Even before taking a leading role in bringing the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Vancouver and Whistler, John Furlong had a long track record of administrative sports success. Furlong served for four years as President of the Northern BC Winter Games Society, three years on the BC Games Society Board and ten years as a member of the Canadian Olympic Association Board. He was also a past chair of Sport BC, chair of the BC Summer and Winter Games and was a BC Mission Staff member at the Canada Games seven times.

In 2001 John took a leave from his position as CEO of the 7000-member Arbutus Club to become the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Corporation. As an integral part of the management team, Furlong oversaw the day-to-day operations of the bid and the production of the plan that convinced IOC members to award the Games to Vancouver–Whistler in Prague in July 2003. Furlong later served as the CEO of Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee (VANOC) overseeing millions of details in the Games’ successful organization and staging. His efforts helped produce the largest, most memorable, and most successful sporting event in British Columbia’s history that all Canadians will be proud of for generations.