I do agree with the positive things my colleague, Ling, has said in the previous post. The city of Vancouver has gained a lot including some worthwhile infrastructure but at what cost? What will it cost to me, the average tax payer?
The provincial government did have to bail out the developer who could no longer cover the cost of constructing the athletes village and what about the rising costs of security over the total weeks of the olympics? “Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games cost Vancouver only slightly less than it takes to run the city itself for an entire year”. (http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/04/15/report-hosting-games-leaves-vancouver-with-bill-of-more-than-500-million-50862/)
According to a report from the General Manager of Financial Services and General Manager of Olympic Operations, the estimated cost to the city of Vancouver is over 500 million. (http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1858110/cityvancouverolympicexpenses-156k?da=y)
Not to mention all the funding that was cut from the arts, health care and education. The statement implied is 'we'll put the citizens needs on hold while we welcome the world for a few weeks'.
What do you guys think? Am I focusing too much on the now and looking too negatively on the subject? Maybe our city will end up flourishing in the years to come from direct result of the games. Or, will we be stuck in deficit for decades like Montreal?
I want to know, how do you guys feel? Please take a second to answer my short survey to the right.
Xuan
Pre Olympics there seemed to be a collectivly negative feeling about hosting the event in the city. But I must say that post Olympics there has been a very positive impact on Vancouver. At least this is the initial appearence, but of course only time will tell what long term effects the Winter Olympics will have on our city.
ReplyDeleteSure was fun though