Patriot Hearts (13 page)

I could scarcely believe what I was reading. I felt ill and incredibly angry at the same time. To be rebuked in such a public way was worse than a punch to the gut. I couldn’t help feeling that Dick was motivated to say these things because I hadn’t found a role for him during the presentation in Prague or because he felt I had avoided seeking his counsel throughout the bid phase. Either way, it was ugly and humiliating, and all I wanted to do was buy up every paper in the city so my family and friends didn’t have to read the story.

I knew the board was meeting that morning to ratify the decision. There was a possibility that the whole thing could still have gone sideways, especially in light of Dick’s rant. But I got a call just after noon asking me to come down to the office. Once there, I was told by Mike Phelps, in the presence of Jack, that I was the new
CEO
and a news conference was going to be held almost immediately to make the decision public. There was no discussion about a contract. I didn’t even know what the job paid.

The next thing I knew I was walking into a room full of reporters and television cameras being introduced as the
CEO
and being presented with a sign that said
“VANCOUVER 2010—EMPLOYEE NO. 1.”

It was difficult to be upbeat and euphoric, or for that matter even a good sport, given the events of the previous 24 hours, but I tried my best. At one point a reporter asked how much I would be getting paid, and I said I honestly didn’t know. At this point Mike said to everyone: “We already told them it’s $300,000 a year.” So I said, “Well, I guess there you have it.”

It wasn’t a classy way of dealing with the matter, but at this point I just wanted to move on, put the drama of the selection process behind me and start getting to work in earnest, with a new mandate.

I learned later that Dick was one of those on the board who had been holding out for the other candidate, as were France Chrétien Desmarais (the prime minister’s daughter) and Patrick Jarvis and possibly one other. I knew the fact I wasn’t bilingual bothered France and a few others a lot. My Gaelic did not count, I guess. And I couldn’t help feeling that there was some Central Canada bias at work. But I didn’t have time to obsess over what was done. As a result of the delay in selecting a
CEO
we had lost some ground.

Dick phoned the same day, referring to himself as Darth Vader, and left a message explaining what he had done and promising his support now that we had a decision. He said he hoped to one day eat his words. When we finally talked, I told Dick I accepted his story and said we needed to meet to clear the air. Within a week I was in his Montreal office letting him know what I thought of his attack. I told Dick what bothered me the most about it was the fact he really knew nothing about me and yet he had made assumptions about my character and ability. His suggestion that the premier had pushed for me was too much to take when I had always held the position that I would win the job on merit or not at all.

Around this time, I sat down with my family to explain what this assignment meant. It was going to require an enormous sacrifice for everyone: it would eat up massive volumes of time, and I was not going to be around much. It was going to be tough on my close relationships, no question. The highs and lows would surely be severe. Everyone was supportive and very encouraging. My children recognized that this was an assignment of a lifetime, that Dad was about to do something important for the country.

My proud mom, Maureen, and dad, Jack, on one of my quieter days.

Following Mom’s orders at Christmastime in Clonmel, Ireland.

Prime Minister Trudeau and me at the launch of the Northern
BC
Winter Games in Prince George, 1978.

The
VANOC
executive committee: (back left to right) John McLaughlin, Ken Bagshaw, Terry Wright, Dan Doyle, Cathy Priestner Allinger, David Guscott, me; (front) Ward Chapin, Donna Wilson, Dorothy Byrne, Dave Cobb.

Sumi making new friends. The official mascot of the Paralympics was beloved by children around the world.

Governor General Michaëlle Jean signs
VANOC
posters.

On the floor of the United Nations, reading into the record the 2010 Olympic Truce resolution calling on all warring nations to cease fighting during the Games.

Actress Maria Nafpliotou ignites our flame from sun rays in Olympia, Greece.

Carrying the Olympic flame from the field of the Panathenian Stadium in Athens, heading for Victoria.