Vancouver 2010's approach to bilingualism is set out in documents released under federal freedom-of-information legislation to The Globe and Mail.

The newspaper claims that Vancouver 2010 had told Federal officials that the policy of English-only manuals and handbooks would be consistent with policies of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which does not require bilingual documentation.

The revelation about a lack of funding for bilingual manuals and handbooks comes amid a furor sparked by the amount of Francophone content in the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies in Vancouver last Friday (February 12).

Vancouver 2010 chief executive officer John Furlong spoke almost entirely in English, but the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, spoke roughly half in French and half in English.

Two Quebec producers were involved in staging the ceremonies and three Quebeckers were among those carrying the Olympic flag.

Quebec singer Garou, who uses only one name, performed in French.

The Paralympics will be held from March 12 to March 21, mostly in Whistler.

The decision to abandon bilingualism was described in a briefing note dated July 20 for David Robinson, director-general of the 2010 Federal secretariat, and in a response to an analysis of the official languages budget for the Olympics and Paralymics, dated August13, the newspaper reported.

The documents also identify additional areas where Vancouver 2010 turned its back on bilingualism, including real-time results on the scoreboard for both the Olympics and Paralympics and the start lists results, statistics and standings which displayed in English only.

Signing for hearing impaired was to be provided only for the opening and closing ceremonies.

No budget was provided at all for French sign language.