Cut VANOC some slack please

There have been numerous complaints made by various interest groups, minority groups, NGOs, etc. throughout the past two weeks in regards to how the Olympic organizers have not made amble effort in portraying a more authentic Canada to the world. It is their belief that Vancouver has been projecting a rather idealistic façade of Canada to the rest of the world – a Canada that seems to be harmoniously multi-cultural, socialist, polished and breathtakingly picturesque (albeit awfully drizzly for a Winter Game). They argue that the visitors and television audience should’ve been given the opportunity to see and understand the “bad” and the “ugly” of Canada along with the “good”.

If they had their way, every visitor would leave Canada with a more realistic portrait of our nation, and know that our land is far from being the Great Utopia of the North. They would know that here too, there are children who go to bed hungry, forsaken homeless addicts – one hit away from death, aboriginals that still are seen and treated by mainstream Canada like unwanted, cultural detritus, and of course that there were vast expanses of previously pristine boreal forests which have been and continue to be stripped, drained and carved out to feed the world’s insatiable appetite for oil.

Being a person that typically loves to expose all that is “bad” and “ugly” with our society, it might surprise you to know that I fully disagree with their criticisms of VANOC not doing enough to show a balanced picture of Canada. The role of VANOC is to hold a memorable and exciting world class event. Their role is akin to that of a wedding planner. Their goal is to create an ambience that enables the guests and participants to be swept up by the magic; and to immerse themselves in a rare, intoxicating and fleeting occasion, where for just a little while, adrenaline rushes, out-of-this world athletics, and global fraternity reign supreme.

If the special interest and advocacy groups feel the need to be at the Olympics to give the masses a dose of “awareness”, then good on them. That is their important role, and thankfully, they live in a free country that permits this. But its more than understandable that VANOC would prefer not to air out any of Vancouver and Canada’s dirty laundry during such a jubilant affair for their honored athletes, guests and visitors.