IOC questions VANOC over increased spending
The International Olympic Committee questioned Vancouver 2010 Olympic officials today over a plan to spend $25 million more than first expected on the Whistler Athletes Centre.
In one of the first briefings to the IOC’s Vancouver Coordination Commission during its three-day checkup, Vanoc executive vice-president Dan Doyle said the organizing committee will apply to its board of directors next week to take money out of a $53.3-million global contingency fund.
Doyle’s comment came in response to two questions from IOC executive director Gilbert Felli, who was concerned about recent media reports indicating the centre would cost far more than the original estimate of $16 million.
In August, a provincial government audit indicated Vanoc expected the centre to cost as much as $36.5 million and was considering taking $25 million from the remaining taxpayer-funded contingency.
But Doyle said in an interview after his briefing with the IOC that no draw-down of the contingency had been approved yet, although a formal request will be made to Vanoc’s board on Sept. 19.
“I got two questions, and they were both around budget,” Doyle said. “They were about what had been in the media about the $25-million [anticipated drawdown], and I told them, as I told you, that is before our board now, and when our board decides, we will let everybody know.”
He said Felli also questioned how Vanoc was handling its construction contingency fund, which Doyle said was in good shape.
“I think what he was mostly after was that he had read the press reports, and he just wanted to confirm where we are at and our process inside. We told him we are going to our board, and he was fine with that.”
He said he assured the commission that the entire venue construction program is being done within the $580-million envelope provided by the provincial and federal governments. Vanoc also provided the commission with updated photographs of the venues under construction.
The commission meetings took place without the presence of Vanoc CEO Jack Poole, who is recovering from surgery relating to malignant tumours found around his pancreas.
Terry Wright, another Vanoc executive vice-president, said Poole is expected to participate in the board meeting next week. The IOC commission meeting was held amid heightened security at Vanoc’s Graveley Street headquarters, but without the heavy police presence that has marked previous IOC and Vanoc board meetings. Reporters and camera operators were allowed to hear the brief opening remarks at the plenary, but were escorted out of the board room before details of the agenda were discussed.
The three days of briefings are intended to provide IOC officials and accompanying staff with an overview of Vanoc’s progress in organizing the Winter Games. Everything from the status of construction to operational planning to a plan to create Olympic celebration sites in Vancouver and Whistler is on the agenda.
The session also marks the first time that all seven presidents of the international winter sports federations involved in the Olympics have assembled in Vancouver.
On Thursday, they will conduct site visits, including the sliding venue in Whistler, where Canadian Olympic hopefuls are holding a public open house.
This week some of Canada’s best figure skaters also gather in Vancouver for a two-day national training camp at the Pacific Coliseum, site of the Olympic figure skating and short track speed skating events in 2010. The camp, which will feature free public performances Friday and Saturday, is being prepared for the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships that run Jan. 16 to 20, 2008. The public can obtain tickets to the camp performances by contacting Danielle at 604-205-6960 or danielle@skatinginbc.com.
