Culture and the Games
The first Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, in about
776 BC – more than 2,700 years ago. Olympia was both
the sporting and cultural centre of the country, and from the very
beginning involved both the best athletes and the best artists and
performers.
When Pierre de Coubertin founded the modern Olympic Movement in
1894, he believed the new Olympic Games should continue this
tradition, and made Culture the second pillar of the Olympic
Movement – equal to Sport. The Olympic Charter now
requires host cities to produce a wide range of cultural programs,
which focus on the culture and traditions of the host nation,
involve international participation and be of the highest
calibre.
The cultural programs we develop for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games will reflect our city’s
– and our country’s – great
cultural diversity, rich Aboriginal heritage, and lively,
progressive arts scene.
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