With the municipality now in charge of programming at Celebration Plaza during the Olympics, the Vancouver Organizing Committee’s (VANOC) monetary contribution will likely decrease by $5 million, if not more.
According to Melissa Darou, senior communication officer for
the Resort Municipality of Whistler, those numbers are still under negotiations.
At one time, VANOC planned to foot half the bill of the $19.9
million party that will take place at six sites in Whistler, including
Celebration Plaza, during next year’s Olympics and Paralympics.
But in late December, the Olympic organizers decided to move
the nightly Olympic medal awards from Celebration Plaza to the sports venues.
The change is estimated to save VANOC $5 million.
VANOC will also no longer provide the infrastructure for the
plaza performances during the Olympic Games; but they will let the RMOW use
their Paralympic equipment for Olympic programming.
Darou stressed the organizing committee will also still spend
their promised $4.2 million to help the RMOW build Celebration Plaza, located
next to the Brewhouse in Whistler village.
During the Winter Games, the $13.6 million Celebration Plaza
will contain a large performance stage, seating for 2,000 people, and an
Olympic cauldron. Another 5,000 people will be able to stand in the square.
It will be the largest of six “celebration sites” located throughout Whistler Village. Together, the sites will showcase “hundreds” of performances by musicians, dancers and artists, as well as recognize Olympic athletes for their accomplishments.