Too few non-whites at Olympics opening ceremony; more at closing, VANOC hints.
VANOC CEO John Furlong is hinting Canada’s racial diversity may bebetter represented in the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics aftercriticism that ethnic minorities were mostly missing from the opening.
With its large South Asian and Chinese communities, Metro Vancouveris one of Canada’s most diverse regions. Forty-one per cent ofresidents are part of visible minorities. But none of that diversityappeared in the big show that opened the 2010 Winter Games on Feb 12,critics say.
Canadian-born Sukhi Sandhu wrote a letter to Furlong, saying Olympicorganizers missed an opportunity during the final torch-lightingceremony “to represent our nation’s diversity.”
Sandhu said he and his family are proud Canadians and excited toattend events at the Games, but he was disappointed visible minoritieswere excluded from key roles during the opening ceremony.
Sandhu said he and his family are proud Canadians and excited to attendevents at the Games, but he was disappointed visible minorities wereexcluded from key roles during the opening ceremony.