British Columbia’s Premier Gordon Campbell, appearing on NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning, said he was “inspired” by Beijing 2008’s Opening Ceremony, adding that British Columbia will throw an Opening Ceremony to easily rival Beijing’s. He also said the venues for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be completed ahead of schedule.
Campbell said, “I thought this opening bid touched people in China. It touched people in the world and I was inspired by it and I’m just as excited about the opening we’re going to see”.
CTV reports Campbell admits Canada cannot compete financially with the lavish $300 million (U.S.) spent on Beijing’s Opening Ceremony. He said, “we’re not going to come close to spending $300 million. Our whole Olympic budget is $1.2 billion. It’s nothing like the $43 billion they invested here”.
Campbell, who was interviewed outside the Beijing National Stadium said, “our venues are way ahead of schedule so everyone is going to have at least two seasons to practice on them.
“VANOC has just done a superb job. We set the goal of having the venues done early so we can practice”.
Meanwhile at a press conference Tuesday in Beijing the Premier was asked about transportation problems for the 2010 Games and how the province would deal with protesters during the Games.
Regarding the recent closure of the Sea-to-Sky highway that links Vancouver 2010 venues to the venues in the resort town of Whistler, he was asked whether he’s afraid the protesters from the Anti-Poverty Committee will attempt to block it during the Games. Campbell reiterated earlier statements he made about contingency plans being in place for the highway which was closed for five days earlier this month because of a rockslide, reports CTV.
He added that the Vancouver 2010 Games would not be plagued by homelessness, addiction, and poverty, and that people would be free to protest legally during the Games.
