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In a few short months Vancouver will be hosting the Winter Olympics. It is a beautiful city (though I liked it much more before it was discovered by the world in 1986 with Expo) and will no doubt put on a great Games. I know the rest of the world will love the scenery, the venues and the great things to do in the area.
BUT the cost of all this is making me sick. Yes that is a common refrain for all Olympic cities but to me the Winter O's just seem so much more elitist and expensive than the Summer ones.
What really put me over the top as far as costs go is the report on the news that the new "slide" for bobsledding, skeleton and whatever other events people do sliding on their bums cost 150 million! This monstrosity is way up in Whistler, an elite, highly expensive ski resort (think Vail) two hours from the city. The people invoilved in those sports here admit they will probably see little use after the Games. We have one in Calgary that is already under utilized I hear. Why not do those events over there instead?
I am not sure what a running track costs but I believe about 1 million (track experts can correct me but no way is it 150 million). Tracks are used by the entire community- our tracks are in constant use by athletes, the elderly, walkers, runners, mums with babies in strollers....
The city of Vancouver can not hold a major trackmeet because it does not have a suitable track (the ones that are half decent are not in the city boundaries).
Who participates in the Winter Olympics? The wealthy countries of the world that's who. Who is able to afford to ski at Whistelr ? Who can afford figure skating lessons and hockey?
I know the Games will be great but for a two week party for the rich the cost and waste really burns me up.
The one good thing is that the skating oval in Richmond will be converted into an indoor track facilty-not one that can hold meets but at least somewhere for athletes to train...
Oh and if Canada doesn't win gold in hockey then I will be really pissed off! :x
BUT the cost of all this is making me sick. Yes that is a common refrain for all Olympic cities but to me the Winter O's just seem so much more elitist and expensive than the Summer ones.
What really put me over the top as far as costs go is the report on the news that the new "slide" for bobsledding, skeleton and whatever other events people do sliding on their bums cost 150 million! This monstrosity is way up in Whistler, an elite, highly expensive ski resort (think Vail) two hours from the city. The people invoilved in those sports here admit they will probably see little use after the Games. We have one in Calgary that is already under utilized I hear. Why not do those events over there instead?
I am not sure what a running track costs but I believe about 1 million (track experts can correct me but no way is it 150 million). Tracks are used by the entire community- our tracks are in constant use by athletes, the elderly, walkers, runners, mums with babies in strollers....
The city of Vancouver can not hold a major trackmeet because it does not have a suitable track (the ones that are half decent are not in the city boundaries).
Who participates in the Winter Olympics? The wealthy countries of the world that's who. Who is able to afford to ski at Whistelr ? Who can afford figure skating lessons and hockey?
I know the Games will be great but for a two week party for the rich the cost and waste really burns me up.
The one good thing is that the skating oval in Richmond will be converted into an indoor track facilty-not one that can hold meets but at least somewhere for athletes to train...
Oh and if Canada doesn't win gold in hockey then I will be really pissed off! :x
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