As the 2010 Olympics draw to a close, UBC experts will be available to analyze the Vancouver Games and look ahead to the upcoming London and Sochi Games.
? Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 26, 3-4 p.m.
? Location: B.C. International Media Centre, Robson Square
? Room: Media Briefing Room
Rob VanWynsberghe, Lead Researcher, UBC Olympic Games Impact study
604.822.6397, 2010.media@ubc.ca
VanWynsberghe is tracking the economic, environmental and social impacts of 2010 Games as part of the world’s first Olympic Games Impact (OGI) research project.
His project, which analyzes Games impacts across 126 International Olympic Committee indicators, will inform how London and Sochi measure the impacts of their Games.
Prof. David Anderson, UBC expert on visitor experiences
604.822.2086, david.anderson@ubc.ca
Anderson is available to discuss what people will remember about the 2010 Games and why.
Robert Sparks, Director, UBC Centre for Sports and Sustainability
Contact: 604.822.6397, 2010.media@ubc.ca
Sparks will discuss the new UBC Centre for Sports and Sustainability, which will help future host regions learn from Canada’s experience hosting the 2010 Games.
Julia Dorofeeva, Russian MBA student, Sauder School of Business
Contact: UBC Public Affairs at 604.822.6397
“It is a great honor and a great responsibility to host the Olympics in Russia. It will be the first Winter Olympics, and everyone is very excited! I personally feel a lot of support in Canada due to the coming Sochi Games. As a volunteer, I meet the visitors of Russia House; many of them are very interested in Russia and the Games and wish Russia good luck in the preparation. Still, the Olympics are in Vancouver for now, and it is a great and a very exciting time, which I enjoy a lot!”
Anne Gorsuch, Assoc. Professor, History
gorsuch@interchange.ubc.ca, 604.822.6397
“The massive re-making of Soviet era Sochi into a modern Olympic site is meant to symbolize a new modern Russia. Sochi is unique as an Olympic venue, however, in that although it has a long history as a subtropical destination for Russian and Soviet tourists, it is lacking the necessary Olympic infrastructure.”
Lisa Sunstrom, Assoc. Professor, Liu Institute and Political Science
604.822.6331, lisasun@politics.ubc.ca
“The Russian government’s aim in Sochi will be to assert the country’s status as a strong, autonomous, and sophisticated player among world powers. As such, we can expect an ostentatious 2014 Winter Olympics no matter what the economic, social, and environmental costs may be of converting a modest, largely summertime resort city into a state-of-the- art winter sports venue over the next four years.”
[Profs. Gorsuch and Sunstrom are unable to attend the Robson Square press briefing, but are available for media requests.]
Visit UBC’s Online 2010 Media Centre — www.ubc.ca/2010media — to connect with UBC 2010 experts, story ideas and students from your country.
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UBC Public Affairs
B.C. International Media Centre (BCMC) at Robson Square
Tel: 604.822.6397
Email: 2010.media@ubc.ca Website: www.ubc.ca/2010media
Twitter: @UBCnews