About the IOCC
The Impact on Community Coalition (IOCC) is an independent, non-partisan and community-based coalition that is dedicated to maximizing the positive impacts of the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Games for the host city and surrounding regions, while minimizing the negative impacts.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the IOCC is to evaluate the development of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games from social, environmental and economic perspectives, advocate for a rich post games legacy devoid of adverse impacts, and foster that element of the Olympic Movement which ensures these issues are addressed for all future Olympic Games.
he IOCC was established in 2002 during the debate over Vancouver’s Games bid. The IOCC did not take an explicit position either for or against the Bid. Rather, it committed to ensuring a healthy, sustainable process with respect to the Games. Because hosting the Games requires massive investments and has great ramifications on communities, the public needs a process independent of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) to ensure that community issues are addressed. The IOCC is the key to a sustainable 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The work of the IOCC is organized around three streams:
- Community Engagement The IOCC will work with individuals, organizations and groups in the community to establish a means for involving and recognizing local interests and concerns related to development of the 2010 Games. The IOCC will facilitate dialogue between the public and 2010 Games' Partners. This will be done via public forums, our web site, and the media.
- Research The IOCC will evaluate the benefits for the region at regular intervals during the development of the Games. The evaluation will be based on indicators that are developed by the IOCC Research Committee, and will focus on the environment, Security and Safety, Community Economic Development, Civil Rights, Housing, Transportation, Accountability and Transparency. The IOCC’s research activities will also provide opportunities for learning and training, especially for post-secondary students and interested citizens.
- Advocacy/Mitigation The IOCC will use information obtained from our community engagement and research activities to work directly with VANOC, 2010 Partners and the Government to prevent negative impacts and find positive resolutions with respect to the 2010 Games.
One of the earlier major achievements of the IOCC was in playing a key role in
the development of the Inner-City Inclusively Commitment Statement (ICI).
In August 2002, the IOCC provided the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation with
22 recommendations
that were included in the Bid Book guarantees section. These are the ICI,
which have been endorsed by VANOC and its Partners with respect to impacts on
inner-city residents.
Organization of the IOCC
The IOCC is composed of a Board of Directors who are volunteers, and a Network of members who are individuals, organizations and groups. The IOCC Board meets about once every 1-2 months. As required, the IOCC Board may establish working committees that focus on specific topics or issues. Members of the IOCC Network support the work of the IOCC in various ways, such as donations, in-kind contributions, providing information, attending IOCC events, etc. Members of the Network are provided with updates on the work of the IOCC, are invited to attend all IOCC-related events, and are recognized as having contributed to the work of the IOCC.
To find out more about being a volunteer Director on the IOCC Board, please contact IOCC Board Chair, Am Johal, at media@iocc.ca. Learn more about becoming a member of the IOCC Network.