John Furlong- About BCRPA
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When Furlong arrived in Canada more than 30 years ago from Ireland, a customs officer at the airport offered a warm but specific greeting: “Welcome to Canada - make us better.” Furlong took those inspired words to heart and within days he was volunteering. Helping to improve the fabric of Canadian society remains one of his steadfast personal goals. As VANOC CEO, he believes the Olympics can be a real nation builder. “All Canadians must feel these Games are theirs,” says Furlong. “This is not about a few of us but about all of us.” Prior to his appointment at VANOC in 2004, Furlong was the President and Chief Operating Officer for the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation. He helped lead the organization through numerous phases. In his role, he became the Bid’s international face and key spokesperson. A long time member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, he has also served as chair of the BC Summer and Winter Games and Sport BC. He founded the Northern BC Winter Games Society, and served British Columbia at seven Canada Games and two Western Canada Games. Furlong has been involved with athletics all his life, having competed at the international level captaining Ireland's Gaelic Football Teams and its national basketball and handball teams. He is also a former Canadian squash champion. Furlong’s service to sport has landed him with numerous community awards, among them the Darrel Thompson and Kaizan Awards for services to sport in British Columbia over a lifetime. He was voted Canada’s Sport Executive of the Year for his contribution to the Vancouver 2010 Bid, and named Vancouver’s Executive of the Year by the Vancouver Executive Association. He was acclaimed as the 2004 Canadian Sport Awards’ Sport Leadership Winner for his service to sport in Canada over a lifetime. He has won Vancouver’s most prestigious tourism award for the promotion of Vancouver around the world and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as the 2004 W.A.C. Bennett Award winner. John's Presentation at Symposium: VANOC CEO John Furlong will discuss legacy opportunities for our sector beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
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