Impact of Olympic exposure on Vancouver

[raggedy13]

I have a feeling there may have been a similar thread on this topic awhile back (though I don't see one around anywhere), but seeing as the Olympics are almost upon us I felt like it would be as good a time as any to revisit this particular topic of discussion. So, what sort of impact do you think Olympic exposure will have on Vancouver? I'm not referring to what the Olympics have already done for us, such as accelerated the construction of a number of key infrastructure projects etc., but rather what the potential consequences could be of essentially marketing the city to billions of people around the world nonstop for two weeks plus. Here are a few questions to help generate discussion:

What could be the long- vs. short-term impacts?

Will it increase tourism?

Could it increase immigration (domestic or international)?

Could it lead to greater foreign investment in the city (residential real estate, commercial development, etc)?

Could it lead to Vancouver being more relevant on the world stage (strengthen its "brand", make it more relevant in pop culture, etc)?

Could it lead to Vancouver being more relevant on the national stage?

Will it help educate the rest of the world about Canada? Help to rebrand Canada's international image?

Will the current state of the global economy reduce any potential positive benefits? Conversely will the Olympics help Vancouver lead the country in economic recovery?

Will the impact on Vancouver be similar to past hosts or is Vancouver an exceptional case?

In 10 to 20 years will we look back at the Olympics the same way we look back at Expo now... as a hugely transformative event in the city's history? As a major milestone in its maturation?

I could go on, but lets start with those...

[Yume-sama]

I think it's too early. First we have to see how successful the games are.

That will, in the end, determine how the World views us. Chaotic, and unorganized... or smooth, safe, and efficient!

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I think it's too early. First we have to see how successful the games are.

That will, in the end, determine how the World views us. Chaotic, and unorganized... or smooth, safe, and efficient!

Potential problems we might see during the Games:
- transportation issues (there's bound to be massive congestion at Lions Gate Bridge for instance....if there's an accident on the bridge or on the Sea to Sky, we're ####. And if it snows during the Games....well, i don't even wanna think about it)
- weather (self-explanatory)
- domestic terrorism/violent protests (self explanatory)
- international terrorism (the worst of it....police and intelligence resources are currently being wasted, thanks to our protesters. the biggest threat is international terrorism, they see us as weak already with our pulling out from Afghanistan because of the soldier deaths. They know the more they kill of our soldiers, the more likely we'll pull out. Even those that tried to bomb the CN Tower and other Ontario targets admitted that they thought we were weak because of that. And the Ontario incident just proves how real the international terrorism threat is to Canada - god forbid attacking Vancouver 2010)

[mr.x]

Vancouver is an exceptional case. We're the largest city to ever host the Games, by far the largest. We're bound to absorb and embrace growth with such a large population and economy, rather than shed the growth right after the Games if we were a smaller host city (unfortunately, we may see that with Whistler). This means it'll likely lead to greater foreign investment in our city.

Tourism is a toughy. Long-term, yes. But short-term, with the recession and possible swine flu pandemic making a turnaround for the worse.

It'll certainly educate the world about Canada and rebrand Canada's image, though to a certain extent as these aren't as big as the Summer edition. But it's bound to make shockwaves in the United States and parts of Europe. We might even learn something about ourselves, by being proud of what we have accomplished in hosting the Vancouver Olympics.

Making Vancouver more relevant on the world stage? We got our own Simpsons episode! :p That answers that question.

The Games are one reason why Vancouver/BC is doing so much better than the rest of the country or even the world. I do think the Games will soften the economic impact of the recession on the city somewhat once the cauldron is extinguished. The green figure for economic growth will shrink a little, with all the Olympic and tourist expenditures ending on Feb. 28, but we'll still stay in the green.


I could make a more detailed post, but it's too late.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Vancouver is an exceptional case. We're the largest city to ever host the Games, by far the largest. We're bound to absorb and embrace growth with such a large population and economy, rather than shed the growth right after the Games if we were a smaller host city (unfortunately, we may see that with Whistler). This means it'll likely lead to greater foreign investment in our city.

Tourism is a toughy. Long-term, yes. But short-term, with the recession and possible swine flu pandemic making a turnaround for the worse.

It'll certainly educate the world about Canada and rebrand Canada's image, though to a certain extent as these aren't as big as the Summer edition. But it's bound to make shockwaves in the United States and parts of Europe. We might even learn something about ourselves, by being proud of what we have accomplished in hosting the Vancouver Olympics.

Making Vancouver more relevant on the world stage? We got our own Simpsons episode! :p That answers that question.

The Games are one reason why Vancouver/BC is doing so much better than the rest of the country or even the world. I do think the Games will soften the economic impact of the recession on the city somewhat once the cauldron is extinguished. The green figure for economic growth will shrink a little, with all the Olympic and tourist expenditures ending on Feb. 28, but we'll still stay in the green.


I could make a more detailed post, but it's too late.

That depends how many stereotypes we live up to. We didn't do a totally bang up job of dispelling the Japanese stereotype of there being Mounties everywhere (as said by someone in the Canadian government, as a stereotype he wants to change) by having a few dozen mounties in full uniform greeting the Emperor and Empress, the only thing that got TV time in Japan, wherever they went.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

That depends how many stereotypes we live up to. We didn't do a totally bang up job of dispelling the Japanese stereotype of there being Mounties everywhere (as said by someone in the Canadian government, as a stereotype he wants to change) by having a few dozen mounties in full uniform greeting the Emperor and Empress, the only thing that got TV time in Japan, wherever they went.

Good luck with that. There's bound to be mounties at the opening ceremony, either escorting our Governor General into the crowd and/or to raise our maple leaf flag.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Good luck with that. There's bound to be mounties at the opening ceremony, either escorting our Governor General into the crowd and/or to raise our maple leaf flag.

What's wrong with Canadian Stereotypes?

Why not exploit Canadian Stereo types?

I mean, it wouldn't hurt to do a few things like have mounties in uniform in certain areas of Victoria during tourist season (and other capitals).

Sure, there are damaging stereotypes like Canada being a snowy wasteland of snow and tundra, but the positive ones have nothing wrong with them.

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by mr.x

We're the largest city to ever host the Games, by far the largest.

I wouldn't say by far though, Turin has a metro population of 2.2 milions, almost the same as Vancouver's.

[Yume-sama]

I'm not worried about International terrorism. Whatever the USA sends to protect their athletes is probably more powerful than our entire Armed Forces.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I'm not worried about International terrorism. Whatever the USA sends to protect their athletes is probably more powerful than our entire Armed Forces.

lol, the most the Americans will send might be a few dozen guards....versus the 16,000 security staff we will have including 7,000 police officers and 5,000 soldiers, counter terrorism soldiers, 24/7 fighter jet protection over the city and drones over Whistler, and the warships patrolling the Inlet.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by mr.x

lol, the most the Americans will send might be a few dozen guards....versus the 16,000 security staff we will have including 7,000 police officers and 5,000 soldiers, counter terrorism soldiers, 24/7 fighter jet protection over the city and drones over Whistler, and the warships patrolling the Inlet.

Well, just as long as Obama doesn't get the bright idea to show up.

[DKaz]

The largest city to ever host the games? Tokyo, Seoul, even Montreal and Atlanta are larger than Vancouver

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by DKaz

The largest city to ever host the games? Tokyo, Seoul, even Montreal and Atlanta are larger than Vancouver

He's referring specifically to the Winter Olympics...

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Hourglass

He's referring specifically to the Winter Olympics...

Torino is practically a suburb of Milan

[mr.x]

^ there's nothing wrong with our mounties, but i was just saying since he didn't seem to want them.

And yes, we're the largest WINTER Games host city. We're also by far the most capable city yet to ever host them.




A lot of locals and people across the country absolutely hated our handover ceremony in Torino (jet ski, hockey dancers, Avril Lavigne, etc.), but I've been in touch with quite a few internationals and people that are in the know-how of the Olympics and they absolutely loved our handover in Torino. Here's what some of them said:

Seriously if you Canadians are that precious about the Torino handover you need to get a reality check. Ice hockey - check. Avril - check. Ilanaaq - check. What do you think the world wanted to see? The handover is meant to paint a very basic picture of what is to come. A cirque du soleil fest scored by Sarah McLachlan or The Tragically Hip may have made you all feel a bit better but like the kangaroos on bmx bikes Sydney put forward at Atlanta the world wants to see the fun side of a future host.

The Vancouver bit was possibly the liveliest section of the whole closing ceremony borefest. It was bright, zipped along quickly and was a good chuckle. It is time to pull your head out of your arses and realise that most of the world still thinks Canada is all maple syrup, mooses and homely chicks that say "aboot". VANOC had to paint a picture that showed a winter wonderland, a bright youthful image and still get across that the whole thing is actually about sports. Done, done and done. The audience in the stadium loved it as did every other country outside of Canada.

By the way - in my long Olympic viewing and attending history that handover was one of the best I've ever seen at an Olympics - period. Thank your lucky stars it was Avril and not Shania or Bryan Adams. 'Who Knows' was an inspired song choice.

Yeah, Vancouver's handover ceremony was one of the better ones. Handover ceremonies will always attract criticism as they cannot possibly please everyone just by their very nature. They are just a little token gesture to set the tone for the following games anyway. Beijings handover ceremony in 2004 was criticised for being to 'stereotyped' of chinese culture and yet in 2008 Beijing produced a great ceremony. Canada will do the same I'm sure. Vancouver's ceremony had a 'wintery' feel and was youthful and dynamic at the same time. I'm personally really looking forward to Canad's ceremonies - I understand that the cirque du soleil are not in the ceremony which I think would have been amazing. But I digress.....

Vancouver's branding has been outstanding for the 2010 Olympics. The much maligned logo is now given a dynamic context and looks quite good. The torch looks cool and I'm sure the medals will has the same quality aswell.

Basically, handover ceremonies are always controversial for the host nation...much because they are so short and thus rely on stereotypes/the general gist of the nation. The Australians cringed when they saw kangaroos on BMX bikes for Sydney 2000 at Atlanta 1996 (and yet, we saw AMAZING ceremonies from the Australians four years later); the Italians thought there was too much focus on fashion for their handover at Salt Lake 2002; the Beijing handover at Athens was viewed by the Chinese as far too stereotypical...even though everyone around the world - including myself - liked it; and even the London handover we saw last year was controversial to the Brits.

The only handover ceremony that seemed to please everyone was the one Athens did at Sydney....a simple priestess procession, carrying out the wreath and Olympic flag out of the stadium. That was truly beautiful...at least on tv, might have been boring for those at Stadium Australia.

I'm quite confident we're going to put on some AMAZING ceremonies for 2010. It certainly won't be like Beijing's monolith spectacle, but it'll be perhaps Sydney-esque and Athens-like. It'll be a theatric ceremony (Athens, Sydney, Salt Lake) rather than a spectacle ceremony. And from what I've heard and know, there are going to be a ton of special effects for ours.

[whatnext]

Everybody raise your hands who has made a vacation trip to Nagano. Lillehammer? Salt Lake City? Turin?

The Olympics will have zero effect on tourism, beyond the few weeks of the immediate event. Anyone who believes otherwise has been sold a bill of goods. Indeed, hotels in Whistler are now privately complaining the big circus is scaring away visitors for all of the 2010 ski season.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Everybody raise your hands who has made a vacation trip to Nagano. Lillehammer? Salt Lake City? Turin?

The Olympics will have zero effect on tourism, beyond the few weeks of the immediate event. Anyone who believes otherwise has been sold a bill of goods. Indeed, hotels in Whistler are now privately complaining the big circus is scaring away visitors for all of the 2010 ski season.

All of which were small cities, except for Torino. Actually, Torino has been experiencing about a 15% increase in tourism eversince it hosted 2006. Sydney also experienced the same thing.

The main difference with Vancouver and every other Olympics is we're the first to really turn the Olympics into a major worldwide tourism campaign.

[LotusLand]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Everybody raise your hands who has made a vacation trip to Nagano. Lillehammer? Salt Lake City? Turin?

The Olympics will have zero effect on tourism, beyond the few weeks of the immediate event. Anyone who believes otherwise has been sold a bill of goods. Indeed, hotels in Whistler are now privately complaining the big circus is scaring away visitors for all of the 2010 ski season.

Actually I went to Salt Lake City after seeing the Olympics. So there. I know that we tend to be overly optimistic on this site but your pessimism is just down right Carole Jamesesque

[BigWilly]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Everybody raise your hands who has made a vacation trip to Nagano. Lillehammer? Salt Lake City? Turin?

i haven't but if it were not for the olympics i would not know that cities like Nagano, Lillehammer or Turin existed. Would the olympics make me wanna visit those cities? maybe, if i saw something about the city on tv i would like to see in person. For example, i would love to checkout the shoe lace stadium or the watercube in Beijing. I went to Sydney Australia last year to checkout the Opera House which was shown off alot on tv during the Sydney summer olympics.

I think once people see the natural scenery of Vancouver, people who havent heard of Vancouver may want to visit. I remember reading somewhere that when the Bachelorette tv show on ABC aired, it generated interest from tourists.

[MistyMountainHop]

Originally Posted by mr.x

The only handover ceremony that seemed to please everyone was the one Athens did at Sydney....

What about London? They had Jimmy Page!