The International Olympic Committee says Vancouver is ready to host next year’s Winter Olympic Games.
Games coordination commission chair Rene Fasel said the IOC was confident the Vancouver Olympics “will be an unparalleled success.”
The International Olympic Committee’s coordination commission paid its ninth and final visit to western Canada this week to tour venues and review operating plans and budgets with the Vancouver Organising Committee. The games begin on February 12.
“We are confident they will deliver,” Fasel said. He said venues in Vancouver and nearby Whistler, where alpine and ski jumping events will take place, are completed.
VANOC CEO John Furlong said the operational phase of the games was beginning.
Organisers are fine-tuning transportation systems and getting temporary structures in place at venues, he said. IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said the international body has a plan to deal with a $27 million budget shortfall. The shortfall comes as a result of the IOC failing to secure two international sponsorship deals.
