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As CEO John Furlong was the leader behind the team that organized and delivered the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to positive reviews the world over. 

Helping to improve the fabric of Canadian society remains one of Furlong's steadfast personal goals. As Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Furlong believes the event can be a real nation builder. “All Canadians must feel these Games are theirs,” says Furlong. “This is not about a few of us but about all of us.”

Prior to his appointment at VANOC in 2004, Furlong was the President and Chief Operating Officer for the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation. He helped lead the organization through numerous phases. In his role, he became the Bid's international face and key spokesperson, tirelessly clocking more than 1.2 million miles in his travels to promote the Bid.

A long time member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, he has also served as chair of the BC Summer and Winter Games and Sport BC. He founded the Northern BC Winter Games Society, and served British Columbia at seven Canada Games and two Western Canada Games.

Furlong's service to sport has landed him with numerous community awards, among them the Darrel Thompson and Kaizan Awards for services to sport in British Columbia over a lifetime. He was voted Canada's Sport Executive of the Year for his contribution to the Vancouver 2010 Bid, and named Vancouver's Executive of the Year by the Vancouver Executive Association. He was acclaimed as the 2004 Canadian Sport Awards' Sport Leadership Winner for his service to sport in Canada over a lifetime. He has won Vancouver's most prestigious tourism award for the promotion of Vancouver around the world and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame as the 2004 W.A.C. Bennett Award winner.

A former Canadian squash champion, Furlong continues to play and work out when he can. When not consumed by Olympic Games business he enjoys good books, movies, live theatre, his daughter's soccer games and the Vancouver Canucks. Born in Tipperary, Ireland, Furlong is a resident of Richmond, BC. He has five children and six grandchildren.

Presentations Include:

The Vision That Changed A Nation
Many said it was a vision too far, urging him to set the goals at a more attainable level.
Furlong refused and through an exhaustive ten year journey went on to deliver, what have now been recognised by the IOC as, the most successful Winter Games ever.

John Furlong, has been described as a Sports Hero, Nation Builder and the Ultimate Crisis Manager. Known for his masterful storytelling and innovative leadership style, he continues to inspire, regaling audiences with the many remarkable and fascinating untold stories behind the Games.

The first CEO in Olympic history to have led from day one of the bid phase all the way through, the many trials and tribulations of hosting the Games, to the closing ceremonies, he was relentless in his pursuit to deliver a Games that would touch the hearts and minds of every Canadian.

Always a passionate ambassador for Canada, Furlong was honoured earlier this year to be awarded The Officer of The Order of Canada and The Order of British Columbia, for his exceptional leadership of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which changed our nation, galvanized Canadians from coast to coast to coast and showcased Canada to the world.

A father of five and grandfather of 11, Furlong is now an influential figure globally and through his role as the volunteer Chairman of the highly successful Own The Podium program, he continues to be a powerful advocate for amateur sport.

His new book,  Patriot Hearts – Inside the Olympics that changed a nation, will be launched February 12, 2011, the one year anniversary of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. 

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