By Canadian Press

2030 Olympic bid not quite dead, but B.C. government must join talks: First Nations

Oct 28, 2022 | 1:57 PM

VANCOUVER — First Nations leaders say they’re still open to pursuing a bid to host the 2030 Olympics in British Columbia, but need the provincial government to engage in talks for plans to move forward.

B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare announced Thursday that the province would not support the bid, saying it needs to “focus on people.”

Councillor Wilson Williams of the Squamish Nation told reporters Friday that he was “disheartened” to hear the news because the province did not speak with the First Nations leading the Indigenous-led bid before making the decision.

Williams says organizers “didn’t come to the table asking for a blank cheque” and they still want to have “meaningful dialogue” with the government about the bid.

He says if the province ultimately opts not to support hosting the 2030 Games, it would kill the bid but the First Nations involved may be open to exploring future bids.

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It’s estimated that holding the 2030 Olympics in Vancouver, Whistler and the Sun Peaks resort, near Kamloops, would cost between $3.5 and $4 billion, with funding coming from a mix of public and private sources.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2022.

The Canadian Press