When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Vancouver had won the 2010 bid for the Winter Olympic Games, thunderous applause erupted in Vancouver and Whistler, while a television split screen showed many dejected Pyeongchang supporters leaving, what would have been a celebration party in Pyeongchang.
But Pyeongchang can take comfort in the fact that, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Vancouver won the 2010 bid by the slimmest of margins – 56 for Vancouver and 53 for Pyeongchang.
According to the CBC’s anchor Peter Mansbridge Vancouver will never by the same. He said, “once you’re an Olympic Village you’re always one”.
Before the announcement was made a sports analyst said that John Bitove, former head of Toronto’s failed 2008 bid, won the bid for Vancouver. He said for four years Canada was on top.
Also the CBC’s Brian Williams told viewers that several IOC members told him two years ago “we owe Canada”, when Toronto lost its 2008 bid. It seems that Vancouver was the pay back for Toronto’s loss in 2008 and 1996.
Just minutes following the IOC’s announcement the headline on the Vancouver Sun’s front page read “Yes”.
In anticipation of a Vancouver win Coca-Cola Canada has announced it is celebrating the Olympic bid with a commemorative Coca-Cola Classic can, featuring a “Congratulations Vancouver” message inside a list of the winter Olympic sports in the background.
The limited edition commemorative cans will be available across British Columbia on July 7.
