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P.G.'s Olympic Gains

By Ben Meisner

-by Ben Meisner


Mayor Kinsley says, if we spend nothing, if we do nothing, we’ll get nothing. 

He forgot one item.

We will definitely get a bill for the $38,000  the City has thrown into the trip to Torino.  Remember, that isn’t the final bill, because you should be factoring in the money that will be spent by Initiatives Prince George. 

We  likely won't ever know the final tab.

I have a hard time believing that one event can generate 1 million dollars for a community.  
Spencer Kinard , the former  Director of Tourism for the State of Utah told delegates to the weekend's Winter Opportuinites Summit "Don’t except too much “. 

Kinard  says “People come to the games for one reason and one reason alone, the Olympics “  The Ski hills in the region of Salt Lake actually had a major drop in attendance  just prior to the Olympics. Well now that is no surprise, but coming from Kinnard,  it adds more weight to the history of what really has taken place not some pie in the sky ideas by the Mayor. 

Kinnard  told the delegates, the ski hills suffered a lull in business and why should PG be different?  But the pitch we have been getting is just how great it would be to have some athletes train here and what income that would bring to the city.   Truth is, in 2008, the Seniors Games will, over just a couple of days,  will pump more money into the city than any of the other supposed deals we will make in YTorino.  Where has the city been in trying to make this a special deal? It was announced by Pat Bell, not the mayor. 

The Senior’s Games however don’t have the same buzz as heading off to Torino now do they? 

Neither does making an effort to attract tourists from other provinces or for that mater the northern States where we can get a decent  bang for our buck.  

You may recall that famous trip to China  when the contingent went on short notice.  When they returned we were told to just stand back and  watch it all happen, there would be lots of benefits.  I've been watching, and waiting....and waiting....and waiting......

I’m Meisner and that is one man's opinion.

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