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2022 Winter Games: Quebec eyes 2022 Olympic Games
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Feb 15, 2010
Vancouver (AFP) - Quebec Premier Jean Charest confirmed the province was preparing a bid to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games Monday as a row rumbled on over the dominance of the English language at the Vancouver Games.
"There is a team of people that have been put together to study the possible candidacy for Quebec City for the Winter Games and they will be visiting the organising committee here," Charest told reporters.
"We understand there's a cycle to all of this and we're obviously aware of that but we happen to have what I believe to be one of the best cities in the world, a city made to measure to host the Winter Games and that happens to be one of the most beautiful."
"My own view is that Quebec City should advance its candidacy and I guess 2022 would probably be the year when that could happen," he said.
"You can expect to hear from us in the next year in regards to that," he said, adding: "I look forward to hosting you as premier of Quebec in 2022."
His comments came amid continuing criticisms that English has been the dominant language during the Games in bilingual Canada, especially at Friday's opening ceremony.
Charest said he did not believe the ceremony had focused enough on the French language and culture, though he praised other efforts such as signs in both languages.
John Furlong, the chief executive of organising committee VANOC, defended the ceremony and efforts that had been made to present a bilingual Games.
"The show that was presented was the collaboration of many led by an extraordinarily talented executive producer and artistic director who put together a show that was intended to work at multiple levels and I think he did a great job of telling a great Canadian story to he world," he said.
Furlong added: "We have assembled here in Vancouver thousands of volunteers from French Canada who are here to deliver bilingual services to the people who have come here from around the world."
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