When Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson heads to China next month for 10 days of meetings, he hopes to sign new business deals for green-related companies.

Those deals are part of a growing dividend the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics are paying in new business, new sports facilities and a new-found Canadian patriotism.

The long-term impacts of hosting the Olympics are not yet known. It takes most Olympic cities years to recognize the full benefit of holding the Games. Places like Albertville, Salt Lake City and Turin all are still developing the benefits of hosting the Winter Games.

But there is growing evidence that in the first six months after the Olympics, Vancouver and British Columbia have been accruing benefits faster than anticipated, in community facilities, jobs and business investment.