Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country

by Gary Mason, Gary Mason (Contributor)

A riveting insider's account of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and an extraordinary story of leadership, love of country and the ability to dream big.

When John Furlong and his family emigrated from Ireland in 1974, the customs officer greeted them with "Welcome to Canada. Make us better," an imperative that has defined Furlong's life ever since. A passionate athlete with a track record of community service, he was roped into acting as spokesperson for Vancouver's incipient Olympic bid movement back in 1996, and then spent the next fourteen years living and breathing the Olympics. Furlong and his organizing team, including some 25,000 volunteers, orchestrated a remarkable Winter Games. Patriot Hearts is the story of how they did it.

Early on Furlong realized the Olympics weren't about highways and buildings and tourism, they were about the athletes, and everyday Canadians who wanted to see their country shine on the world stage. He defined a vision for the games that would capture the hearts and minds of Canadians, and held to it with unwavering determination. Working with Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason, Furlong recounts the lead-up to the Games and describes how he handled seemingly insurmountable setbacks

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Canada, Memoir

352 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 2011

Reviews

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reliving some of the experiences of the 2010 Olympics, from the point of view of VANOC CEO John Furlong. The book allows us to share his excitement around the big "wins" and it tells us what he was thinking and how he acted around the "challenges" -- and there are more than a few. Ultimately, though, I think this book is a fantastic lesson in leadership from someone who is clearly an amazing leader. Most important lesson I gleaned - success is all based on the interpersonal --relationships matter.

[Kristín · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read. I worked for VANOC for two years so I knew some of the things he talks about in the book but really, only a fraction. I didn't know anything about the beginning and I knew amazingly little even about the things while I worked there. I guess we were all so focused on doing our bit as well as possible that we had no idea about what John and his team wen through. I just remember seeing John getting more and more tired and after having read the book, I'm not surprised. after the gold-medal-game in sledge hockey, me and a colleague were standing close to John when he was waiting to be called on the ice for the award ceremony. He looked at us and asked if we were sad it was all over and we said yes. His answer was short: "I'm not." I think he was exhausted. And not surprising he really had moved a mountain. What games these were! And the book really does a great job of telling us what it takes to put on a great show!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The work that goes into organizing an event like the Olympics is not unlike the training an athlete must go through to prepare for the Olympics. Very very good book.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this book to a bit of one-note piece of boosterism for the Vancouver Olympics but I found it to be a truly interesting account of the behind-the-scenes machinations required to both win an Olympic bid and then mount the complex event. While obviously a firm believer and proponent of the Olympic movement and benefits of international sport, Furlong provides a fairly balanced re-telling of the years-long process leading up to those memorable weeks in Vancouver. You can almost feel his attempt for balance as he describes his battles with politicians, media and IOC members to achieve his and his team's vision for the Vancouver Games. He does not hold back from naming names when someone truly crosses him but these instances are few and instead Furlong chooses to address the overall situations rather than individuals. What emerges is a portrait of a self-described introvert who is no less driven in his need to achieve his vision. He is lavish in his praise for the team who surrounded him and supported the daunting task of winning and mounting the games. He quite rightly heaps praise on the army of Blue Jacket volunteers and elequently describes his anguish on the Games' opening day with Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili is killed on the Whistler track. It was poignant to read how this obviously accomplished man truly struggled to speak accented French during the opening and closing ceremonies (one of the few personal goals to elude him). For anyone with a remote interest in what it takes to mount international events such as an Olympics and the toll it takes on those working on "the dream" this is en excellent read.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to experience the behind the scenes events surrounding Vancouver 2010. I was so interested to see how it all worked, from the birth of the idea down to the final execution. Furlong really does capture the greatness and how the Olympics drew us all together.

I will admit, being a political nut, I relished the parts about backroom deals and how countries tried to outbid one another, as well as some of the sneaky tactics that were found to pervade the scene. I was dazzled with all the travel, pitfalls, and even some of the glory that Furlong presents in his rendering of the story.

I felt the magic, the glow, and even the glory of the moment. Super congrats to John Furlong and the VANOC team. I loved reliving those most magical 17 days of my life. I will recommend this book to many in the hopes of reigniting their flames as well.

Kudos Mr. Furlong.

[Steve Goodyear · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Furlong shares his memoirs of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and how he saw a city and a nation come together and get behind these Games. As we approach the two-year anniversary of the greatest Winter Olympics of all time, it's nice to relive that special feeling brought during those couple of glorious weeks in my city that February, experiencing it now through John's eyes as he describes the perfect storm of all the things that had to go right and the committed effort by so many people to make the Games a world-class reality.

[Anny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this behind the scenes look at how the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games came to be. Remembering the games that changed the country through the eyes of its president was priceless. Many moments were so touching and brought tears to my eyes. A great great moment in Canadian history and one I will never forget.

[Erin Kippen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have been interested in more stories during the actual Olympics - there was a lot of advance work, but then very little during the Games other than the hockey fame. That said, it was a really interesting backstage look at what goes into getting and putting on the Olympics.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, especially having been a volunteer at the 2010 Olympics. It was really interesting to hear the behind the scenes of some of the controversies. John Furlong came across as a very classy man!

[Lisa Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it brought back all the memories of the Olympics which was such a special time.

[Theallains · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Lovestory with Olympics & Canadian spirit