VANCOUVER — Over a decade after the 2010 Winter Olympics ignited fierce protests and debates about the role of mega-events in the city, Vancouver has shown a marked shift in its reception of global sports competitions. As the city hosts key matches of the FIFA World Cup, the streets around BC Place are bustling with excitement, a stark contrast to the discontent seen during the Olympics.

In 2010, protesters vehemently opposed the Olympics, citing concerns over gentrification, corporate greed, and the erosion of civil liberties. Activists like Am Johal, who led the Impact on Communities Coalition, fought hard to make the games socially sustainable. Fast forward to today, and Johal, walking through the Downtown Eastside — once a hotbed of Olympic resistance — remarks on the changed atmosphere, albeit with a critical eye on the financial implications of hosting another major event.

Canada’s federal and local governments are spending over $1 billion to host the World Cup matches in Vancouver and Toronto. Despite these expenditures, public opinion remains skeptical about the justification of such high costs, with more than 70% of voters in both cities deeming it not worth the public expense according to a poll by Angus Reid.

The transformation in public sentiment towards mega-events isn’t just happening in Vancouver. Lessons learned from the city’s Olympic resistance have influenced other global cities to reconsider or withdraw their bids for similar events. Notable examples include Boston and European cities like Hamburg and Budapest, where civic opposition led to the withdrawal of Olympic bids.

Despite this legacy of resistance, the current mood in Vancouver is noticeably different. The World Cup has not attracted the same level of protest, possibly due to its more diffuse nature, spreading the event over more than five weeks and across 16 cities in three countries. Moreover, the presence of legal observers and new policing technologies indicates a quieter, yet vigilant control over the proceedings.

Interestingly, David Eby, once a prominent voice against the Olympics, now finds himself as British Columbia’s premier, entertaining sports executives and celebrating the World Cup from a luxury box — a full-circle moment reflecting the city’s evolving relationship with global sports events.

As Vancouver continues to navigate its identity as a host city, the narrative has shifted from outright opposition to cautious embrace, highlighting the complex dynamics between local interests and global spectacle.