Conrad Blanch, Executive Director of the Andorra 2010 Technical Committee reported to the Diari d’Andorra newspaper answers to key questions being asked by Andorrans about the 2010 Olympic bid.
On the traffic issue, Blanch said that even without the Olympic Games, by 2010 traffic would be a problem in Andorra la Vella. Already proposed infrastructure upgrades would help alleviate the problem – and should the Games occur – additional car parks, scheduled school holidays and the enforcement of public transportation would help improve the situation.
Blanch also reports that Andorra will have enough accomodations available for athletes, spectators which may number 80,000 in a day, and the Olympic family. He suggests that additional accomodations such as campsites would be available for volunteers.
Andorra has already planned infrastructure projects that would cost US$535.3 million without the Games, a high number but one that is a worthwhile long-run investment for the country according to Blanch. Blanch says that a 2010 Games would help prioritize and define this spending which would result in lower direct costs for preparing for the Games, reducing the likelyhood that they would run a deficit.
From August 28-29, the IOC Evaluation Committee will accept candidates from eight applicants based on their questionnaire repsonses. They will elect a 2010 host in July, 2003.
