Toronto had it’s Bread Not Circuses, an anti-Olympic group that lobbied against its two failed Olympic bids. Now Vancouver 2010 has the Impact of Olympics on Communities Coalition (IOCC).
The IOCC warns that negative impacts of the Olympic Games on Vancouver must be mitigated.
Jim Green, spokesperson for the group, said, “we’ll make sure we’re heard”. He added, “in light of all the cuts to health care, education, and social services, the people of B.C. should have a choice”.
The IOCC has released its key recommendations to the Bid Corporation and its partners, the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia and the federal government, and wants the Bid Corporation and its partners to implement these recommendations prior to the Games and include them in the final Bid Book.
Green’s group wants assurance that there will be economic benefits to residents and businesses in the low-income downtown east side and elsewhere across the city.
And it also wants a referendum to ensure citizens think this is a wise use of taxpayers’ money.
Meanwhile, the group has invited Glenn Bailey, of Salt Lake Impact 2002 and Beyond to come to Vancouver March 26, to talk about evictions, lack of affordable housing and how the Games primarily benefited the wealthy in Salt Lake City.
Bailey, executive director of a non-profit social service agency called Urban Crossroads Centre, said his agency joined with others to form Salt Lake Impact 2002 and Beyond in the spring of 1995, once they learned Salt Lake City would be hosting the Games.
