Homestay Privacy Policy

1.       Purpose of Privacy Policy.  This Privacy Policy explains how VANOC collects, uses and discloses applicants’ / Hosts’ personal information that is collected during the application process, including any on-line application process through www.vancouver2010.com or any other website (the “Website”), and otherwise for the purposes of the Program. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to make applicants / Hosts aware of how VANOC protects the privacy and confidentiality of their personal information and to describe the circumstances under which VANOC will collect and use their personal information.

2.       What is personal information?  Personal information is information about an identifiable individual, not including business contact information which is information that, for example, would allow an individual to be contacted at their place of business, or work product information. Personal information includes such details as your name, date of birth, personal e-mail address, credit card information and other financial information about you.

3.       What are the purposes for collection, use and disclosure of personal information?  VANOC will collect, use and disclose your personal information with your knowledge and consent and only for purposes that VANOC has identified prior to or at the time VANOC collects the information. Some of the purposes for which VANOC may collect, use and disclose your personal information are:

a.       to process your Host Application Form

b.       to facilitate matching applicant Guests with applicant Hosts, including disclosure of your personal information to applicant Guests if VANOC considers it necessary to facilitate such matching process

c.        to police forces or security agencies for the purposes of conducting Searches

d.       to facilitate communication with you

e.       to process any of your requests for information

f.         to advise you of changes to the Program

VANOC will not sell, trade, lend or otherwise voluntarily disclose to any third parties any personal information you have provided to VANOC for any purpose not identified under this Privacy Policy, provided that VANOC may share this information with the COC, the CPC, the IOC and/or the IPC after the Games when VANOC is obligated to wind up its affairs. VANOC may share your personal information with third parties to assist VANOC in administering activities of the Program, such as: for Program administration and maintenance purposes; to professional advisors; or otherwise for legitimate and reasonable purposes for which VANOC has obtained your prior consent. In certain circumstances, VANOC may disclose your personal information to a government institution that has asserted its lawful authority to obtain the information, or where VANOC has reasonable grounds to believe the information could be used in the investigation of an unlawful activity, or to comply with a subpoena or warrant or an order made by a court, person or body with jurisdiction to compel production of information or to comply with court rules regarding a production of records and information, or to VANOC’s own legal counsel.  When you provide VANOC with your personal information, such as in completing this Host Application Form, you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for these purposes in accordance with the principles that are outlined in this Privacy Policy. If you have given VANOC your consent, you may, at any time, withdraw your consent upon giving VANOC reasonable notice.

4.       Use of technology on the Program’s Website.  The Website uses cookie technology to make your use of the Website more convenient. A cookie is a text file which enables the Website to store any information about your activities on the Website or the length of your stay. Personal information about your visits to the Website is used on an aggregate basis, which means it is used for statistical purposes to assist VANOC in enhancing your online experience, or to evaluate the materials that VANOC may carry on the Website. VANOC will also use the cookies to monitor polling results. The cookies will monitor results to discourage voting twice in one poll. This will give VANOC the ability to properly count activity reports and polling results.  In addition, the cookie will store your e-mail address, which is your unique identifier, so that on return visits the Website will be able to match you to your identity in the database. This is an opt-in feature which will only be made operational if you choose to do so.  If you choose to disable cookies associated with the Website, this may affect your use of the Website and your ability to access certain features of the Website.

5.       E-mail list.  The Website may allow you to provide VANOC with your e-mail address in order that VANOC may send you information and updates about VANOC, the Games or other matters relating to the Program. In order to administer its e-mail list, VANOC will collect your name, e-mail address, geographic location and language of preference for communication.

6.       How does VANOC protect your personal information?  Through the Website, VANOC endeavours to maintain appropriate procedural and technological measures and storage facilities to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal information. VANOC exercises care in the secure transmission of your information, however, no transmission of information over the internet is 100 per cent secure. VANOC cannot guarantee that information disclosed through the internet cannot be intercepted by third parties. However, VANOC is taking the steps that are reasonably available to it to protect any personal information that is provided through the Website, including in its disposal or destruction.

7.       Contacting VANOC about your privacy.  You may request access to your personal information and information about VANOC’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by contacting VANOC at info@vancouver2010.com. VANOC attempts to keep records as accurate and complete as possible. You can help VANOC maintain the accuracy of your information by notifying VANOC of any changes to your personal information. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you may contact VANOC's privacy officer at the following address: privacy_officer@vancouver2010.com