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Government report on benefits of 2010 Winter Olympic Games called into question by B.C.’s finance minister.

Vancouver still firmly behind bid donates $750,000 B.C.’s finance minister is questioning the economic boost the province may get from hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Vancouver still firmly behind bid donates $750,000

B.C.’s finance minister is questioning the economic boost the province may get from hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Quoted in the Vancouver Sun this week, Finance Minister Gary Collins said he was "very nervous" about projections made in January in a government report.

The January report said 228,000 jobs could be created and that over 30 years the Games could generate $10 billion in economic growth.

Premier Gordon Campbell remains firm in his belief that the Games will be good for B.C.

Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation spokesman Sam Corea said it is not the role of the corporation to question government policy or actions.

"All we can say is that the government of British Columbia and the government of Canada have spoken through their actions," he said.

"They are supporting the bid process with contributions of $9.1 million each and both senior levels of government have also pledged funds of $620 million for sport venue upgrades and construction budget.

"The government report that Mr. Collins is referring to is a government report, so he is doing his job in questioning reports.

"We are not commenting on government policy. It is not really our role to do that."

New information about how Olympic Games impact host cities is coming out all the time said Corea.

It is expected in the next few months that the original government report, which came out of the capital projects branch, will be updated.

Meanwhile the city of Vancouver this week voted to give the bid corporation $750,000.

Part of the money, $300,000, was given to the corporation in 2000. The expectation at that time was that the money would be repaid. Instead council voted Tuesday to forgive this loan, making it a grant instead.

The rest of the funds, $450,000, will be used for several initiatives.

Part of the money, $75,000, will pay for the on-going work of Vancouver Police Inspector Murray Day who has been seconded to work with the bid corporation as chair of the Health Services, Safety, and Security Work Group. He is due to retire so the funds will cover his work in the future on a contract basis.

He will also be assisting in the organization of the IOC evaluation team visit in the spring of 2003.

Cultural Initiatives will get $150,000. Part of the money will go to pay for the secondment of a city cultural affairs expert.

But the majority, $100,000, will go towards organizing an arts and cultural festival to be held during the bid phase.

Banners will also be purchased and displayed from February to June next year, coinciding with the arrival of the IOC evaluation team. The city expects them to cost $75,000.

The last $100,000 will be spent on city-bid corporation co-ordination and relations. That includes items like negotiation work, legal expenses and consultant fees.

"The city has spoken with its moral support and its funding in the past and in its continued support and that is very important to the bid," said Corea.

"They are a full partner in the bid and we are very happy to continue to work with the City of Vancouver on legacies and benefits, just as we are working with Whistler."

The announcement was news to Jim Green, spokesman for the Impact of the Olympics on Community Coalition watchdog group.

"I knew nothing of this coming forward, and I do get very, very concerned that those of us who are trying so hard to make this a positive bid and a positive Olympics do feel like we are being sidestepped," he said.

"It is following in the pattern that we have been advised would happen. There are cut backs to women’s programs, social housing has been taken off the shelf, and everywhere we look things that really matter to British Columbians are being taken away and yet they have additional funding to go to the bid."

The Resort Municipality of Whistler has yet to endorse the Games.

"We are really supportive," said Whistler Mayor Hugh O’Reilly.

"I don’t want this to be perceived as we are not supporting the bid. I believe we are. I think council is very consistent in that. We like the process. We are supportive. But as in any negotiation you want to see what you are finally saying yes to before you say it.

"That is one of the things I promised the community."

An administrative report was also tabled at the July 23 Vancouver council meeting. The information report outlined in greater detail the plans for the Vancouver athletes’ village.

It is proposed the village will consist of permanent and temporary buildings to accommodate 3,000 athletes and their coaches.

The temporary buildings will include dining halls and related support facilities which would be removed after the Games.

The permanent facilities for the village in the southeast False Creek area will include approximately 500,000 square feet of residential accommodation and 30,000 square feet of commercial building.

The idea is to build self-contained apartments and townhouses, which will be used by athletes and coaches during the Games, and then sold or rented later.

The 500,000 square feet of residential area would yield about 600 units, half of which would be non-market residential space.

The Agrodome, Pacific Coliseum and Rollerland at Hastings Park will also be getting major face-lifts.

Each will be refitted for the sport it will host.

For example the Coliseum will get an upgrade to its ice-plant, temporary expansion of the ice surface to meet international competition requirements, permanent and temporary revisions to seating, temporary partitions and flooring at the arena level, additional suspended lighting, equipment and bulkheads, new ceiling paint, refurbished and new concession kiosks, new signage and way-finding, additional washrooms, additional elevators and stairways, improvement to existing stairways and the creation of new meeting rooms.

On the cultural side of the program the report states that, "discussions are underway with a range of Vancouver and Whistler arts and cultural venues, including the Vancouver Civic Theatres, to establish in-principle agreements."

The City of Vancouver is also working hard to develop, along with the bid corporation, the concept of an "Inclusive Games."

Both are already committed to the idea and have developed an Inclusive Intent Statement.

It confirms that the bid is committed to participation and equity for all groups including low and moderate income people in Vancouver’s inner-city neighbourhoods.

The report confirms the city and the bid’s commitment to sustainability and the use of public transport and a successful Paralympics.

It also reiterates the plan to use the RCMP as the lead security agency. It will head up an integrated Police Planning Group and this single body will have the responsibility for co-ordination of security during the Games.