Oregon Business Association

April 10, 2008

OBA Hosts CEO of 2010 Olympics

John Furlong, CEO of the 2010 Vancouver B.C. Winter Olympic Games, participated in a luncheon discussion on March 27th with OBA business leaders hosted at the EcoTrust building in N.W. Portland.

OBA, in partnership with the Canadian Consulate, organized the event to help build awareness of the opportunities presented by the Vancouver Olympics and to showcase Oregon's global leadership in sustainability.

Much of the discussion centered on the efforts of Canadian organizers to set a lasting example of the Vancouver Olympics as the most sustainable games ever.  Mr. Furlong talked specifically about creating an Olympic Village that would not only employ sustainable practices but would serve as affordable housing long after the games have been completed.   He discussed the extraordinary efforts that are being made to avoid environmental degradation and how such efforts are creating opportunities for companies who make sustainability a part of their business practices.

A former Canadian squash champion, Mr. Furlong spoke of his passion for international competition and efforts to strive for excellence in putting on the Olympics games in Vancouver.  All those in attendance enjoyed the Canadian business leader's inspirational vision of Olympic competition and his arousal of a North American rivalry by predicting “buckets of silver metals” for Team U.S.A.

Click here if you would like to get into the Olympic spirit and learn more about the opportunities of the 2010 Vancouver B.C. Winter Games.