As Flames Dies, Olympic Costs Pile Up for Vancouver

The Olympics have ended in Vancouver, but their costs live on.

1 minute read

February 28, 2010, 1:00 PM PST

The city is expected to face more than $1 billion worth of debt related to the Winter Olympics.

"Security costs, first estimated at $165 million, are now headed toward $1 billion.

Still, organizers insist the operating budget will break even. But that forecast includes $423 million in emergency money from the International Olympic Committee, and detailed financial information will not appear until after the Games are over.

As for Vancouver's municipal government and the taxpayers, the bad news is already in. The immediate Olympic legacy for this city of 580,000 people is a nearly $1 billion debt from bailing out the Olympic Village development. Beyond that, people in Vancouver and British Columbia have already seen cuts in services like education, health care and arts financing from their provincial government, which is stuck with many other Olympics-related costs."

FULL STORY: A $1 Billion Hangover From an Olympic Party

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in The New York Times

Community / Economic Development Government / Politics Urban Development British Columbia Vancouver Olympics Sports Debt Winter Olympics View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.