John Furlong (sports administrator)

John Furlong
OC, OBC, LLD (hc), D.Tech (hc)
Chief executive officer of Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
In office
February 21, 2004[1] – December 31, 2010
Leader Jacques Rogge
Preceded by Valentino Castellani
Succeeded by Dmitry Chernyshenko
Personal details
Born (1950-10-12) October 12, 1950
Tipperary, Ireland
Nationality Irish Canadian
Spouse(s) Margaret Cook (m. 1970–76)
Dayle Turner (1978–82)
Gail Robb (m. 1984–2011)
Deborah Sharp (m. 2012–her death 2013)
Renee Smith-Valade (2014)
Residence Vancouver
Occupation Sports administrator
Religion Roman Catholic
Website johnfurlong.ca

John Furlong, OC,[2] OBC[3] (born October 12, 1950)[4] is the executive chair of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He was the president and CEO of VANOC, which oversaw the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics Games. He chaired the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation (2001–04), was president of Arbutus Club, was a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, and chaired BC Summer Games, BC Winter Games, and Sport B.C.[3]

Olympic and Paralympic Games

As president and CEO of the Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Furlong was responsible for preparing and marketing the events. Furlong credits Pat Hickey (now suspended International Olympic Committee director general) for helping VANOC focus its planning.[5][6]

Hours before the formal opening of the Olympic Games, Furlong managed the crisis regarding the controversial death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili on the Olympic luge track.[7][8][9] Furlong, Pat Hickey, and an IOC delegation attended the funeral in Georgia.[10]

In July 2016, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced that Furlong will chair the Special Committee for Home Games (SCHG) to assist Calgary if it decides to bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics.[11]

Abuse allegations

On September 26, 2012, the Georgia Straight newspaper published an article reporting that Furlong physically and mentally abused children while he was a physical education teacher at Immaculata Catholic School in Burns Lake.[12] The article, by journalist Laura Robinson, claimed support from over 45 statements, including eight affidavits from former students.[12]

Furlong denied the allegations.[13]

In her response to John Furlong's defamation action, Robinson added new abuse allegations including physical and emotional abuse of his first wife and sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse of his second (common-law) wife.[14] Furlong dropped his legal action against Robinson in March 2015.[15]

In 2013 civil actions, three former students alleged that Furlong abused them sexually, physically, and verbally.[16][17] These accusers were not part of Robinson's Georgia Straight story.

Abuse allegations against Furlong have not been tested in court.[18]

Assembly of First Nations 2016 resolution

In July 2016, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) passed a resolution to pressure the federal government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to formally investigate multiple abuse allegations made against John Furlong.[19][20]

Furlong versus Robinson and the Georgia Straight

In November 2012, Furlong filed defamation suits against the Georgia Straight newspaper and Laura Robinson.[21] In October 2013, Furlong dropped his suit against Georgia Straight.[22]

In her response to Furlong's statement of claim, Robinson included further abuse allegations.[14] In March 2015, Furlong dropped his suit against Robinson.[23]

Georgia Straight and Robinson were awarded legal costs.[24] Robinson's article remains unaltered on the Georgia Straight newspaper's website.[25]

Three former students versus Furlong

In 2013, three former students filed civil lawsuits against Furlong, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Roman Catholic Prince George Diocese, and the Catholic Independent Schools Diocese of Prince George.[17] These allegations were not part of Robinson's Georgia Straight story.

Two cases collapsed[26][27] and the third complaint was withdrawn.[28]

Furlong's lawyers alleged that litigant Daniel Morice did not attend Immaculata at the time of the alleged abuse. However, in 2015, published exhibits from Robinson versus Furlong demonstrated that Daniel (Danny) Morice had attended Immaculata during Furlong's tenure.[29]

Robinson versus Furlong

On January 28, 2014, Robinson filed a defamation suit against Furlong and TwentyTen Group in BC Supreme Court.[30] The trial took place in June 2015. In her September 2015 decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge dismissed Robinson's defamation claim citing Furlong's qualified privilege to make statements "that might otherwise meet the legal definition of defamation."[31]

Among a number of errors that have been identified in her ruling, Justice Wedge accepted that Daniel Morice did not attend Immaculata during Furlong's tenure. Exhibits at trial and a classmate's sworn affidavit demonstrated that Morice was a Grade 3 student at Immaculata during Furlong's 1969–70 tenure.[29][32]

Furlong's accusers, whose statements were excluded from the trial,[33] filed a complaint on January 8, 2016 with the Canadian Judicial Council identifying examples of incorrect information in the written decision.[34][35]

Biographical inconsistencies

Furlong recounts his experience up to and throughout the 2010 Games in Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country. Co-authored by journalist Gary Mason, this autobiography describes how Furlong led the Games including difficulties such as the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, a global recession, and the washed out snow at Cypress Bowl.

A number of inconsistencies in Patriot Hearts as well as his professional biographies have emerged.[36]

Arrival to Canada

In Patriot Hearts, Furlong claims he arrived in Canada in 1974.[37][38] In fact, Furlong arrived in Canada in 1969 as a Frontier Apostle missionary, living in Burns Lake and Prince George, British Columbia until 1972.[39] During these years, he married his first wife and they began their family.[40][41] Furlong has stated that his time in Burns Lake was "fairly brief and fairly uneventful."[42]

Athletic claims

Furlong's professional biographies claim Furlong was the 1986 Canadian Squash Champion.[43][38] In fact, Jamie Hickox was the 1986 Champion. Furlong was an age group winner.[44] Furlong's claims that he participated in international level basketball, Gaelic football for Dublin, and European Handball appear only in Furlong's own biographical information.[45][6] Ireland did not qualify a basketball team for international competition until 2001.[46]

Response from Gary Mason

In response to the Georgia Straight revelations of inconsistencies and alleged abuse, Gary Mason, Furlong's Patriot Hearts co-author stated, "I have been asked if John Furlong ever mentioned working in Burns Lake for several years before 1974 during the course of our interviews for Patriot Hearts. I can say he did not. As for the rest of the allegations in a Georgia Straight article about John, I have no knowledge and can't speak to them. Patriot Hearts was John Furlong's Olympic memoir. Any questions about it arising from the article written by Laura Robinson are best directed to John."[47]

Personal life

John Furlong was schooled at St. Vincent's C.B.S., Glasnevin, Dublin.[48]

In 1970, Furlong married Margaret Cook in Burns Lake British Columbia, Canada.[49] Furlong and Cook are parents to four grown children.[50]

Furlong lived with Dayle "Dee" Turner in a three-year common law marriage from the late 1970s. Turner has stated that Furlong physically and sexually abused her.[51]

Furlong and third wife, Gail Robb, married in 1984, had one child, and divorced in 2011.[49]

Furlong and Deborah Sharp were married from 2012 until her death in 2013.[52]

In late 2013 Furlong and Renee Smith-Valade became romantic partners.[53] The couple have shared a home since early 2014.[54]

Awards

Ribbon of the Order of British Columbia
SkyTrain car 308 designated In the Olympic Spirit of John Furlong

Published works

References

  1. ↑ CBC Sports (February 21, 2004). "Furlong chosen CEO of Vancouver 2010". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Order of Canada Citation". Gg.ca. May 6, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 orderbceditor (January 15, 2009). "Order of BC Citation". Orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  4. ↑ "CANOE - Canadian Online Explorer - Canada's news, sports, entertainment, finance and lifestyle site". Blogs.canoe.ca. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Whistler stop at end of the ride". Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Furlong, John (2011). Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics that Changed a Country. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre / D&M Publishers Inc. ISBN 978-1-55365-794-1.
  7. ↑ Cole, Cam (February 12, 2015). "Five years on, Vancouver Games' tragedy still haunts Olympic organizer". The Financial Post. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ Mackin, Bob (January 10, 2014). "Luge tragedy remains the darkest legacy of 2010". Metro News. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Excerpts from 'Patriot Hearts' by John Furlong". National Post. February 8, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ "LUGE Fallen athlete from Georgia memorialized". Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Calgary to get some help to mount bid for 2026 Olympic Winter Games". July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Furlong Goes on Offensive". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Keller, James (January 22, 2013). "Reporter adds to allegations against ex-Olympics head John Furlong". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Furlong drops defamation suit, but journalist will pursue counterclaim". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  16. ↑ "John Furlong's former students file lawsuit against ex-VANOC CEO". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  17. 1 2 "John Furlong, former VANOC CEO, faces 3rd sex abuse lawsuit - British Columbia - CBC News". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ "'I forgive all of it' says John Furlong in first major speech on abuse allegations". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  19. ↑ "Assembly of First Nations 2016 Annual General Assembly, Niagara Falls, ON Final Resolutions Resolution 34/2016: Responsibility to Investigate Allegations of Abuse brought against Mr. John Furlong" (PDF). 2016.
  20. ↑ 2016, Jenny Uechi in News | July 18th (2016-07-18). "First Nations motion calling for federal probe puts Furlong on defensive". National Observer. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  21. ↑ "John Furlong Sex Abuse Claim Questioned After Court Documents Revealed". December 30, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Furlong drops suit against Georgia Straight for story accusing him of abusing students | J-Source". www.j-source.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  23. ↑ "John Furlong drops defamation lawsuit against Georgia Straight contributor Laura Robinson". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  24. ↑ "Furlong drops defamation suit, but journalist will pursue counterclaim". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  25. ↑ "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ "John Furlong Lawsuit Dropped, Accuser Fails To Appear in Court". The Huffington Post.
  27. ↑ "John Furlong lawsuit dropped after complainant fails to appear in court". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 31, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Lawsuits against former Vancouver Olympic CEO Furlong in doubt". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  29. 1 2 "COLOUR BLIND: The Truth you still don't know about Reconciliation". National Observer. December 15, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Reporter sues John Furlong for defamation in latest legal back-and-forth". CTVNews. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  31. ↑ "John Furlong wins court battle against journalist". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  32. ↑ ""I Remember John Furlong" - CANADALAND". November 25, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  33. ↑ "COLOUR BLIND: The Truth you still don't know about Reconciliation". National Observer. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Letter to Canadian Judicial Council regarding Justice Wedge's dismissal of Furlong case". Scribd. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Former Furlong students file complaint against B.C. Supreme Court judge". National Observer. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Ex-VANOC head John Furlong met his first wife at Burns Lake". Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Patriot Hearts - D&M Publishers". Dmpibooks.com. February 12, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  38. 1 2 Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country Archived November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  39. ↑ "Prince George Digitization | PG Newspapers". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  40. ↑ "John Furlong biography omits secret past in Burns Lake | Vancouver, Canada". Straight.com. September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Vancouver Olympics CEO 'categorically' denies abuse allegations". Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Ex-VANOC head John Furlong met his first wife at Burns Lake". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  43. ↑ "News for John Furlong - Public Speaker, author, and leader". johnfurlong.ca. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Squash Canada Historical Records: Canadian Squash Championships – Men's Champions" (PDF). Squash Canada. Squash Canada. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  45. ↑ "News for John Furlong - Public Speaker, author, and leader". johnfurlong.ca. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Basketball Ireland". basketballireland.ie. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  47. ↑ Mackin, Bob (September 27, 2012). "Furlong's co-author Mason says he was told nothing about Burns Lake | The Hook". The Tyee. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  48. ↑ Selley, Chris (October 2, 2012). "Chris Selley on the John Furlong affair: How to ruin a reputation". National Post. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  49. 1 2 "Vancouver Olympics CEO 'categorically' denies abuse allegations". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Furlong's children, former wives offer support". British Columbia. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  51. ↑ "John Furlong breaks his silence - Macleans.ca". Maclean's. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Ex-Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong's wife killed in Ireland car accident". National Post. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  53. ↑ "John Furlong's girlfriend testifies in his defence on eighth day of defamation trial". Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Two years later, Furlong legal battle quietly drags on". BobMackin.ca. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Governor General announces 74 new appointments to the Order of Canada". Gg.ca. June 30, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  56. ↑ COS Admin (January 15, 2009). "2010 Recipient: John Furlong – Vancouver". Orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  57. ↑ John Huet (March 1, 2010). "Thank You And Merci Vancouver!". IOC. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  58. ↑ "The Paralympic Order". Paralympic.org. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  59. ↑ "UBC honorary degree citation". Graduation.ubc.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  60. ↑ BCIT Convocation 2010 Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  61. ↑ JIBC News Release Archived December 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  62. 1 2 Nick Rockel. "John Furlong welcomed the world to Vancouver". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  63. ↑ "Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2010 Citation". Canadianimmigrant.ca. November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  64. ↑ "BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Citation". Bcsportshalloffame.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  65. ↑ "John Furlong is Canada's Nation Builder of 2010". Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  66. ↑ "VANOC'S JOHN FURLONG CANADA'S MARKETER OF THE YEAR". newswire.ca. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  67. ↑ "Translink news release, John Furlong, Olympic Spirit honoured on SkyTrain car". Translink.ca. May 11, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
Preceded by
Italy Valentino Castellani		 President of Organizing Committee for Winter Olympic Games
2010 		Succeeded by
Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.