Winter Olympics Already Over Budget

Thursday, July 07, 2005 03:37 AM

In recent days we have been getting sort of a sneak peek at what we can expect to hear in the coming months, and that is, the $690 million dollars set aside for the Olympics may not be quite enough money.

The 2010 Olympic Committee is now saying it may have to scale back on some venues that were set for construction in order to make budget. That’s a nice way of saying its only 2005 and you can expect to dig a bit deeper into your pockets in order to put this affair on.

We have five years to go and already, Committee members are scaling back, most venues will not be ready until the very least 2007, some as late as 2009.

So what does that all mean for us folks out here in the 250, (pardon me, I should have said, "Heartland")?

Well we will need more heart and of course more resource revenue in order to top up that fund. Never mind that we gave up BC Rail to enable the government to twin the Whistler Highway which was a sore spot for the Olympic Committee, we will reap huge rewards in the hundreds of thousands (well maybe not that many) several thousand, (well maybe not) well, be prepared for a few hundred making their way into this city come the Olympics. In return we will shell out a hundred million in tax revenue for the affair.

It all reminds one back when Expo 86 was on and we were told to get ready for the rush of humanity that was heading to Prince George Well we made a brand new flower bed, spruced the place up and waited, and waited and waited and no one came.

Of course in this instance we are being told things will be different.

That, is one man's opinion.
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Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2005 03:37 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Big_B on July 7 2005 8:41 AM

Ben you hit the nail right on the head.

These olympics are a waste of money. If the folks in the 604 wanted it so badly, then I say let the folks in the 604 pay for it.

Why should I have to pay for something for the next 5 years, when in reality the average ticket price for events will be out of my price range?

I'd rather pay my money to the local sports that we have right here.

Posted by: GetRealWater on July 7 2005 3:09 PM

I am a Prince George business that has been trying to raise money for 2010....2010 herd about me called me and asked me to go to Vancouver for a meeting....well to keep it simple they told me to stop or else........but you should see how fancy the Vancouver 2010 offices are.........I want to know when they plan on helping our athletes the ones that really need the money.

Posted by: Chadermando on July 7 2005 3:37 PM

I tried starting an Eco-tourism 2010 non profit society to promote tourism in the North and infrastructure for that tourism.

I was taken to court by the VANOC and Provincial name registries office and told that they have a rights to the general use term '2010' in its independent form no matter if it related to the olympics or not. I found that odd since they do not have a trademark for the independent general use term '2010' as Canadian trademark law does not allow the trademark of general use terms such as a year or geographical location.

To make a long story short the name registries office has been given authority by the premiers office to shut down any society or business that atempts to use the term '2010' in anyway not regulated and governed by the VANOC. This is a violation of Canadian trademark law especially in a case like mine where I have a Canadian trademark for the term 'Eco-tourism 2010', yet I am not allowed to register this Canadian trademark in BC.

VANOC asked on a number of occassions if I would sell the trademark term to them, and then if I would allow them to manage and regulate the societies efforts from Whistler. Then they said they would start their own society that will promote eco-tourism in BC for 2010, and I would not be allowed to operate in BC.

I still am not sure what the olympics has to do with eco-tourism and I am sure that their promotion will not involve Northern BC.

Posted by: spanky on July 7 2005 6:41 PM

Wasn't that the line from "field of dreams" ? Well not to worry people, they are a coming. We will all become wealthy from the "legacy" left by the olympics. Not to worry PG will get it usual healthy share.

Posted by: gypsy on July 7 2005 10:37 PM

Hang on to your wallets folks!!!! The worst is yet to come. The latest is 25 to 40 percent over runs already, and we have just begun. The money has to come from the taxpayers in this province, and although I am not stupid enough to expect any substantial benefits from this event-I do expect staggering bills that will have to be paid. Nope-there just ain't no Santa Claus in this round. Brace yourselves!!!

Posted by: gypsy on July 10 2005 9:09 AM

Brilliant-absolutely brilliant, krisb. I am sure glad you are not any Minister of Finance-and if you are, we are in BIG trouble. So it takes money to make money??? So right, use all the dollars, and the investment pays off in 10 years. Does that mean everyone is broke for 10 years??? And struggling?? Do we go immediately back to being a "has been" province???
If "survival of the fittest" is the rule, you are "going down" with your ship, or canoe, whatever.
Many people who have gone bankrupt have put all their eggs in one basket, and I do not want to see an overabundance of eggs in the Olympic basket, as the 10 years from 2010 to 2020 will take a heavy toll on B.C. Sure glad you are not doing my books!!! Best you stay out of the finance business!!! On the other hand, maybe you are just too smart for the rest of us!!!!

Posted by: gypsy on July 10 2005 10:47 AM

Wow krisb-I do have the utmost respect for "soothsayers." Expo 86 surely increased the wealth of the northerners-all that recognition of B.C. And WHAT lower taxes are you giving reference to??? I like a good joke as much as anybody-but don't push.
I wonder why I buy business licences in this stupid city, that needs you in there to control the money. You would be more of an advantage if you tried to find out where these gas wells are that Pat Bell was crowing about. Fortune telling is obviously NOT the calling you missed!!!!!