The first phase of construction has begun on some of the largest and costliest venues for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, reports Canadian Press.
The first venues undergoing site preparation is the $102 million Nordic competition venue, host of cross-country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping events; and the $55 million sliding centre, both in Whistler, and by September site work is expected on the $68 million speed skating oval in the community of Richmond, adjacent to Vancouver.
The Nordic Centre is a 250-hectare facility with three temporary stadiums each with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. There is no decision yet if the ski jump facility will be permanent or temporary.
The sliding centre on Blackcomb Mountain will be the venue for bobsled, luge and skeleton competitions. The project will feature a 1,450-metre concrete track, refrigeration facilities, access road and capacity for 11,650 spectators. The actual design of the track has not yet been drawn. Construction is expected to take 28 months and the track should be operational for test events and training by the winter of 2007-2008.
Construction on the speed skating oval, originally slated for Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, was moved to Richmond after the proposed cost of building the area escalated to $80 million. Construction on the building is expected to begin in April 2006.
The Vancouver 2010 organizing Committee has seen both television rights and sponsorship deals rake in more money than expected. To date organizers have agreed to $473.5 million in sponsorship deals, $23 million more than budgeted for with some agreements yet to be reached.
