mr.x
Aug 24, 2008, 10:01 PM
Fri. Aug. 22 2008 3:08 PM ET
VANOC says feds not imposing on Olympic plans
CTV.ca News Staff
Vancouver Olympic Committee head John Furlong said the federal government isn't overstepping its boundaries, after a memo revealed Ottawa will give $20 million to the 2010 Olympic Games -- a contribution meant to ensure the opening ceremonies help establish Canada's domestic and international branding goals.
The memo, marked "secret," was obtained by the Globe and Mail, under an access-to-information request.
"I would say the federal government has the same view on this as we do," VANOC head Furlong said in an interview with CTV Canada AM Friday. "We want to do a stunning job of staging great ceremonies at BC place in 2010. We need to represent the interests of the country in the most beautiful, poignant and emotional way.
"We want to tell a great story and that's who we are and I think that's what they expect of us," he said from Beijing where he is currently taking notes on the summer Games.
However, the memo also suggests that the "conditions associated with the investment" will allow them to have a greater say on VANOC's plans.
"These conditions will ensure that the department has appropriate input and oversight into VANOC's ceremony planning," it says.
Furlong said they have been working all along with senior members of government and that they are all working together to plan the Olympics.
When was asked whether the government would have the power to veto any decision, Furlong replied: "No, that's not true at all."
"They have many people involved with us in many ways and they're working hard with us to make sure we do the very best with the resources we have," he added. "We're working very well together and I just think the federal government like any other partner we have, wants to make sure we perform at a very high level."
The memo is dated Feb. 5, 2008 and was distributed less than three weeks before federal cabinet Minister David Emerson announced the $20-million commitment.
It was sent to Judith LaRocque, Canada's deputy heritage minister and talked about points of discussion at an upcoming meeting with Emerson, his staff and VANOC members.
The memo states that the government "intends to invest $20 million towards the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in order to ensure that the event adequately reflects the priorities of the Government and helps to achieve its domestic and international branding goals."
Bruce Kidd, , a former Olympian and the dean of phys-ed at the University of Toronto, said the memo is worrisome because of the way it is worded.
Kidd, who is also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the wording suggests the Tories could impose a theme that with their socially conservative values, demonstrated recently in their plans to cut millions in spending on arts and culture.
In an interview with CTV.ca, Kidd said the real question is what word would be imposed in exchange for the $20 million.
"Is it direction? Control? Veto? It's all much more suggestive," he said.
Deirdra McCracken, a spokesperson for James Moore, secretary of state for the 2010 Olympics, said it's only natural that the government want a say in how tax dollars are spent.
"Our government wants to ensure that Canada's goals are achieved through the opening ceremonies. Naturally, we will want to be involved in the planning, especially if we have invested taxpayers' money," she said in an interview with the Globe.
Kidd said that he is reassured by Furlong's comments to CTV and noted that the memo only demonstrates one side of the conversation.
"The memo is one piece of communication but the truth of the matter is that we didn't see what John Furlong said back and maybe the confident message he has given follows a reply to this memo," he said.
"These kinds of debates go back and forth over locations, contracts, the legacy," he continued. "These kinds of negotiations are ongoing and it will probably occur until the torch is snuffed out in Vancouver in 2010. It will probably even affect the final report. But this happens in every country."
Ottawa says it is investing, not meddling in 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies
2 days ago
BEIJING — Twenty million dollars has bought the federal government input into the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics, but the minister responsible for the Winter Games insists it comes with no strings attached.
And a spokeswoman for the Vancouver organizing committee says while the federal government won't have a veto on what's being included during the ceremonies, it's no surprise it will have strong creative input.
So will many other different groups, Renee Smith-Valade added.
The final decision on the ceremonies will be made by the 20 members of the organizing committee's board of directors, which has three government representatives.
James Moore, the minister responsible for the 2010 Winter Games, and Smith-Valade were reacting to a Globe and Mail report published Friday which cited a briefing memo suggesting the $20 million investment in the opening ceremonies by the Department of Canadian Heritage is "to ensure that the event adequately reflects the priorities of the government and helps to achieve its domestic and international branding goals."
Ottawa is contributing the bulk of the $38-million dollar budget for opening ceremonies that will focus a world spotlight on Canada.
"There's no political involvement at all with regard to how Canada will be presented to the world other than our desire to see VANOC (the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) succeed in presenting the 2010 Games and Canada to the world," Moore said Friday in an interview from Ottawa.
Smith-Valade, vice-president of communications for the organizing committee, said the government will be one of several players involved in the planning for the ceremonies.
"A great ceremonies that will take Canada out to the world is going to be the result of collaboration and co-operation and input from many, many different places."
It's only prudent to let the government have a say because taxpayer dollars are being spent on the event, she said.
Moore agreed.
"On behalf of Canadian taxpayers, we want to make sure that federal dollars are spent in a way that'll promote the 2010 Games and promote successful opening ceremonies," he said.
"Also we're hopeful that the 2010 Olympic committee will present a fantastic show to Canadians and the world and opening ceremonies that will reflect Canada's multicultural reality, our bicultural history and our official language communities across the country and that's what we're hopeful for in terms of getting a return for our investment."
Moore, a secretary of state whose responsibilities include the 2010 Games in Vancouver and Whistler, played down the briefing paper.
"Keep in mind this is a memo from one bureaucrat to another," he said. "It had nothing to do with myself or other ministers or the government. This is a conversation between two bureaucrats and that's fine.
"But our goals internationally and domestically, again, are to present fantastic opening ceremonies that reflect Canada's cultural past, our cultural present and promotes Canada as the greatest place in the world to live."
Smith-Valade said that is an image organizers are comfortable with.
"We don't see that memo as being political. It speaks to the domestic and international priorities of the government," she said.
"We have spent a tremendous amount of time with the government of Canada understanding brand Canada and what they are taking Canada out to the world and to Canadians as, and we're aligned with that."
Frank King, who chaired the organizing committee for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, also saw nothing politically sinister in the memo, which talks about Heritage Canada having "appropriate input and oversight" into planning the opening ceremonies.
"I think the word appropriate is key to what is meant there," King said in an interview from Calgary. "They're putting in half. They would have a lot to say about what goes in."
The Calgary oilman said an Olympic organizing committee operates like a corporate board of directors representing different shareholder interests, with government being a major player.
But it's more complex, he said, because the local committee also answers to the ultimate rights-holder, the International Olympic Committee, and speaks for them.
"Somebody's got to be in charge," said King. "You bring all of the opinions together, you accept some, you reject some, you modify others. You come up with a program for everything."
King said his committee frequently touched base with Ottawa for input on components of the Games they specifically funded, such as Canada Olympic Park in downtown Calgary.
(With files from Beth Leighton and Steve Mertl in Vancouver)
VANOC says feds not imposing on Olympic plans
CTV.ca News Staff
Vancouver Olympic Committee head John Furlong said the federal government isn't overstepping its boundaries, after a memo revealed Ottawa will give $20 million to the 2010 Olympic Games -- a contribution meant to ensure the opening ceremonies help establish Canada's domestic and international branding goals.
The memo, marked "secret," was obtained by the Globe and Mail, under an access-to-information request.
"I would say the federal government has the same view on this as we do," VANOC head Furlong said in an interview with CTV Canada AM Friday. "We want to do a stunning job of staging great ceremonies at BC place in 2010. We need to represent the interests of the country in the most beautiful, poignant and emotional way.
"We want to tell a great story and that's who we are and I think that's what they expect of us," he said from Beijing where he is currently taking notes on the summer Games.
However, the memo also suggests that the "conditions associated with the investment" will allow them to have a greater say on VANOC's plans.
"These conditions will ensure that the department has appropriate input and oversight into VANOC's ceremony planning," it says.
Furlong said they have been working all along with senior members of government and that they are all working together to plan the Olympics.
When was asked whether the government would have the power to veto any decision, Furlong replied: "No, that's not true at all."
"They have many people involved with us in many ways and they're working hard with us to make sure we do the very best with the resources we have," he added. "We're working very well together and I just think the federal government like any other partner we have, wants to make sure we perform at a very high level."
The memo is dated Feb. 5, 2008 and was distributed less than three weeks before federal cabinet Minister David Emerson announced the $20-million commitment.
It was sent to Judith LaRocque, Canada's deputy heritage minister and talked about points of discussion at an upcoming meeting with Emerson, his staff and VANOC members.
The memo states that the government "intends to invest $20 million towards the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in order to ensure that the event adequately reflects the priorities of the Government and helps to achieve its domestic and international branding goals."
Bruce Kidd, , a former Olympian and the dean of phys-ed at the University of Toronto, said the memo is worrisome because of the way it is worded.
Kidd, who is also a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the wording suggests the Tories could impose a theme that with their socially conservative values, demonstrated recently in their plans to cut millions in spending on arts and culture.
In an interview with CTV.ca, Kidd said the real question is what word would be imposed in exchange for the $20 million.
"Is it direction? Control? Veto? It's all much more suggestive," he said.
Deirdra McCracken, a spokesperson for James Moore, secretary of state for the 2010 Olympics, said it's only natural that the government want a say in how tax dollars are spent.
"Our government wants to ensure that Canada's goals are achieved through the opening ceremonies. Naturally, we will want to be involved in the planning, especially if we have invested taxpayers' money," she said in an interview with the Globe.
Kidd said that he is reassured by Furlong's comments to CTV and noted that the memo only demonstrates one side of the conversation.
"The memo is one piece of communication but the truth of the matter is that we didn't see what John Furlong said back and maybe the confident message he has given follows a reply to this memo," he said.
"These kinds of debates go back and forth over locations, contracts, the legacy," he continued. "These kinds of negotiations are ongoing and it will probably occur until the torch is snuffed out in Vancouver in 2010. It will probably even affect the final report. But this happens in every country."
Ottawa says it is investing, not meddling in 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies
2 days ago
BEIJING — Twenty million dollars has bought the federal government input into the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics, but the minister responsible for the Winter Games insists it comes with no strings attached.
And a spokeswoman for the Vancouver organizing committee says while the federal government won't have a veto on what's being included during the ceremonies, it's no surprise it will have strong creative input.
So will many other different groups, Renee Smith-Valade added.
The final decision on the ceremonies will be made by the 20 members of the organizing committee's board of directors, which has three government representatives.
James Moore, the minister responsible for the 2010 Winter Games, and Smith-Valade were reacting to a Globe and Mail report published Friday which cited a briefing memo suggesting the $20 million investment in the opening ceremonies by the Department of Canadian Heritage is "to ensure that the event adequately reflects the priorities of the government and helps to achieve its domestic and international branding goals."
Ottawa is contributing the bulk of the $38-million dollar budget for opening ceremonies that will focus a world spotlight on Canada.
"There's no political involvement at all with regard to how Canada will be presented to the world other than our desire to see VANOC (the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee) succeed in presenting the 2010 Games and Canada to the world," Moore said Friday in an interview from Ottawa.
Smith-Valade, vice-president of communications for the organizing committee, said the government will be one of several players involved in the planning for the ceremonies.
"A great ceremonies that will take Canada out to the world is going to be the result of collaboration and co-operation and input from many, many different places."
It's only prudent to let the government have a say because taxpayer dollars are being spent on the event, she said.
Moore agreed.
"On behalf of Canadian taxpayers, we want to make sure that federal dollars are spent in a way that'll promote the 2010 Games and promote successful opening ceremonies," he said.
"Also we're hopeful that the 2010 Olympic committee will present a fantastic show to Canadians and the world and opening ceremonies that will reflect Canada's multicultural reality, our bicultural history and our official language communities across the country and that's what we're hopeful for in terms of getting a return for our investment."
Moore, a secretary of state whose responsibilities include the 2010 Games in Vancouver and Whistler, played down the briefing paper.
"Keep in mind this is a memo from one bureaucrat to another," he said. "It had nothing to do with myself or other ministers or the government. This is a conversation between two bureaucrats and that's fine.
"But our goals internationally and domestically, again, are to present fantastic opening ceremonies that reflect Canada's cultural past, our cultural present and promotes Canada as the greatest place in the world to live."
Smith-Valade said that is an image organizers are comfortable with.
"We don't see that memo as being political. It speaks to the domestic and international priorities of the government," she said.
"We have spent a tremendous amount of time with the government of Canada understanding brand Canada and what they are taking Canada out to the world and to Canadians as, and we're aligned with that."
Frank King, who chaired the organizing committee for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, also saw nothing politically sinister in the memo, which talks about Heritage Canada having "appropriate input and oversight" into planning the opening ceremonies.
"I think the word appropriate is key to what is meant there," King said in an interview from Calgary. "They're putting in half. They would have a lot to say about what goes in."
The Calgary oilman said an Olympic organizing committee operates like a corporate board of directors representing different shareholder interests, with government being a major player.
But it's more complex, he said, because the local committee also answers to the ultimate rights-holder, the International Olympic Committee, and speaks for them.
"Somebody's got to be in charge," said King. "You bring all of the opinions together, you accept some, you reject some, you modify others. You come up with a program for everything."
King said his committee frequently touched base with Ottawa for input on components of the Games they specifically funded, such as Canada Olympic Park in downtown Calgary.
(With files from Beth Leighton and Steve Mertl in Vancouver)