After months of discussions the German National Olympic Committee has decided to set up its base of operations in Vancouver, not Whistler, during the 2010 Olympics.
According to municipal spokeswoman Michele Comeau the deciding factors were the high price of accommodation and the lack of rooms at full-service hotels.
The municipality has also abandoned the idea of creating a Neighbourhood of Nations. While countries were interested, said Comeau, the cost in a period of economic uncertainty and the lack of accommodation for the staff needed to manage the facilities scuttled the idea in the end.
“There was a lot of interest in the concept, and having a presence in Whistler was also something that was very desirable, but ultimately there was not enough interest from enough countries for the Neighbourhood of Nations concept to move forward,” she said.
“A country may have been very interested in building a nation house as part of the neighbourhood concept but they were not able to secure the accommodations required to staff and manage that facility. So they have had to make the decision to not be in Whistler at the level that they had originally envisioned.”
Germany was very interested in the concept, said Comeau. Officials wanted 100 rooms in Whistler for its delegation.
However, they wanted accommodation in full service hotels, which have for the most part already been booked out by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games (VANOC) for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its associated partners. Germany would have received some accommodation in Whistler through VANOC but it wanted more.
Officials were not interested in condo-type accommodations.
The decision is a blow to Whistler said Comeau.
“…It is really disappointing,” she said.
“…Having those nation houses and that type of presence is a really exciting part of the Games and it really adds to that global village feel of the (event), so as a result we will lose some of that.
“There will be a German presence but it will be much smaller. Their decision was based on accommodations.”
No one could be reached from the German NOC. But Ben Thomas of
VIP Mountain Holidays, who worked with the German delegation for three years,
said the group specifically wanted a full service hotel and would not consider
the condos that are available for rent.
“We offered them plenty of condos but the problem was they were
able to get a lot of rooms at a significant downtown hotel at a much lower
price than the condo so they said it just didn’t make any sense (to stay in
Whistler).”
Thomas said the same decision is likely to be made by many
groups associated with the 2010 Games.
“It is what I have been saying for ages,” he said.
“Once sponsors and everybody look, and they compare the alternatives, Vancouver is so much more attractive because it is easier logistically for short stays, secondly they can get a lot of rooms all under one roof at a proper hotel along with conference space, and thirdly it is one third the cost because it is off season in Vancouver.”
The municipality is still working with the Russian and Austrian national sport committees to find them suitable space in Whistler and affordable accommodation.
The absence of nation houses also means there will be no legacy buildings left behind after the Games by foreign nations. Those buildings were to have been incorporated into Celebration Plaza after the Games to house community organizations.
Meanwhile VANOC said it is committed to continuing to work with
the municipality to access community accommodation through the Temporary
Commercial Use Permit (TCUP) bylaw now before council.
VANOC is looking for 411 rooms for media in Whistler, along
with accommodation for thousands of essential workers and volunteers. Media
organizations have been quoted a room rate of $311 a night at Games time. The
cost of other accommodation is unclear.
“We are aware of the recent Council discussions on TCUP
legislation and we remain confident that we can work together with the RMOW and
the Whistler community to enable the temporary provision of services and
accommodation (accommodation for Games staff and working media) that will be
required for the Games period,” said Terry Wright, VANOC’s executive vice
president of services and Games operations.
VANOC had hoped the bylaw, which among other things would allow
homeowners to rent out rooms nightly to Games workers and volunteers, would be
passed last month. But council has held back its support.
VANOC is continuing to search for accommodation in the corridor
to house essential workers, volunteers, and some media. It is likely that their
search to find a company to provide cruise ship-type accommodations in Squamish
will be extended beyond this week’s deadline.
Thomas believes there are thousands of condo-style rooms
available in Whistler but owners are unlikely to list them for rent until one
year out from the Games, which run Feb. 12 through 28, 2010.