Games Committee Seeks Volunteer and Monetary Donations
Monday, April 16, 2012 @ 4:28 AM
Politicians, athletes and Games Organizers were all on hand Saturday to launch the Logo, brand and Volunteer drive.
Prince George, B.C. – Federal, provincial and local dignitaries joined hundreds of Prince George residents Saturday afternoon to unveil the logo branding the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George and to launch the drive for volunteers.
The ”branding” is viewed as a key step in involving the community in what’s hoped to be an exceptional winter games event. The games will run from February 12th to March 1st, 2015 in Prince George and surrounding region and will involve 3700 athletes, up to 6,000 volunteers, 1300 officials and the anticipated attendance of thousands of visitors.
The cost of putting the games on is estimated at $50 million. The CEO of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Stu Ballantyne, says to date the federal and provincial governments have made commitments of $11.12 million apiece. “About $8.1 million of each allotment is operating money and $3 million each goes to capital which will fund things like the re-construction of Kin 1 and putting in the Olympic-size ice surface. In addition the city has topped that up to finish the Kin project and provide us with some operating money as well.” The cost to taxpayers is roughly $16.5 million.
Ballantyne says the next phase, already underway, is raising private funding. “We have enough money to get the games up and running but we want to make it spectacular and in order to do that, we’re now on our funding drive with corporations and individuals to make it a great experience for the athletes.” Included in the drive are things like ticket and merchandise sales and pure fundraising as well as getting other levels of government in the north involved, “not only for volunteers but for support.” Ballantyne says when Canada comes to Prince George “we want to make sure that all regions of the north are represented at the games.”
Games officials estimate the event could have an economic impact of between $70 and $90 million.
Comments
Why would someone be motivated to volunteer when a few fat cats will share MILLIONS in salary? There are so many other great, challenging and worthwhile volunteer opportunities available in the community.
This is a flawed business model.
82,000 registered charities out there. Plus twenty cancer funding requests. Murry Krause’s request for more taxes. Hmmm? Get back to me with your hand out when my roads are fixed, my air is cleaner, my taxes actually go down along with gas prices. right now I’m kinda broke. Bread and circuses? Sorry, but I’m wise to that!
The group of highly-paid people who are managing the games should not be referred to as “Games Committee,” even if that is the official title they gave themselves. In just about every other case, “committee” denotes a group of volunteers.
This group is cashing in, folks.
Let’s not confuse their short-term project with the massive contributions made by VOLUNTEER organizers, like RBC Cup, World Baseball and National Baseball, PG Dance Festival, PG Music Festival, Provincial Arts Festival, and tournaments and events of all kinds. It’s these volunteer organizers that make Prince George the great place it is, year after year after year.
i am sure my taxes will more than cover the amount i will be donating
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