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2010 Winter Games Bid Corporation releases mini bid book

Public pressure to get the details outweighs competitive edge Vancouver has released its mini bid book for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Public pressure to get the details outweighs competitive edge

Vancouver has released its mini bid book for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

"Releasing the bid book is going to put in front of British Columbians the facts," said the minister responsible for the 2010 Games Ted Nebbeling.

"I think that is what the public wants and I think once they know the facts, I think there is even more excitement to be had."

Until now applicant cities traditionally kept their mini bid books secret for as long as possible.

But last month Bern decided to put its mini bid book on the Web. This caused an almost domino—like effect amongst the seven other cities bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Now the only two cities which have not released their mini bid books are Harbin, China, and Sarajevo, Bosnia.

Bern, Salzburg, Pyeongchang, Andorra la Vella and Jaca have all released their mini bid books.

"I think once Salzburg released theirs, and we do see them as our strongest competitor, there was really no reason not to put it on the table," said Nebbeling, who was in Whistler this week to unveil one of the countdown clocks the bid will use to mark the hours until the International Olympic Committee announces next July 2 the host city of the 2010 Games.

"I think it will really help us to clarify what the bid contains and how we think it will develop and I think that will help because up until now the media had to guess and that is not a healthy situation.

"Once the bid book is out there I think we will get a really good reaction because it really lays out how the costs are done and where and when and that I think will lead to getting even more supporters than we have had up until now."

Troy Assaly, co-founder of an information Web site on the 2010 Games bid welcomed the news. (www.whistlerolympicinfo.com)

"I think it is about time," he said.

"I’m glad they did this. By not doing it, it appeared as if they had something to hide."

Linda Mix of the Tenants’ Rights Coalition in Vancouver hopes the transparency displayed by this decision continues as the process goes forward.

"Lets hope at the next stage we are able to work with the bid to try and get some sustainable opportunities for tenants and protections for renters," she said.

"I think they have probably learned through all the criticism in the media and by the public that they do need to start talking with the community and have them there in a meaningful way.

"If we do get the Games then let’s make it the best Games we can and one way to do that is by dialoguing with the people who are affected."

The mini bid books are answers to a questionnaire each applicant city had to hand in to the IOC by May 31. The questionnaire poses 22 questions covering themes such as motivation, finances, and venues.

Vancouver’s mini bid book, a 44 page submission in English and French, outlines the bid corporation’s overall plan including comments on the upgrade of the Sea to Sky highway, security, and venue choices.

The simple white cover, with a cutout red maple leaf, belies the complexity of the plan needed to host such a hall mark event.

The bid corporation’s dream is based on years of research by 30 working groups, over 500 consultation meetings with interested groups, scores of meetings with government officials and public consultation.

Most of the information contained in the mini bid book has already been made public by the bid, although cost figures for various sport venues have been updated.

For example the cost of renovating GM Place, the primary location for hockey, is expected to be $9,461,200. Construction would start in 2008 and finish a year later.

The upgrades to Cypress Mountain and Whistler Mountain are each expected to cost another $9.4 million. Improvements for Alpine technical events on Blackcomb are expected to cost $4,730,600. All the skiing improvements will start in 2005 and are expected to be finished in 2007.

The federal and provincial governments have already committed to paying for capital costs up to $620 million.

The provincial government has also committed to upgrading the Sea to Sky highway and will announce a final plan by the fall. It is expected to cost between $640 million and $1 billion.

According to the mini bid book the Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympics are expected to generate $565,730,000 in revenue from ticket sales, licensed merchandise, corporate sponsorship and other sources.

This does not include revenue from the IOC, television rights, or other large international sponsors.

Bid spokesman Sam Corea said there are several strong items in the mini bid book, but cautioned that it is a snapshot of the information available in April and some things are likely to be updated.

"This is a living document," he said.

But some of the strongest assets are unlikely to alter. The fact that athletes will be able to walk from a seaside False Creek Village in Vancouver to the covered BC Place stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, cultural events and the medal presentations is impressive.

The legacy of a dedicated curling rink will sit well with international sport federations.

The LegaciesNow program, which will give $5 million to promote and encourage young athletes, also fits with the IOC’s beliefs.

And there is plenty of accommodation — 30,000 rooms in the Lower Mainland and 5,800 in Whistler. Thousands more rooms are expected to be available by 2010.

Another key component is the bid corp’s security plan which has one lead agency, the RCMP, and a centralized command centre at Vancouver’s ECOMM.

The protection of the environment and the use of use of green energy wherever possible also feature prominently in the bid.

The Games would be held in Vancouver and Whistler from Feb. 5 through Feb. 21 of 2010. The Paralympic Games would run from March 5 to March 14.

The weather is good at this time of year for the Alpine events, said Corea.

And even if a storm blows through, he said, the 14 days of the Games gives enough flexibility to allow for some re-scheduling.

A copy of the mini bid book is available for viewing at the 2010 Information office in Whistler. It will also be on line at www.winter2010.com

Meanwhile, Salzburg's document reveals that they plan to hold the 2010 games from Friday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Feb. 14. Polls indicate that 83 per cent of local citizens believe holding the Games would be beneficial to the community while two-thirds are willing to endorse the bid outright.

The budget for Salzburg's candidacy is a government-guaranteed $4.9 million US, and according to the document the government has "generally agreed" to underwrite the costs of organizing the Games. The Games concept brings together history and a tradition of excellence in winter sports in a compact and secure environment.