'Team Torino' Takes Off
By 250 News
The local delegation off to the 2006 Torino Winter Games
Prince George Mayor Colin Kinsley, Initiatives Prince George President Gerry Offet and five others part of "Team Torino" will head for the airport a little later this morning to fly to Italy in a bid to drum up interest in our region during the final week of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
IPG President Gerry Offet says those on the "Team" with business and trade interests will spend tomorrow in Milan at the Canadian Consulate. "They've arranged a number of meetings with potential investors, importers, and other business people who have a sincere interest in Northern British Columbia."
For cost reasons, Offet says Milan is actually where the local group will be staying. He says it's 1.5-hours by train from Turin and the group expects to be taking the first train out at 5:18 am and the last one back at 11pm for the remainder of the week.
Premier Gordon Campbell will be hosting a breakfast Tuesday morning at BC/Canada House in downtown Turin and Offet says, "We'll be attending and meeting some of the heads of other country's delegations and talking about training opportunities."
"The following day, the 23rd, we're hosting a reception," says the IPG President, "We've invited more than 300 people who, again, are team managers and presidents of national sport organizations -- the people who make decisions related to training activities."
Offet says Thursday is B.C. Wood Council Day at B.C./Canada House. "And we'll be spending the day with people from all over the world who have an interest in wood construction and milling techniques and, basically, giving the Northern B.C. message."
When asked about criticism over this trip, Offet quotes Mayor Colin Kinsley, who says, "If we do nothing and spend nothing, we're assured of getting nothing." (see previous story)
Offet, himself, says, "We think we've done our homework on this one and that if we don't come back with firm commitments, we're going to come back with expressions of interest that will translate into firm commitments."
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Posted by: spanky on February 19 2006 12:53 PM
If you don't come back with solid written commitments I suggest you do the honourable thing and return the money spent for the Torino trip/entertainment to the city treasury so a stretch of murderous potholes can be repaired on West Austin Road and Croft Road.
In fact, both of these roads are several years overdue for a complete resurfacing and repaving.
Patching up over countless previous patches simply isn't really an option anymore!
(I know, you need several millions $ for a refrigerated outdoor skating oval so we seem to completely out of luck).