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In addition to the economic benefits, the report also noted
other positive outcomes including the development of sport and
culture across Canada, the inclusion and participation of
Aboriginal groups and minorities and a heightened recognition of
persons with disabilities.

“Throughout the Olympics and in the weeks immediately following,
there was a real sense of success and pride among British
Columbians and Canadians,” says Rob VanWynsberghe, lead author of
the study. “These feelings were well-founded, some real success
stories came out of these Games.

The Olympic Games Impact (OGI) study Games-time report is the
third in a series of four reports required by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) to measure the overall impact of the 2010
Winter Games.

Led by VanWynsberghe, an assistant professor in the Department
of Educational Studies at UBC, the OGI study uses 126 IOC-mandated
indicators to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts
of the Olympics on Vancouver, Whistler, British Columbia and
Canada.

The OGI study is now overseen by the href=”http://www.olympic.ca/” target=”_blank”>Canadian Olympic
Committee following the post-Games wrap-up of the Vancouver
Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games. The COC will continue to support the OGI research at
UBC over the next two years.

“This study confirms what we all saw during the Vancouver 2010
Olympic Winter Games,” said COC President Marcel Aubut. “The sense
of pride that swept up our nation was a turning point in our
nation’s history. The Games injected millions into the local
economy and great strides have been made in making these events
more environmentally sound.”

Key findings of the UBC-OGI Games-time report:

Socio-cultural impacts

• Inclusion - Aboriginal groups and minorities
  participated in the bidding, planning and staging of the Games.
  Data from opinion polls conducted before and after the Paralympic
  Games showed that public awareness of people with disabilities
  increased as a result of the Games.
  
  
  
   



• Sport - Municipal, provincial and federal governments
  introduced policies and projects to leverage the Games, including a
  program for excellence in sport, Own the Podium, that likely
  increased the number of medals won by Canadian athletes.
  
  
  
   



• Arts and culture - Arts and culture were a significant
  aspect of the hosting of the 2010 Games
  
  
  
   



• Housing - There were no new data related to
  homelessness and affordable housing subsequent to the Pre-Games
  Report. The report noted that possible media attention and local
  advocacy efforts may have catalyzed government efforts to address
  these issues. The following OGI report is expected to provide
  further insight on these issues.

Economic impacts

• Business and jobs - New businesses and new jobs were
  created that related directly to the Olympics such as venue
  operation, as well as indirectly such as hotel and restaurant
  jobs.
  
  
  
   



• Real estate - Increases in the cost of hotel stays and
  in real estate prices in the year 2010 were both potentially due to
  the Games.
  
  
  
   



• Tourism - Increases in YVR airport traffic (passenger
  and freight) and in visitor spending around the time of the Games
  were both potentially due to the 2010 Winter Games.
  
  
  
   



• Tax revenue - The Games-time report conservatively
  estimates that the public sector benefited by at least $50 million
  (CAD) in total tax revenue from Olympic activities.

Environmental impacts

• Greenhouse gas emissions - Data from VANOC showed that
  Olympic-related greenhouse gas emissions increased every year
  following 2005, with an eight-fold increase during Games-time
  compared to the organizing period, mainly due to transportation to
  and around Vancouver.
  
  
  
   



• Mode of travel - During the Games, travel into and out
  of the downtown core (where many Games-related events were held)
  increased. During this period, the share of low-impact modes of
  travel into and out of the downtown core became the dominant mode
  of travel over personal vehicle use.
  
  
  
   



• Energy consumption - Olympic-related energy
  consumption for facility operation and transportation during the
  Games was almost an equal share between fossil fuels and renewable
  sources.  Most of the energy (80 per cent) was used for venues
  and facilities.

For more information, visit the Centre for Sport and
Sustainability at target=”_blank”>www.css.ubc.ca  The href=”http://css.ubc.ca/projects/olympic-games-impact-study/ogi-reports/”
target=”_blank”>OGI study: Games-time report is available
for download.