Michael Griffiths
Rock n' Roll Doggie
Vancouver A Step Closer To Winter Olympics 2010 Bid
This would be so great for the city of Vancouver. One Olympic committee member said, "We have to find a way of getting the olympics to Vancouver. It's the nicest city I've ever been to." The three candidates have been narrowed down to Vancouver, Canada; Salzburg, Austria; and Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOC makes the decision on July 2nd. My birthday. Good omen perhaps?
Which events do you want see added/eliminated from the Winter Olympics? Hockey has to stay of course! As boring as Curling is, I think that has to stay as well. There are some events that have me scratching my head (ballroom dancing at the Summer Olympics come to mind)...
Vancouver bid termed 'high quality' by IOC
Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC
Canadian Press
5/2/2003
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (CP) - The International Olympic Committee says Vancouver and the other two cities bidding for the 2010 Winter Games "could all organize very good Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."
The Evaluation Commission report, based on visits to each of the candidate cities, does not rank the three candidates: Vancouver, the Austrian city of Salzburg, and Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The IOC will vote July 2 to decide who will be host of the Games.
"The people of Vancouver and Canada should be most encouraged by this report. We couldn't be happier with the report," said Jack Poole, chairman and CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corp.
But both Poole and John Furlong, president and COO of the Vancouver bid group, said there was no front-runner. All three candidate cities were still in the race.
But Vancouver did well in the report.
"It seems that the report has a few more question marks on Pyeongchang and Salzburg than on Canada," said British IOC member Craig Reedie, who was not involved in the assessment. "On a technical basis, it looks to me like Vancouver might be ahead."
Like many IOC documents, nuance is all-important in this document.
The Vancouver bid and presentations were "of a very high quality," while the Pyeonchang proposal was "well-prepared." There was no comment on the quality of the Salzburg presentatation.
The South Korea bid shows "very strong public support for the Olympic Games." Support in Salzburg is also "very strong." The Vancouver bid enjoys "strong support."
The report also says the Vancouver bid's proposed venues are well thought-out and that the project demonstrates a "clear vision."
But it notes the two-hour distance between Vancouver and Whistler "could be a challenge." It also says "transport strategies will require further development, particularly in Vancouver."
But Poole downplayed the issue of transportation.
"They (the commission) are fully satisified by our plans for the road," he said from Vancouver. "In our view, if it ever was an issue, it's not an issue now. It's behind us."
The Vancouver budget got good grades - "reasonably estimated" and "sound and achievable."
The Pyeonchang bid gets strong marks for public and government support, but several budget items were underestimated, according to the report. Accommodations could also be a problem, with many rooms for sponsors more than 50 kilometres from the venues.
As well, broadcast production staff will require "further international training and experience."
The Salzburg budget also came under scrutiny.
"Several cost elements, such as staff and transport costs and financial pressures with respect to accommodation pricing and the Olympic Family room rate, appear to be significantly underestimated and will require close scrutiny and diligent management if a balanced budget is to be achieved," the IOC report warned.
But the Salzburg bid does have "a wealth of existing world-class venues."
The report expressed concerns about the snowboarding venue - poor access to the venue and lack of space around the finish line - and the Nordic combined and ski jumping site - logistical difficulties and a 300-metre altitude difference from the Olympic Village.
Five other cities originally bid to host the 2010 Games. Andorra La Vella, Andorra; Harbin, China; Jaca, Spain; and Sarajevo did not survive the IOC initial cut. Bern, Switzerland, did but withdrew last September following a referendum.
Toronto officials will be watching the process closely. Any bid for the 2012 Summer Games will depend on how Vancouver fares for the 2010 Winter Games.
This would be so great for the city of Vancouver. One Olympic committee member said, "We have to find a way of getting the olympics to Vancouver. It's the nicest city I've ever been to." The three candidates have been narrowed down to Vancouver, Canada; Salzburg, Austria; and Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOC makes the decision on July 2nd. My birthday. Good omen perhaps?
Which events do you want see added/eliminated from the Winter Olympics? Hockey has to stay of course! As boring as Curling is, I think that has to stay as well. There are some events that have me scratching my head (ballroom dancing at the Summer Olympics come to mind)...
Vancouver bid termed 'high quality' by IOC
Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC
Canadian Press
5/2/2003
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (CP) - The International Olympic Committee says Vancouver and the other two cities bidding for the 2010 Winter Games "could all organize very good Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."
The Evaluation Commission report, based on visits to each of the candidate cities, does not rank the three candidates: Vancouver, the Austrian city of Salzburg, and Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The IOC will vote July 2 to decide who will be host of the Games.
"The people of Vancouver and Canada should be most encouraged by this report. We couldn't be happier with the report," said Jack Poole, chairman and CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corp.
But both Poole and John Furlong, president and COO of the Vancouver bid group, said there was no front-runner. All three candidate cities were still in the race.
But Vancouver did well in the report.
"It seems that the report has a few more question marks on Pyeongchang and Salzburg than on Canada," said British IOC member Craig Reedie, who was not involved in the assessment. "On a technical basis, it looks to me like Vancouver might be ahead."
Like many IOC documents, nuance is all-important in this document.
The Vancouver bid and presentations were "of a very high quality," while the Pyeonchang proposal was "well-prepared." There was no comment on the quality of the Salzburg presentatation.
The South Korea bid shows "very strong public support for the Olympic Games." Support in Salzburg is also "very strong." The Vancouver bid enjoys "strong support."
The report also says the Vancouver bid's proposed venues are well thought-out and that the project demonstrates a "clear vision."
But it notes the two-hour distance between Vancouver and Whistler "could be a challenge." It also says "transport strategies will require further development, particularly in Vancouver."
But Poole downplayed the issue of transportation.
"They (the commission) are fully satisified by our plans for the road," he said from Vancouver. "In our view, if it ever was an issue, it's not an issue now. It's behind us."
The Vancouver budget got good grades - "reasonably estimated" and "sound and achievable."
The Pyeonchang bid gets strong marks for public and government support, but several budget items were underestimated, according to the report. Accommodations could also be a problem, with many rooms for sponsors more than 50 kilometres from the venues.
As well, broadcast production staff will require "further international training and experience."
The Salzburg budget also came under scrutiny.
"Several cost elements, such as staff and transport costs and financial pressures with respect to accommodation pricing and the Olympic Family room rate, appear to be significantly underestimated and will require close scrutiny and diligent management if a balanced budget is to be achieved," the IOC report warned.
But the Salzburg bid does have "a wealth of existing world-class venues."
The report expressed concerns about the snowboarding venue - poor access to the venue and lack of space around the finish line - and the Nordic combined and ski jumping site - logistical difficulties and a 300-metre altitude difference from the Olympic Village.
Five other cities originally bid to host the 2010 Games. Andorra La Vella, Andorra; Harbin, China; Jaca, Spain; and Sarajevo did not survive the IOC initial cut. Bern, Switzerland, did but withdrew last September following a referendum.
Toronto officials will be watching the process closely. Any bid for the 2012 Summer Games will depend on how Vancouver fares for the 2010 Winter Games.
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