Acknowledgements I am thankful to my thesis supervisor, JoAnn Carmin, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning, MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, who guided my research from the initial stage of formulating my problem question, through multiple chapter drafts and rewrites, through thesis defense to the final product you are reading now. She helped me construct and frame my argument, sharpen my key messages and hone in and build on the most important findings from my case study. I appreciate the balance of criticism and encouragement I found in JoAnn as my thesis advisor. It helped me continuously perfect my work. I owe my gratitude to my thesis reader, Lawrence Susskind, Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning, MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, for putting me in touch with experts in Vancouver and practitioners in previous Olympic host cities, being very supportive of and interested in my thesis topic, offering a fresh perspective on my arguments, and providing me with guidance on how to better focus my conclusions and target my policy advice. I would like to thank Judith Grant Long, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, for providing me with useful comments on my research and advice on the literature, and connecting me with other researches in the Olympic studies field. This thesis would not have been possible without the input from my interviewees in Vancouver: Rachel Moscovich, Scot Hein, Am Johal, Lon Laclaire, Robert VanWynsberghe, Ann Duffy, Judy Rogers, Linda Coady, Jim Godfrey, Sharon Fugman, Donna Wilson, Celine Mauboules, Karis Hiebert, Carli Edwards, Daniel Naundorf, Hugo Haley, Robin Petri, Bruce Dewar, Tom Laviolette, Linda Mix, Geoff Meggs, and Jay Wollenberg. I am immensely grateful for their time, attention, responsiveness, interest in my research, and willingness to share their ideas, experience and perspectives. I am indebted to the McEwen family for putting me in touch with a few of my interviewees, and, most importantly, for hosting me and making my time in Vancouver very special and memorable. Finally, I am deeply thankful to my Mom, Granny and Masoud for supporting me and being patient in difficult times.
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