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February 20, 2004

There was, and continues to be a tight bond between Premier Campbell, Jack Poole, chairman of both the bid committee and the Vancouver 2010 board of directors, and John Furlong.  Campbell and Poole are friends from a time when Campbell was Mayor of Vancouver and Poole and his development endeavours benefited immensely from land acquisitions from the city, which were sold at a very beneficial price.  Furlong is the CEO of the frou frou Arbutus Club in Vancouver, a social/recreation club for the west side residents that Campbell counts as his constituents.

Pound is a well-respected figure in the international Olympic community, known for his straight forward approach and no-nonsense speak against the establishment (be it the IOC or now the Vancouver Olympic board of directors).  If he is stating unequivocally that there is impropriety involved in this selection process, then the powers that be and the public better take notice, as one can see the long-term effects of bad management in the form of Athens.

Now that it seems David Emerson won't be interested in getting slaughtered as a federal Liberal candidate in the upcoming election (one of those "star" candidates that are always mentioned in the chattering classes and the media), Mr. Emerson seems like a sound choice for the position.  If his previous posting as the CEO of Canfor wasn't preparation enough for the potential turmoil on the horizon, then his current role as chairman of the BC Ferry Corporation certainly has.

A CEO selection process that is extremely late and now fraught with controversy, in addition to a RAV line that is teetering on the verge of collapse.  If this is what Olympic organizing is going to look like in this city for the next six years, then Athens might be a useful example of what is on the horizon for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. 

For the sake of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada, let us hope that things don't go that way.

Comments? jonathan@tdhstrategies.com