VANOC Focuses On Infrastructure With Facilities Nearly Done

With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games beginning two years from today, things "appear to be going smoothly as the venues and the supporting facilities are being prepared for the crush of visitors," according to John Hickey of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. But while all competition venues are set to be completed "by the end of this year," the city remains busy improving its infrastructure to handle the influx of athletes and fans. Vancouver Int'l Airport is "in the midst of a $1.4[B] renovation scheduled for completion next year" and the city is installing "new light rail lines going in at a cost of $1.7[B] from downtown to the airport" to be completed by late '09. Also, the Vancouver Convention Centre, which will serve as the media center during the Games, is in the process of "being tripled in size" and will be completed early next year. VANOC VP/Sport Tim Gayda: "We came in committed to getting the venues up and running two years out. Other games have had financial trouble in part because the work went right down to the wire. The later the venues are ready, the more challenged the committee is" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 2/12).

SWITCHING TO OPERATIONAL MODE: In Vancouver, Damian Inwood reports VANOC today is launching a drive to recruit 25,000 volunteers for the Games. With construction finished on all but three competition venues, VANOC CEO John Furlong said that the organization is "switching gears into operational mode." Furlong: "The pace has really quickened." Only two practice venues and the athletes' villages at Vancouver and Whistler will remain under construction going into '09, and VANOC Exec VP/Construction Dan Doyle said that those facilities "don't need to be finished until just before the Games begin." Inwood reports 10% of the $760M sponsorship target remains to be met, and VANOC Exec VP/Revenue, Marketing & Communications Dave Cobb said that "there are probably still between 20 and 25 deals to be signed." Cobb said that events such as "the torch relay and the October launch of ticket sales will help increase interest levels" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 2/12).

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: B.C. Minister of Economic Development Colin Hansen and U.K. Minister of State for Trade & Investment Lord Digby Jones yesterday signed an "official cooperation document" concerning the 2010 Vancouver Games and 2012 London Games. The pact "calls for information sharing and hosting trade missions to compare notes on encouraging their respective business communities to pursue Olympic-related business" (VANCOUVER SUN, 2/12).