.wcfkc.com)
• 2007 Canada Winter Games, Whitehorse, Yukon (www.canadagames.ca)
• BMX Worlds 2007, Victoria, British Columbia (www.bmxcanada.ca)
• 2008 North American Indigenous Games, Cowichan Valley, British Columbia (www.asra.ca)
• 2009 World Police & Fire Games, Vancouver, British Columbia (www.2009wpfg.ca)

All of these events entail significant procurement opportunities for Canadian businesses. Contracting or subcontracting for one of these events is an excellent way to build your track record and improve your chances of winning business with the 2010 Winter Games.

2010 Is Only the Beginning

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provide an outstanding opportunity for Canadian businesses, whether as a supplier to VANOC or to a member of the Olympic and Paralympic family organizations, as a subcontractor to a winning bidder on a Games-related contract, or as a contractor or subcontractor on a related infrastructure project or sport event. Now is the time to begin exploring these opportunities and preparing your company to bid successfully on the opportunities that are right for you. This handbook will help you get started.

Winning a 2010 Winter Games contract is only the beginning. The experience you gain, the exposure you receive, the alliances you form, and the confidence you gain all will help your company win more and larger contracts in the future, with major sport events, and other projects large and small. Use the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games as a strategic opportunity to grow and diversify. It’s just one step, but an important one, in your long-term business plan.