A plan by Vancouver 2010 to house some media on a cruise ship in Squamish has been vetoed by the International Olympic Press Commission, but Pique News Magazine reports that Vancouver 2010 said it still plans to investigate the plan and has already initiated discussions with luxury cruise ship liners.
Terry Wright, VANOC’s executive president of service operations and ceremonies said, “cruise ship accommodation in Squamish is a creative and sustainable accommodation option. Squamish is the mid point of the Olympic and Paralympic theatre and this unique accommodation option would create a hub of activity in Squamish linking the city venues in Vancouver with the mountain venues in Whistler”.
Officials are looking not just to accommodate the media, but other groups such as international sport federations and various team coaches and support personnel, reports Pique.
The IOC Press Commission will be visiting in early November and Nejat Sarp, vice president of Villages and Accommodation for Vancouver 2010, hopes to continue discussions around the idea.
Sarp wouldn’t reveal what other options are being looked at as far as housing media and broadcasters covering the Games in Whistler.
He said, “Whistler is already having challenges”, but added he is pleased with the progress so far in Whistler around accommodation. He said, “I am very optimistic, because I can tell you the community has been very supportive. It is more of a challenge than Vancouver is just because of the ownership process that is different in Whistler than in Vancouver, but we will get there”.
Meanwhile Pique reports that Whistler’s Mayor Ken Melamed has some serious concerns about relaxing a bylaw for the 2010 Games so that homeowners could rent out their houses to visitors. His fear is that absentee homeowners would evict local residents to cash in on the Games by renting out accommodation for large profits. He said, “two-thirds of our employees are living in market accommodation. The last thing we want is mass evictions just prior to the Games so that we have employees out on the street, no way to operate the resort, and we have created incredibly bad will. We could not in conscience do that”.
He said there is no plan now to go forward with a change to the bylaw, but it will likely be investigated as the strategic plan for the Games comes to light this fall.
Sarp said VANOC will pursue securing more accommodation in Whistler. He said, “we want to continue to have dialogue with the hotel industry, the tourism board, the RMOW community and see if we can increase the inventory”.
