According to a progress report Vancouver 2010 gave to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Athens exactly 2010 days before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games begin, facilities for the Vancouver Games will be built at least 24 months before the Games.
John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee said, “it’s a strategy to be done early. We want to be done with venue construction two years before the Games”.
It was the first report since Vancouver was awarded the Games July 2003.
Furlong said venue construction will begin next summer. He said having the facilities done early will save money and allow the Vancouver Committee to concentrate on hosting the Games.
He added, “the complexity (of hosting an Olympics) grows the closer you get to the Games. The further back from the opening ceremonies you are finished with that work, the better”.
Vancouver 2010 will spend $620 million (Can.) to build facilities. The money will be evenly split between the federal and provincial governments.
During his report to the IOC Furlong said venue planning for the Games is on schedule, although he admitted decisions on locations for the speed skating oval and the International Broadcast Centre have yet to be finalized.
Meanwhile, residents and visitors in Whistler, site of several 2010 Olympic events, were invited to take part in a pair of Olympic-related celebrations this week. On Thursday, 2010 days before the Games begin, there was an official cake cutting.
Also, 2010 people were invited to the Whistler visiting centre Thursday to sign banners that will be sent to the Canadian Paralympic Team in Athens.
Friday the public was invited to attend a celebration of the opening of the 2004 Summer Games. Three large-screen TVs have been set up for the public to watch the telecast of the Opening Ceremonies. Participants were asked to show up in togas with prizes being given out for the most creative toga.
