The Winter Olympic Games will take place here and in Whistler from Feb. 12 to 28, 2010, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games for athletes with disabilities March 12 to 21, 2010.

It is estimated that the games will be attended by 2.3 million people and include 5,000 athletes and officials, 10,000 media and 14,000 volunteers.

Mark Gurvis, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, said his group is starting to think, along with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, about what they will want to do as a Jewish community to prepare for the Olympics.

“There are really two things that we need to be thinking about,” he said.

“What will be possible to do to welcome the Israeli athletes who are here to compete in the Games? Ideally we will want to create some kind of opportunity for our community members to meet them and celebrate the moment with them. Secondly, how can we welcome other Jewish visitors who will be visiting our area for the games?

“Vancouver is a wonderful city and the Olympics is a wonderful opportunity to showcase that. We look forward to joining together with all the many people and groups in our region to welcome the many visitors who will be coming here for the Games.”

Gerry Zipursky, who retired last year after 25 years as executive director of the community centre, noted that in 1986 Vancouver hosted the world for Expo ’86.

“At that time the community centre, as well as some other organizations, planned a number of special events to welcome visiting members of the Jewish community,” he recalled. “We were proud of our city as well as our Jewish community and warmly received the thousands of visitors to our community. I am sure the same reception will be due in 2010.”

 Rick Nelson, who succeeded Zipursky at the helm of the the community centre, envisions a variety of ways to link to the 2010 games. In addition to welcoming the Jewish community to Vancouver, they will be co-hosting a significant exhibit related to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In fact, over the next year and a bit leading to the games, the JCC will be presenting programs funded by the Cultural Olympiad. Nelson said they are in discussions with a variety of Olympic committees and they anticipate other building uses related to the Olympics.

Vancouver area synagogues are preparing for thousands of visitors from around the world to attend services during the Olympics.

Shannon Etkin, executive director of Congregation Beth Israel on Oak Street, believes it will be very important to “encourage” international visitors to come join local services.
“We certainly expect to have more visitors to our services,” she acknowledged. “Synagogues and other Jewish organizations are working independently and collaboratively on various ideas. The Olympics will certainly mark an excellent opportunity to show what a fabulous Jewish community we have.”
Vancouver is home to Canada's third largest Jewish community, some 25,000 strong. That is up from 19,375 in 1991 and 7,310 in 1961. There are some 15 Jewish congregations in the Greater Vancouver area representing all Jewish movements, with the Conservative congregations boasting the largest number of members. Reform congregations follow in second place, with the Orthodox and Chabad congregations attended by a dedicated minority. However, approximately half of the Jews living in the Vancouver metropolitan area are not affiliated.

While there are more than 24,000 rooms in Greater Vancouver, with more than 13,000 in the downtown core, they will be hard to come by when the games come to town.

Jodi Sprackman, director of community relations for the all-suite Rosedale on Robson Hotel (www.rosedaleonrobson.com) and the daughter of famous Canadian Jewish cookbook author Noreen Gilletz, notes that Olympic fever has already hit Vancouver.

The Rosedale on Robson is two blocks away from BC Place, the home of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics, and GM Place, where hockey and figure skating will take place. Noting its sponsorship of last year’s presentation of Hana’s Suitcase and the 2008 Chutzpah! Festival, the Rosedale on Robson booked the last of its 219 rooms in mid-July for the Olympic period.

“We are excited about what the Olympics will do for the city in terms of tourism after they are over,” she said.

Restaurants will also cash in.

Peter Horwood, CEO of the Jewish-owned Bridges Restaurant in trendy Granville Island, said, “We are looking forward to the challenge of 2010. Labour will be tight, prices will go ‘international,’ neighbours will complain about the noise and we plan to make lots of money.”

Daniel Frankel, the 34-year-old Jewish restaurateur who owns and operates half a dozen dining establishments, notes that his Mill Marine Bistro and Bar is right next to the convention centre, which will serve as a major Olympic headquarters. He is looking at the possibility of installing a large awning to increase his winter dining capacity.