Whistler, B.C.---The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games opening ceremonies are set for Feb. 12, 2010 and construction on the venues are ahead of schedule. Construction is visible especially on the 78 mile (125 km) mountainous highway from Vancouver to Whistler.
Venues for the 17-day games are split between Vancouver and Whistler with skiing and sliding sports sites at Whistler and ice and ceremonial events in Vancouver.
The proposed operational budget for the Games is $1.7 billion, which will come from sponsorship, TV revenues, ticket and souvenir sales. That does not include the $580 million of taxpayer money being spent to build the competition venues. Nor does it include the $775 million the B.C. government is spending to upgrade the highway that links Vancouver to Whistler. Another $2 billion is being spent to build a transit line between the airport and downtown Vancouver, with a stop at the athletes village.
Canadian games organizers are hoping to avoid a budget shortfall. Turin organizers reported than the 2006 Winter Games posted a projected shortfall of US$32 million on their operating budget of US$1.58 billion, believed to be one of the first Olympic deficits in decades. Half of the Vancouver Games costs will be picked up by broadcasting revenues with 40% coming from corporate sponsorships. So far, the Vancouver organizers are $15 million ahead in sponsorship revenues.
For Washington businesses, there are still opportunities to get a piece of the action. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games official Web site has a procurement section which lists vendor and contracting opportunities. The games are expected to generate millions for Washington as people from around the world make their way to Vancouver and Whistler.
