Vancouver 2010 Gets ?D? For Effort
08/05/2007 |
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A watchdog group has given Vancouver 2010 Winter Games organizers a grade of D for nearly failing to keep their commitments to protect housing, the environmental, and civil liberties.
The group, called Impact of the Olympics on Community Coalition, (IOCC) says it isn?t for or against the Olympics but its research has concluded the Games rank only a D minus.
Spokesman Rob VanWynsberghe says the only reason the group didn?t give Olympic organizers a failing grade is because there is still time to fix the problems, reports Canadian Press.
In a 32-page report released Monday the group accused Vancouver 2010 and its governmental partners of ignoring their commitments to build affordable housing, applying constitutionally questionable legal tactics against protestors, intimidating its opponents, financial mismanagement, and excessive secrecy. It even raises questions of complicity in hastening the death of an ill, elderly woman, reports TheTyee.ca.
According to the group, despite Vancouver 2010?s pledge not to harm the environment, Nordic runs in the Callaghan Valley are going ahead without proper study into how they?ll affect grizzly bear habitat.
And although Games organizers have said they will ensure people won?t be made homeless as a result of the 2010 Games, the report says the city hasn?t done enough to curb the speculation that has pushed prices up in Vancouver?s poorest areas.
The group has been funded by the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee in the past and has held up to fifty meetings with them.
The IOCC says it plans to issue follow-up reports every six months between now and the 2010 Games.
(Source: Gamesbids.com)
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