By Jingyuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-03-25 15:17

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will have unprecedented Aboriginal participation in the planning and hosting of the Winter Games through the development of strong relationships with First Nations peoples across Canada.

For the first time in Olympic Games history, an organizing committee has recognized indigenous peoples as official partners in the Games. The 2010 Winter Games will be held on traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations - known collectively as the Four Host First Nations.

The Vancouver 2010 bid for the Winter Games recognized early on that having the support and active participation of these Nations would create lasting legacies for these communities. The International Olympic Committee recognized this relationship as an important factor in Vancouver's winning bid.

Since then, VANOC has remained committed to recognizing and respecting the Four Host First Nations and directly involving them in key aspects of Games planning and legacies.

"The Four Host First Nations plays an essential role in the Games planning, and their participation in the whole process from planning to hosting is a goal for VANOC to achieve," said Gary Youngman, VANOC consulting director of Aborignal participation.

VANOC works with partners such as the Four Host First Nations Secretariat, Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, 2010 Legacies Now, as well as local and national Aboriginal groups in the planning and delivery of many programs.

Together, they are working to maximize opportunities for Aboriginal people in five key areas: partnerships and collaboration, sport and youth, economic development, cultural involvement, as well as awareness and education.

Culturally this will involve celebrating and promoting Aboriginal history, arts, culture and languages on the world stage; and economically, there will be opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and businesses through Games-related procurement, tourism, branding, employment and training.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.