$500b

[niteowl]

No that is not what a SP is charging per hour but that is just the STARTING price for host the Olympics.
I wonder how many of people who thought Vancouver needed to host the Olympics would still vote for it knowing it cost that much and more to host a 17 day party.

 

[uncleg]

No that is not what a SP is charging per hour but that is just the STARTING price for host the Olympics.
I wonder how many of people who thought Vancouver needed to host the Olympics would still vote for it knowing it cost that much and more to host a 17 day party.

Where do you get 500 billion from ? I presume that's what the b stands for.

 

[niteowl]

It was on the news.
Sorry it's a typo. So far the bill is half a billion dollars.

 

[namssa]

It was on the news.
Sorry it's a typo. So far the bill is half a billion dollars.

Hopefully you are not doing the accounting for the Olympics in Vancouver. Judging by the way that you started this thread, it is going to be even more of a shit show. If you are going to criticize about the cost, the least you could do is make sure you are using the correct dollar amount. On the news, what kind of a reference is that? Least you could do is provide some back up.

 

[curmudgeon]

I think he's talking about this article from the Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Vancouver+2010+Olympic+costs+million/2911884/story.html

Which quotes the figure $554 Million (note the "M").

Mind you, this is the city of Vancouver's figures, and not the entire Olympic budget (which would include Richmond, Whistler, VANOC, etc).

 

[uncleg]

I think he's talking about this article from the Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Vancouver+2010+Olympic+costs+million/2911884/story.html

Which quotes the figure $554 Million (note the "M").

Mind you, this is the city of Vancouver's figures, and not the entire Olympic budget (which would include Richmond, Whistler, VANOC, etc).

Plus the Billion for the Olympic Village the City is on the hook for.

 

[niteowl]

No I don't do accounting for Vanoc. I'm the accountant for the BC Liberals. Oops sorry about the HST. Yeah we lied about it until after the election. HaHa. Just kidding.
It was on the tv news.
Hey at least I admit I goofed. What about the scripted line from Vanoc about being on time and on budget.
And no I did not vote for the bastard.

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

No I don't do accounting for Vanoc. I'm the accountant for the BC Liberals. Oops sorry about the HST. Yeah we lied about it until after the election. HaHa. Just kidding.
It was on the tv news.
Hey at least I admit I goofed. What about the scripted line from Vanoc about being on time and on budget.
And no I did not vote for the bastard.

Incase you were not aware the Olympic bid was started by Glen Clark and the National Debt Party!

Do you know that NBC paid close to (let me throw you a curve ball) $0.87 bill. for broadcast rights?

Did you notice that train that runs all the way to the airport which the federal gov't paid for a good chunk of (money that would've gone to provinces with more voters). Did you also notice that 4 lane highway aka former death trap of a road that leads to Whistler that had mathcing federal funds? The IOC is not taking that home with them in a doggy bag! The Federal gov't spent close to 600 mill to match provincial spending. I think you miss the economic benefits and the big picture.

Why not throw a big kick ass 17 day party? We are one of the most developed and richest countries in the world, if we can't/shouldn't do it who should? Visa charges charges alone were double what they normally are during the same period and that was for $115 mil over that period not to mention I'm sure similar amounts and percentages for other cards and cash payments at all the places that accepted cash.

We are a rich very productive country (by most standards) and just like other successful individuals we should be allowed to spoil ourselves with a good party, nice house or an expensive piece of ass. In this particular instance it just makes sense all the way around!

 

[niteowl]

I too think Clark is an idiot; however Campbell could have stopped the bid. He did after all stopped the doctors and teachers from getting good contracts back in 2003.
That chunk of money for the RAV as well as the Sea to Sky is our money. Where does the gas tax go? General Finances? The gas tax should be returned to the provinces for upgrades and/or to build roads and bridges. The politicians here are to chicken to to go to Ottawa to get back a majority of the money paid to the gas tax, otherwise there wouldn't be 3Ps projects nor would there be fees on the new bridge and ferry fares increases.

 

[mercyshooter]

I too think Clark is an idiot; however Campbell could have stopped the bid. He did after all stopped the doctors and teachers from getting good contracts back in 2003.
That chunk of money for the RAV as well as the Sea to Sky is our money. Where does the gas tax go? General Finances? The gas tax should be returned to the provinces for upgrades and/or to build roads and bridges. The politicians here are to chicken to to go to Ottawa to get back a majority of the money paid to the gas tax, otherwise there wouldn't be 3Ps projects nor would there be fees on the new bridge and ferry fares increases.

So, what's your priority? Olympics is fucking short-term. Doctors and teachers are fucking long-term. So, where does justice lie?

 

[niteowl]

The fantasy is that the Olympics will bring in a lot of money for the city that hosts it. As far as I know the only city that made money was LA only because the majority of the facilities were already built and they have a large TV market.

 

[vince_chase]

It is not that complicated

The Olympic Party is kind of like a family spending a lot of money on the line of credit to go on a 3 week exotic trip. The family then cuts back for the next 1-2 years paying it off by cutting everything back and hoping nothing really bad happens that will cause a lot of money to fix.

Is it worth it?it is subjective. The dad probably say no, the kids loved it. The wife is planning the next trip.

On a serious note, i always find it interesting that how if you ask the politicians or promotors of olympics if the money is well spent, they will tell you the possible income from future offshore investment/Tourism..etc.However, it is something that is not easily measurble(2 yrs?5 yrs?10yrs?) and not properly studied.

The only thing we know and keep track of is how much we spent.IT IS A HUGE amount.

Anyone who has ever work in any well managed private companies, the above will get your ass fired pretty quick.

Look at it this way, if you are sick today with something serious and waiting for your turn for some type of surgery or have kids that shares a class with 40 kids(5 with special needs). Your point of view will probably be different.

Anyways, the money has been spent, the party finished. I feel Just as proud to be a Canadian Before and After.

 

[niteowl]

It's more like declaring bankruptcy and then spending the summer traveling Europe.