The Great Olympics Debate: Short & Long Term Impacts

[raggedy13]

The potential impact of the Olympics on the region has always interested me and has lead to many a fanciful daydream from time to time of how very different Vancouver will be in 5-10 years thanks to the Olympics.

People seem to have all sorts of different opinions on the matter ranging from severely pessimistic to ridiculously optimistic (I tend to lean towards the ridiculously optimistic side myself ).

From what I can see, there is a huge variety of areas and angles we can discuss. To get the ball rolling, here are a few that come first to my mind (in no particular order):


1) Impact on population growth (considering both international and domestic migration)

2) Impact on tourism (international and domestic)

3) Impact on foreign investment in the region (including speculative real estate investment)

4) Impact on built form (transportation infrastructure, new landmark buildings, public art, SEFC etc.)

5) Impact on the city's identity, culture, and the arts (a cultural renaissance on the horizon?)

6) Impact on the DTES (A good thing? A bad thing? Little impact at all?)

7) Impact on the average tax-paying Joe and the economy in general (office space considerations, attraction of new foreign retail outlets to the region, BC ultimately financially crippled?)

8) How might the city be different now and in the future if we were never awarded the Olympics to begin with?

These are by no means the only possible topics to discuss so feel free to bring up whatever is on your mind in relation to the Olympics.

[raggedy13]

I guess I will start by saying I'm rather optimistic about the whole thing. I'll say a short summary of my feelings on the issues I listed but not go too in-depth just yet as I could go on and on for quite some time.

For population, I see no real negative impacts. One might be able to argue that increased speculation could drive up housing prices and therefore ultimately discourage people from moving to the region but that hasn't proven to be such an issue just yet and our prices are already the highest in the country. Personally I'd like to see a healthy increase in growth rates for the region but not necessarily a ridiculous and unsustainable one.

For tourism, I see only benefits. All the media coverage the city gets leading up to and during the Olympics will be great marketing and I think Vancouver is currently an underrated travel destination. I thought Vancouver had a lot of tourists before, but after seeing just how busy with tourists European cities can get, I figure Vancouver has much room for improving its numbers.

For foreign investment, I see a lot of foreign companies/individuals being exposed to Vancouver for the first time and seeing great potential in it. The greatest impact might be on the real estate market. I'm slightly concerned about this considering how high prices currently are. If they continue to increase (and possibly at a more accelerated pace after the Olympics) I don't see much good coming from it for the average non-homeowner such as myself. It might lead to an even more impressive condo boom throughout the region though which would make for some good fun to watch.

I'm writing a bit more than I intended so I'll stop there for now. Your thoughts?

[mr.x]

1) Impact on population growth - i see little or none effect

2) Tourism - past Olympic host cities have seen growths in their tourism industry. Calgary and SLC saw growth, Sydney saw something like 12% though that was soon offsetted by the effects of 9/11. And recently, Torino saw a 16% rise. Barcelona, i would think, is the Olympic city that has seen the greatest tourism benefits.

3) Foreign investments - it'll be just like Expo.

to be continued...

[cornholio]

1) Impact on population growth (considering both international and domestic migration) Small increase in growth but hardly noticeable..

2) Impact on tourism (international and domestic) A large increase...even though Vancouver is one of the more overrated cities out there for visiting as there is literally almost nothing special to do or see.

3) Impact on foreign investment in the region (including speculative real estate investment) Increase in both but nothing too significant...hardly noticeable increase.

4) Impact on built form (transportation infrastructure, new landmark buildings, public art, SEFC etc.)
none, unless its due to the three question/answers above

5) Impact on the city's identity, culture, and the arts (a cultural renaissance on the horizon?)none

6) Impact on the DTES (A good thing? A bad thing? Little impact at all?)
there is and will be a effort to clean it up, if they do a good enough job then there will be some demand to clean it up some more as people will see the potential and realize that it is possible to fix it up.

7) Impact on the average tax-paying Joe and the economy in general (office space considerations, attraction of new foreign retail outlets to the region, BC ultimately financially crippled?)The economy will be better then it would off but the average joe might not see or feel much of a improvement and possibly be worse off in some ways thanks to the success.


8) How might the city be different now and in the future if we were never awarded the Olympics to begin with?very different, ill answer this one later.

These are by no means the only possible topics to discuss so feel free to bring up whatever is on your mind. So I was thinking of buying this used car in the states and shipping it up but not sure if its a good idea. Im looking at a toyota 4 runner as out here their grossly overpriced something like 10+ grand for a mid to late 90's with 200grand+ km is not a good deal. Though they are one of the best cars for offroading and last hella long not to mention their decent fuel mileage since they have 3 liter or even 2.7l engines Well anyways thats whats on my mind, thanks for giving me a opportunity to spill it out. Oh yeah heres to make it a topic, anyone buy a used car on here from the states...bad or good idea.

[raggedy13]

^ Ok, I'm going to have to edit that last statement a bit.

[vanman]

2) Impact on tourism (international and domestic) A large increase...even though Vancouver is one of the more overrated cities out there for visiting as there is literally almost nothing special to do or see.

4) Impact on built form (transportation infrastructure, new landmark buildings, public art, SEFC etc.)
none, unless its due to the three question/answers above

5) Impact on the city's identity, culture, and the arts (a cultural renaissance on the horizon?)none

Dude you are hilarious. Talk about pessimism.

[cornholio]

hey i consider my self a optimist, i think the Olympics will overall have a big net benefit to BC. I do think Vancouver for visiting is one of the more overrated cities out there because there really is almost nothing special to do or see. Last week I was up at Whistler with my bro and on the lift two american tourists asked us if there was anything that was a must see on their way back through Vancouver. Well me and my bro couldent think of anything. Museum of anthropology was one thing but thats hardly a cant miss must see thing. The Vancouver aquarium was another but again not really a cant miss type of thing unless you never been to a aquarium. Other then that we were stumped. Now sure there are a few more things to do in the summer but almost nothing that you cant get in almost every other region out there. The north shore mountains are nice, Capilano suspension bridge, Stanley Park, a cruise around the sea wall, Gastown, and well thats just about it.
Oh yeah we did think of one thing that we thought was a must see cant miss unique to Vancouver thing, a walk around Main and Hastings but it didnt seem like they were too enthusiastic about it.

As far as built form etc. it wouldn't have any direct impact in my opinion because these impacts would be a result of the positive effects on the economy and population growth. I am also talking about impacts after 2010 not before since surely there is a big impact before the games but that stops right after.

I dont think it will have any impact on the cities culture, but sure it will change the identity a little bit. We will be a olympic city, not something alot of cities out there can attach to their name and identity.

[mr.x]

^ i can agree with you on that somewhat. we lack big city attractions, and world-class shopping.

[bils]

Originally Posted by cornholio

.... I do think Vancouver for visiting is one of the more overrated cities out there because there really is almost nothing special to do or see. .......

...... Now sure there are a few more things to do in the summer but almost nothing that you cant get in almost every other region out there. The north shore mountains are nice, Capilano suspension bridge, Stanley Park, a cruise around the sea wall, Gastown, and well thats just about it.

you could say that about a lot of cities that are considered 'major world attractions'. a city like vancouver is simply a place to be experienced. there doesn't need to be a disneyland or a louvre in order to make a city attractive to tourists. people go to honolulu to experience a metropolitan city in the tropics. people come to vancouver to experience a metropolitan city close to nature. sure we don't have world class shopping, but we sure have enough to keep even the most hardcore shoppers happy.

[vanman]

^True enough. Vancouver is a city not a resort. Pleasing tourists should not be our number 1 priority.

[Hed Kandi]

The Olympics will do to Vancouver everything that expo '86 did, but MORE and BIGGER.

I expect that by 2020, this city will be so dramatically transformed, in culture, infrastructure, art, services, etc - that it will be nothing like the Vancouver today.

I think Vancouverites are ignortant to or completely underestimate the spotlight which this great city will receive and the post olympics benefits that it will reap.

[raggedy13]

^I would tend to agree.

I think the media coverage Vancouver will receive will be quite beneficial for both showcasing its good points and even bringing to the forefront the aspects which Vancouver needs to work on most, perhaps directing the city's focus and encouraging the city to work a little harder towards become a well-rounded, mature city more worthy of its self-proclaimed "world class" status.

On that latter point, I don't mean just the obvious challenges like the DTES will be brought to the forefront (it already has been there for quite some time) but things like Vancouver's lack of significant arts/cultural institutions or nightlife entertainment venues - the sort of things that are often overlooked in Vancouver but that no true world class city is without.

We've got great nature, recreational opportunities, and restaurants for a city our size but a little more effort needs to be put into the city's man-made forms of entertainment. When the likes of urban-minded Europeans arrive in town I imagine these deficiencies will not go unnoticed.

Anyways, that is just one possible aspect that might come up during what will ultimately be a large scale critiquing of our city by the international community.

[mr.x]

^ i think that's a pretty good summary of what will happen. it will give us an opportunity to self-reflect who we are as a community, as a city.

[Rusty Gull]

Just a word on the aforementioned "world-class shopping". What exactly is "world-class shopping", anyways? And does anyone on this forum engage in it regularly? (This is not to downplay Mr. X's point, mind you, which is that there's a perception that the retail environment in Vancouver is somehow second rate.)

I mean, when I travel to Hong Kong or London or Tokyo, I'm inevitably drawn to the local retailers (whether it's Uniqlo or the night markets or Portobello Road). But how are they different from Commercial Drive or Robson Street or the Richmond Night Market?

As for the high-end retailers like Tiffany's et al, I don't need them -- but Vancouver certainly has them.

One thing we are missing on the retail end of things, however: a destination book shop, ala Powells in Portland. And one other: An Apple store. At least the latter will soon be addressed.

[Rusty Gull]

To address Raggedy's original question:

The answer -- in terms of impact -- is what you are seeing right now. The rush to build the convention center and the RAV Line and the Sea-to-Sky highway; the massive upgrades to Cypress Mountain ski resort; new recreation infrastructure for Whistler (not to mention Richmond and Vancouver and UBC). And countless other Olympics-related investments.

In short, the impact is the infrastructure. That, in turn, could give a shot in the arm to population growth, culture, tourism. And it has undoubtedly thrown some fuel on the economic boom this region is enjoying currently.

As far as impact on the city's recognition and reputation and even foreign investment from the Games themselves-- I think it will be marginal.

I think Salt Lake, Nagano, Lake Placid etc are all recognized as pleasant enough places, but there hasn't been a stampede of people to those cities. Calgary is the exception that comes to mind, but of course their boom economy has more to do with oil and global commodities markets than ski-jumping (my utmost respect for Eddie the Eagle Edwards notwithstanding).

Besides, Vancouver is already well-known as a tourist destination. With any luck, it might become a business hub too, but don't count on 2010 to make that happen.

[Nutterbug]

Maybe we could add a little more niche shopping to meet the local demand for it, but we are not going to outdo New York or Paris for shopping, art, or anything else by becoming miniature versions of them. We have our own defining characteristics that we are better off to build on, than copying other famous so-called "world class" cities.

[AKA-007]

I agree with the low number of "must see" attractions. But I will mention one thing that will be finished in time for the olympics that is pretty darn cool (and a little bit riddiculus)

Peak-to-peak

that incredibly long gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb. Multiple world record breaker that has little purpose other than to say we built it, now ride it. The construction on that thing must be Olympic-fuelled because it's a sort of modern landmark in Whistler that just happens to be built a year before the olympics. Still...it's just plain cool.

From Whistlerblackcomb.com

[mr.x]

Honestly, I'd never ride that thing. Way too scared of heights....in Hong Kong, the MTR runs a cable car line from near the airport to the "Big Buddha" statue. Months ago, that thing broke down....took months to fix it. 10 minutes into the first test, one of the cars fell and landed 200 feet below. O_O

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by cornholio

hey i consider my self a optimist, i think the Olympics will overall have a big net benefit to BC. I do think Vancouver for visiting is one of the more overrated cities out there because there really is almost nothing special to do or see. Last week I was up at Whistler with my bro and on the lift two american tourists asked us if there was anything that was a must see on their way back through Vancouver. Well me and my bro couldent think of anything. Museum of anthropology was one thing but thats hardly a cant miss must see thing. The Vancouver aquarium was another but again not really a cant miss type of thing unless you never been to a aquarium. Other then that we were stumped. Now sure there are a few more things to do in the summer but almost nothing that you cant get in almost every other region out there. The north shore mountains are nice, Capilano suspension bridge, Stanley Park, a cruise around the sea wall, Gastown, and well thats just about it.
Oh yeah we did think of one thing that we thought was a must see cant miss unique to Vancouver thing, a walk around Main and Hastings but it didnt seem like they were too enthusiastic about it.

Slums and ghettos aren't unique to Vancouver either.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Slums and ghettos aren't unique to Vancouver either.

main and hastings is rather unique to vancouver and im yet to see a area in na or infact any first world nation that comes even close to the number of homeless and drug addicted in one small area, the amount of open drug use and dealing and the hopelessness of the area, the police station and officers walking among this is just icing on the cake. our slum and ghetto that we call east hastings is world class and a experience that not many have the opportunity to experience.