Quotations

Quotations About Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics – Famous, Infamous, and Obscure

 
“If the Olympic bid wasn’t happening we would have to invent something.”
— Jack Poole, Vancouver real estate developer and VANOC chair
Frank O’Brien. “Western perspective: Taxpayers reluctant skeleton in 2010 bid,” Western Investor (June 2002) A6

“We must not forget that 400 years ago, Canada was a land of savages, with scarcely 10,000 inhabitants of European origin, while in China, we’re talking about a 5,000-year-old civilization. We must be careful with our great experience of three or four centuries before telling the Chinese how to run China.”
— Dick Pound, Canadian member of the International Olympic Committee, interviewed about human rights in China
Agnès Gruda “Entrevue avec Richard Pound: ‘Harper a fait une erreur’,” La Presse (Aug 9, 2008)

“In Canada we will be open to opportunities for people to express whatever views they have. There will not be opportunities to break the law, [but] we will make sure there will be full and equal expression throughout the 2010 Olympics.”
— Gordon Campbell, premier of British Columbia
Jeff Lee. “Campbell fires back at Chinese critics,” Vancouver Sun (13 Aug 2008) A1

“The IOC is not privy to the details of the security budget for reasons of confidentiality. But let me say that security investments always leave a good legacy of security for the country. Security is not only there for 17 days of competition.”
— Jacques Rogge, president of International Olympic Committee
Jeff Lee. “One-year countdown to Games starts today,” Vancouver Sun (12 Feb 2009) A4

“Locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, there are groups considering and planning to engage in criminal protest at the Olympics.”
— Bud Mercer, head of Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (7 July 2009)
Rod Mickleburgh. “Security chief warns of planned ‘criminal’ protests,” Globe & Mail (8 July 2009) S1

“Vancouver is a free speech zone.”
— Gregor Robertson, mayor of Vancouver (9 July 2009)
Damian Inwood. “Mayor slams ‘Orwellian’ limits on free comment,” Province (10 July 2009) A6

“The additional measures before council this week have little or nothing to do with the policing or security of the Games. … It’s time for a reality check in the debate on free speech and protest at the Olympics.”
— Geoff Meggs, Vancouver city councillor
Geoff Meggs. “Reality check needed on human rights complaints for Olympics,” Vancouver Sun (25 July 2009) C5

“I think we must build peace in Afghanistan, and that’s what our soldiers are trying so hard to achieve.”
— Michaëlle Jean, Governor-General of Canada, after talking to Vancouver students about the Olympic truce
Rod Mickleburgh. “Jean rejects Afghan truce during Games,” Globe & Mail (29 Sept 2009) A3

“I would not support any actions in the name of security that stifle political free expression. That’s what our country is all about.”
— Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada (13 Oct 2009), commenting on pending Province of British Columbia Olympics legislation
Bob Mackin. “Harper stands up for civil rights,” 24 Hours Vancouver (14 Oct 2009) 3

“It’s like they (the IOC) can come in here and do anything they want because they are a private entity. They can do whatever they like. That’s scary. That’s like the Taliban of the Olympics.”
— Lindsey Van, U.S. woman ski jumper
Jeff Lee. “B.C. Court of Appeal quickly dismisses female ski jumpers’ case,” Vancouver Sun (14 Nov 2009) A3

“People don’t know the flame travels in a lantern.”
— Vidar Eilertsen, director of torch relay operations
Shelley Fralic. “Torch moments took years of planning,” Vancouver Sun (17 Nov 2009) B3

“It’s a political spin on the doorsteps of the Olympics. … The provincial government is trying to publicly convey [that] the relationship between the first nations people and the province is alive and well. The reality is it’s at the lowest ebb I can imagine. Once the athletes go home, we’ll still wake up in crushing poverty.”
— Stewart Phillip, president of Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
Jonathan Fowlie / Kim Pemberton. “Government reaches deal with first nations,” Vancouver Sun (21 Dec 2009) A6

“Nobody wants to admit it, but Vancouver has become a resort city where rich foreigners live a few months per year … It’s a $6-billion ad buy [with the Olympics]. There’s never been anything like it. It will change Vancouver, forever.”
— Bob Rennie, Vancouver condominium marketer
Miro Cernetig. “The views from on high are nice, but not many can afford them,” Vancouver Sun (25 Jan 2010) A1