VANCOUVER, Canada – Despite dark economic clouds, the International Olympic Committee declared Vancouver ‘ready’ Wednesday, following its final inspection of the host of the 2010 Games.
“We are extremely happy with what we have seen and heard,” Rene Fasel, chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission, said.
“The venues are just spectacular and the plans for next February are very good,” said Fasel. “I am pleased to be able to say Vancouver is ready for 2010.”
Officials denied there is disagreement between the IOC and local organizers over a possible budget shortfall of about 30 million Canadian dollars.
To date the IOC has signed only nine instead of 11 expected sponsors at the international level.
“We haven’t generated the revenue from that area that we’d hoped and that we budgeted for,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver organizing committee (VANOC).
“At this stage we don’t know if we’ll have a shortfall” he said, but added, “we will deliver the games with a balanced budget.”
In the event of a shortfall, he said, “we have to deal with it… either through cutting costs or raising revenue in different areas.”
Officials said the IOC and VANOC are in discussions about an IOC proposal to help with 2010 games funding, but did not release details.
Furlong said that with less than six months left before the games in this Western Canadian metropolis, local organizers are focused on operational details.
“We obviously have many things to do,” Furlong said, adding that the priority is on transportation systems between the international airport here, local hotels and venues, and the ski resort Whistler, where alpine competitions will be held.
Officials were tight-lipped about their response to a human rights court challenge of the IOC’s decision not to add female ski jumping to the 2010 programme.
Asked if the Games could still accommodate a women’s event if a Canadian court ruling, expected this autumn, favours the women, Furlong replied, “We’re not planning any event at this point in time … we’re talking about something that’s completely hypothetical.”
“Seven Mondays from now, we light the flame in Olympia,” Furlong said of the traditional start of the Olympic torch relay, which will carry the flame 45,000 kilometers (2,800 miles) across Canada.
Officials also paid tribute on Wednesday to Leo Obstbaum, medals and mascots designer for the Games, who died suddenly at home last Thursday.
– AFP