The Canadian government dismissed concerns that Canada may not be able to fulfill it’s commitment to Afghanistan because security was needed for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The comments followed a Reuter’s report that revealed a Feb. 5, 2006 briefing note that said Olympic security would be a high priority.
Pique News Magazine reports that Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor saying there are about 50,000 army, air force and navy troops available in Canada, enough to carry out both commitments.
Meanwhile Pique reports the province of British Columbia has signed a deal with Chinese officials to erect a 20,000 square foot pavilion at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The pavilion will be housed at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall at the city centre near the Forbidden City and the Great Hall of the People, and behind Tiananmen Square which will host a massive party every night during the Games expected to draw hundreds of thousand of people to the area nightly.
