(Reuters) – The western Canadian metropolis of Vancouver and municipality of Whistler, along with Indigenous First Nations representatives, will explore the feasibility of making a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, officers mentioned on Friday.
Representatives from Vancouver, Whistler and 4 First Nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the feasibility of what they described as an Indigenous-led Olympics Games.
There are over 630 First Nation communities in Canada, which signify greater than 50 nations and 50 Indigenous languages, making up virtually 5% of the nation’s inhabitants of 38 million.
Vancouver and Whistler beforehand held the 2010 Winter Games the place Canada topped the medal standings for the primary time at a Winter or Summer Olympics.
“This MOU can also be an essential first step in the direction of exploring the feasibility of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games again to the area,” the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees mentioned in an announcement.
“We imagine this settlement offers the inspiration for transformative change for future occasion internet hosting and collaborative work with Indigenous communities throughout Canada and the world.”
An exploration committee is the important thing step earlier than efforts probably transition to a brand new bid committee for an actual pitch to the International Olympic Committee.
The resolution comes three years after residents in Calgary, host of the 1988 Winter Olympics, voted resoundingly towards the western Canadian metropolis’s plan to bid for the 2026 Games.
Beijing is scheduled to host the subsequent Winter Olympics from Feb. 4-20 subsequent yr, whereas Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy has already been chosen to stage the 2026 version.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
