SafeGames

In an effort to enhance the experiences of the hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents expected in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Games, we are delighted to announce SafeGames 2010 - an innovative public health and advocacy campaign that goes well beyond traditional efforts. A community wide-collaboration, SafeGames 2010 is partnership of non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, and government agencies. Scheduled to run concurrently with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, this original project will make use of the specialized skills of our coalition partners to educate and inform our target audience in public health’s best practices.

The project’s goals are two-fold:

1) The project will use a wide array of outreach and advocacy strategies in assisting visitors and the residents of British Columbia, to celebrate safely and responsibly during the Olympic festivities.

2) The project aims to benefit community providers and policy makers by raising international awareness of Vancouver’s myriad achievements in harm reduction and drug policy reform, and its role as a global leader in public health innovation. Safegames 2010 strategies include outreach, media advocacy, a speaker series, a film and video series, website, and varied promotional mechanisms.

Target Audience

(i) 350,000 visitors, 5,500 Olympic athletes and officials; (ii) 200,000 or more local residents expected to participate in free, cultural and educational activities (e.g. Outdoor music, dance, and theater events); and (iii), 4,000 members of national and international press in Vancouver to cover the official Winter Olympic Games.

SafeGames 2010 Objectives

•     Increase public knowledge of, and access to, Vancouver’s network of community health and social service resources, including GLBT, reproductive health, harm reduction, HIV, STI, self-help, law enforcement, transportation, help-lines, legal aid, etc.
•     Increase public knowledge of behaviors that may carry risks, e.g. unprotected sex, and alcohol and illicit drug use
•     Increase strategies in reducing behavior risks, e.g. condoms, lubricant, sterile syringe access, multi-lingual printed resource materials, and referral
•     Increase public knowledge and awareness regarding the Vancouver’s successful integration of public health partnerships, e.g. The Four Pillars Approach
•     Increase international knowledge and awareness regarding Vancouver’s innovation in drug policy reform and harm reduction
•     Promote some of the drug policy reform and harm reduction activates occurring outside of Canada
•     Distribution of 250,000 condoms; 100,000 informational cards

Strategy: SafeGames includes outreach, media advocacy, a SafeGames event series, a SafeGames film series, website, and other promotional mechanisms.

Outreach: SafeGames will recruit and train volunteers from the staff of consortium member agencies as outreach workers. The SafeGames’ Outreach Team will provide information, referrals, and incentives, including SafeGames' packets.  Outreach Team members will wear distinctive SafeGames’ jackets for easy recognition.

Site outreach will take place in or adjacent to vendor tents, clubs, bars, hotels, and special events.


Website: www.safegames2010.com will launch in late 2009. The website will:

•     Provide fresh and original content on all aspects of SafeGames
•     Provide SafeGames event information and news
•     Serve as a portal to SafeGames consortium member sites
•     Provide quick links to sponsors, resources and other events
•     Provide harm reduction strategies and resources
•     Provide information on drug policy reform

SafeGames 2010 Event Series: SafeGames partners will host a series of events linked to the SafeGames’ vision. A schedule of events will be announced in early 2010.

SafeGames 2010 Film Series: SafeGames partners will screen films a linked to the SafeGames’ vision throughout the project, including perspectives on harm reduction, drug use, education, minorities, poverty, organized crime and human rights.

Keeping the Door Open Society (KDO) is the organization responsible for overall implementation of SafeGames 2010, providing administrative, logistical, strategic, and fiscal oversight and leadership. SafeGames 2010 is a multi-stakeholder coalition of partners comprised of individuals and organizations representing a diverse range of groups including: institutional and community-based service providers, health authorities, research centres, charitable foundations, public policy makers, people who use drugs, their families and friends, and advocates and business.

KDO will reach far outside it current membership to expand the diversity, coverage and effectives of SafeGames. This type of collaboration will help us reach our goals in myriad ways, as it allows us access to one another’s skills, experience, and expertise.