Anecdotal Olympic Legacy Items

A smart new transit line from an expanded airport, a faster and safer road to Whistler, community venues such as the Richmond Oval, improved social housing and emergency units for the homeless (an issue always inflames debate), and an expanded convention centre are among the most written about legacies.

Here are some others:

• Apprentice craftsman made the medal-ceremony podiums; many were First Nations earning their way to a career while inspiring their peers to vision self-responsible lives outside of reservation lands.



• The XXI Games was the first true social media Olympics embracing online debate via Facebook, Blogs, Twitter and other social vehicles. It has set the stage for how all future games will be seen.



• Opening ceremony artists lead iTunes downloads – Hallelujah by k.d. lang (who only agreed to perform if she could sing it LIVE – other artists lip-synched) and Nikki Yanofsky’s I Believe



• The circular flags that were installed along Vancouver downtown sidewalks (http://www.flagwalk.ca/) representing the 80+ participating nations. Still a tourist attraction, catch them while you can since many of finding their way into suitcases – honest!



• Post Olympic polls increased numbers from 63% to 86% of those who felt the Games were good for the province.



• One developer claims to have sold $50 million of condo real estate during the Games including one Coal Harbour (downtown) at $22 million.



• As a result of a tent city that sprung up during the Games in Vancouver’s poorest district, the East Side, 46 homeless were found space. Amazing what can be done when under a world lens.

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