Wednesday, June 9, 2010
How the Olympic spirit is passed on
By Jacques Rogge, Special to the Sun
Most Canadians are aware that hosting an Olympic Games requires close to a decade of
work before the first athlete ever sets foot on the field of play. What is not so well known is
that the work continues long after the closing ceremony for many of those responsible for
staging the Games.
Such work helps to ensure that the Olympic legacy lasts well beyond the staging of
successful Games. One of the most important post-Games operations is the debriefing
that the International Olympic Committee organizes to give future host cities a
comprehensive look at what worked well and what could be improved from the
previous Olympics. The objective is to provide organizers of future Games with
information that they can then adapt and apply to their own edition, if they feel that it
will improve their operations or enhance their Games vision.
Vancouver already knows the benefits of the debriefing process, having hosted the
Turin 2006 debrief four years ago. Now it's their turn to pass the torch. Representatives of
London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and the three bid cities for the 2018 Winter Games
are all taking part in the Vancouver 2010 debrief this week in Sochi, Russia. It is an
opportunity for them to build on the Vancouver Organizing Committee's considerable
experience, enabling them to innovate in their own Games and increase the legacy that
they will leave to their communities and the Olympic Movement once the Games are over.
Vancouver hosted excellent Games in February, leaving a great legacy for the city, region,
country and Olympic Movement. From the feeling of unity Canadians felt from coast to
coast -- undoubtedly aided by a Winter Olympic record 14 gold medals -- to job creation
for disadvantaged citizens and social housing, the Games not only carved out a place in
Canada's history, but also its future. Sharing their observations in a spirit of friendship
will help to further perpetuate all the good that came out of the 2010 Winter Games.
The lessons Vancouver learned in similar debriefings by its predecessors, namely
Beijing, Turin and Athens, played an important role in the success of the 2010 Games.
Such transfers of knowledge are of paramount importance. The exchange gives future
host cities a solid foundation on which to create their own Olympic experiences, which
can be hugely reassuring during the initial stages of preparation.
The debriefing is also the perfect opportunity for organizers to evaluate their progress
and recalibrate where necessary, enabling them to carve out their own unique product
and experience for athletes and spectators alike.
This experience is a leading factor in the success of the Games, which is why the debrief
focuses on ensuring that when the world's best athletes come to compete, they are able
to do so in the best conditions possible.
We at the IOC believe that this continuing sharing of experience allows us to maintain the
exceptionally high standards that the world's top athletes and Olympic fans have come to
expect.
This will be the sixth edition of the Games debrief, which is part of a much wider
transfer-of-knowledge program set up by the IOC to assist future Olympic organizers,
who are usually taking on the Games for the first time.
While the debrief is organized and run by the IOC, it is by no means a one-way channel of
communication. On the contrary, the workshops and seminars are designed in such a
way that active and constructive dialogue between Vancouver and the future host cities
takes place. In this way, the needs of the different Games stakeholders are covered.
The Olympic Games can leave fantastic legacies, and Vancouver 2010 was no exception.
By taking on board the work of their predecessors, London, Sochi and Rio can expect to
achieve the same high standards and deliver unforgettable Games that will produce
lasting legacies that will benefit their communities.
Jacques Rogge is the president of the International Olympic Committee.
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