Spring 2007: Going For Gold: Leveraging the Impacts of Olympic Fever

15 credits (DIAL 390W, 391W, 392W).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In 1994, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) added environment to the set of sport and culture values that guide the activities of the Olympic Movement. It is here where the power and commitment of the IOC to deliver its event in a comprehensive fashion interfaces with the willingness and ability of the host destination to meet these requirements in a sustainable way. We will use Vancouver and Whistler, BC as laboratories to explore the many challenges and opportunities associated with guiding the 2010 Winter Olympic Games towards sustainable outcomes. We will facilitate an Olympic dialogue-archive that not only includes important dimensions of environmental stewardship, but also incorporates critical aspects of corporate social responsibility, economic opportunity, community development, sport and health promotion. The overriding focus of discussion and inquiry will centre on "How can the 2010 Winter Olympic Games contribute to global and local sustainability initiatives in a pro-active and meaningful fashion?"

FACULTY

Peter Williams is a Professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University.

Janet Moore is an Assistant Professor in the Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue at Simon Fraser University.