Legacies for Canadians
Hosting the 2010 Winter Games will promote lasting benefits and positive legacies for Canadian businesses, communities, and citizens, in British Columbia, and across the country.
Sport Development
Own the Podium – 2010 is a vision and plan to enhance the recruitment, development and preparation of high performance athletes as they strive to make Canada the number one nation at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and number three at the Paralympic Winter Games. It is a collaborative effort between Canada's 13 winter national sport organizations and the major winter sport partners, including the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Government of Canada, the Calgary Olympic Development Association, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Own the Podium - 2010 has an overall budget of $110 millions, to which the Government of Canada has contributed $55 million.
 The 2010 Winter Games will bring tangible benefits to Canada's developing and high performance athletes in the same way that the 1988 Calgary Winter Games created a legacy of world-class training and competition venues.
Canada is recognized as a world leader in promoting the Paralympic Movement. The 2010 Winter Games will further enhance that reputation and will generate important benefits for sport and physical activity for persons with a disability in Canada, including heightened awareness in Canada of Paralympic sports, and venue accessibility in Vancouver and Whistler.
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Social and Economic Benefits
The Games will generate enormous economic benefits, including substantial investment in facilities and infrastructure, employment opportunities, and a dramatic increase in international visitors before, during, and after the Games, which will bolster the tourism industry nationwide.
Hosting the Games will generate important social benefits, including accessibility, work experience and training, youth participation, the promotion of volunteerism and social enterprises, an increased emphasis on fitness and environmental sustainability.
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Environmental Sustainability
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games maximize sustainable legacies for all Canadians. By integrating social, economic and environmental considerations into our 2010 Games decision-making process, we can ensure that the legacy of the 2010 Games minimizes impacts to the environment. Through careful sustainability planning and design, green
Games facilities and supporting infrastructure can add to the foundation of sustainable development.
The 2010 Games offer Canada an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate, on the world stage, our leadership in sustainability and to showcase Canadian environmental technologies and sustainability best practices. From green facilities and innovative, alternative energy technology and transportation, to the Games' most basic supplies and operations, the 2010 Winter Games will incorporate "made in Canada" sustainability solutions.
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Aboriginal Participation
In awarding the Games to Vancouver, the International Olympic Committee congratulated the Games organizers for ensuring that Aboriginal people are actively involved in the planning and delivery of the Games. Aboriginal participation in the Games remains integral to the success of the project. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Aboriginal participation and initiatives leave an indelible mark on the Games.
One of our key partners in delivering this commitment is the Four Host First Nations Society, which represents and coordinates the involvement of the four First Nations on whose traditional territories the Games are taking place: the Squamish, Lil’wat, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh.
The Government of Canada strongly believes that the involvement of Aboriginal People is vital to the overall success of the 2010 Winter Games. That is why the Government of Canada provides funding to the Four Host First Nations Society in the amount of $2 million.
The Government of Canada is also working to ensure that Aboriginal people share in the economic, social and cultural benefits of hosting the Games, including increased jobs and business opportunities, increased physical activity and involvement in sport, and greater exposure of Aboriginal arts and cultures.
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Official Languages
 The Government of Canada is strongly committed to ensuring that Canada's two Official Languages are fully incorporated into the planning and delivery of the 2010 Winter Games. The Government of Canada is working closely with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to ensure Canada's linguistic duality and rich Francophone heritage from coast-to-coast-to-coast will be reflected in all aspects of the Games; for example, engaging the Francophone community from British Columbia, as well as delivering bilingual services, communications and staffing.
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