IN CAMERA ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Report Date: June 9, 2014 Contact: Penny Ballem Contact No.: 604.873-7626 RTS No.: 10640 VanRIMS No.: 08-2000-21 Meeting Date: June 10, 2014 TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: City Manager and General Manager of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: FIFA 2015 – Women’s Soccer World Cup – Proposed Legacy for Women and Girls in Sport and Physical Activity in Vancouver RECOMMENDATION A. THAT Council approve the 5 initiatives outlined in the report which will constitute the initial phase of a Legacy Program related to our role as Host City for the FIFA 2015 Women’s Soccer World Cup. B. THAT Council appoint Andrea Neil as the official City FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup Ambassador. C. THAT funding for three of the five initiatives of the proposed Legacy Program be allocated as follows: i. $25,000 to BC Sports Hall of Fame/ProMotion Plus “In Her Footsteps” permanent display and the Women’s Soccer Celebratory Display in 2015 in celebration of our hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup – source of funding the City of Vancouver Innovation Fund; ii. $15,000 for the establishment of a “Global Coaching House Initiative” in partnership with ICCE for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, which will focus on increasing the number of women coaches in sport for women and girls – source of funding the City of Vancouver Innovation Fund; iii. $20,000 for the establishment of a fund for the implementation of the “Club Excellence Program” in Recreational Soccer Clubs and Leagues in Vancouver – source of funding the City of Vancouver Innovation Fund. FIFA 2015 – Women’s Soccer World Cup – Proposed Legacy for Women and Girls in 2 Sport and Physical Activity in Vancouver – RTS 10640 REPORT SUMMARY Vancouver is one of 6 host cities for the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup of Soccer, which will commence June 6, 2015, and end July 5, 2015. Other host cities include: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, and Moncton. Vancouver will host 9 international matches in total during the month, and this includes the tournament final game. Vancouver will also be the headquarters for the national delegations for all countries participating in the event. The FIFA 2015 World Cup event will receive media coverage which is more extensive than the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in 2010. More than 400 million people around the world will be watching the games and activities. This is a first report on the Legacy Program proposed for the City as a Host City for FIFA 2015. COUNCIL AUTHORITY/PREVIOUS DECISIONS In 2011, Council approved hosting of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup (WWC), including a $250,000 Sport Hosting Grant, and in November 2012, the Tripartite Host City Agreement was signed by the City, FIFA, and the Canadian Soccer Association. Other relevant Council policy: • Healthy City Strategy • Vancouver Sport Strategy • Vancouver commitment to Sport for Life • Vancouver Park Board Strategic Plan In 2012, the Park Board approved a motion to focus attention on the state of access for women and girls to public sport facilities in the city. This initiative will build on the commitment to this activity through the opportunity of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup. CITY MANAGER'S/GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS This report is the first report on the legacy commitment of the City of Vancouver in its role as Host City for FIFA 2015. This is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate both the involvement of girls and women in sport, an area where Vancouver has played a leadership role for many years, and as well to leverage other partners in enhancing soccer in our region and city through the hosting of specific activities related to the World Cup competition. REPORT Background/Context Over 98,000 youth participate in soccer in British Columbia on an annual basis, and approximately 41% of these are girls. In Vancouver, through Park Board facilities, over 100 soccer fields are maintained and utilized by the broad recreational and competitive soccer leagues in the city. FIFA 2015 – Women’s Soccer World Cup – Proposed Legacy for Women and Girls in 3 Sport and Physical Activity in Vancouver – RTS 10640 The hosting of FIFA 2015 WWC is a major opportunity for Canada and Vancouver to leverage the participation of women and particularly girls in sport, particularly soccer, as well as work to enhance the engagement of women as referees, coaches and leaders in the sport sector. In Germany in 2011, close to 850,000 spectators attended games across the 8 host cities involved in the Women’s World Cup, and international television coverage brought in a larger audience than the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Canada 2015™: “TO A GREATER GOAL” is the slogan of the Canadian Soccer Association’s FIFA 2015 program. Canada has a strong history of commitment to women and girls in physical activity and sport. Nationally, through the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Girls in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), and provincially, through the longstanding work of ProMotion Plus, Canada, British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver have had a strong commitment to engaging women and girls in sport. The Women’s World Cup in soccer presents our City with a remarkable opportunity to celebrate our National Women’s Soccer Team, welcome and support other women athletes from countries around the world, as well as continue to build our commitment to the participation of girls and women in physical activity and sport and as coaches and officials in sport. To date, the City has approved a Sport Hosting Grant in support of the event and assigned staff to work with the local organizing committee and assist with the coordination of host-city obligations. Strategic Analysis There are 5 components under 2 key themes in the Legacy Program being proposed: 1. Celebration of local women heroes in sport: i. Appointment by Council of an official City FIFA Women’s World Cup Ambassador: The large number of girls participating in soccer in our city is a reflection of the accessibility of the sport for children and youth from all parts of our City. There are a number of local heroes who will be playing on the Canadian Women’s Team during the Tournament, all of whom will be very busy training in the run up to the Tournament. However, in our City we have in our midst one of the most decorated soccer players Canada has ever produced. Andrea Neil is currently in her first season as the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). A UBC graduate and former Thunderbirds standout player, Neil made 132 career appearances in a Canadian jersey and represented her country at four World Cups (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007). She retired from international competition in 2007 and since then she has FIFA 2015 – Women’s Soccer World Cup – Proposed Legacy for Women and Girls in 4 Sport and Physical Activity in Vancouver – RTS 10640 been busy coaching, has achieved her UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) 'A' professional coaching license, and has worked as an assistant coach for the Canadian Women's Senior and U20 national teams up to 2011. Andrea is a Vancouver native and played at UBC from 1989-1995 where she led the Thunderbirds to a CIAU National Championship in 1994. She was named the Marilyn Pomfret Award winner in 1993 as UBC's top female athlete and graduated with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 1996. As well as being a member of the Canadian Women's National Team from 1990- 2007, she also played six seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps Women's FC (2001- 2006), leading the club to two W-League Championships in 2004 and 2006. Andrea began her coaching career as an assistant under Dick Mosher at UBC from 1997-1999. From there she went on to work as the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girl's Elite Youth Program (2004-06), an assistant coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps Women's FC (2004-06), and as an assistant coach for the Canadian Women's Senior National Team and U20 National Team (2009-2011). Following her playing career, Andrea Neil has been inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame (2009), the Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2011), the BC Sports Hall of Fame (2012), and the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame (2012). Staff recommend that Council appoint Andrea Neil as the official City’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Ambassador. If approved by Council, senior staff will work with Andrea on a program designed to highlight the participation of girls and women in soccer and coaching, involve other leaders in this area as well as raise awareness of the FIFA 2015 competition. ii. Grant $25,000 to BC Sports Hall of Fame and ProMotion Plus to leverage an equal grant from ViaSport for the establishment of: a permanent display in the BC Sports Hall of Fame for the “In Her Footsteps” exhibit and a temporary celebratory Women in Soccer display in the run-up to and during the time of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup. In Her Footsteps is an annual recognition program organized by ProMotion Plus, the provincial organization with the mandate for the promotion of girls and women in sport and physical activity. The event honors women athletes, coaches, officials, judges, pioneers, or advocates who have made significant contributions to girls and women in sport and physical activity. These women have created opportunities for participation in sport and recreation in British Columbia, inspiring others through their own achievement, passion and dedication.