Mayor will invite Federal Government to secure commitment of $10 million for 2010 community celebration
Mayor Sam Sullivan and Councillor Suzanne Anton today confirmed their intention to support the proposed Olympic Live Site Plan at this week’s City Council meeting. If the plan is adopted by Council, Mayor Sullivan said he will immediately contact the federal government to secure their $10 million contribution for the community celebration.
“In addition to using the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to leverage significant social investments, we want to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city,” said Mayor Sullivan. “If Council approves the plan, I will work with our federal partners to secure their contribution as quickly as possible. The letter is on my desk and ready to be signed.”
The proposal to establish 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Live Sites includes:
- temporary sites to be established at the former Beatty Street Bus Depot location & David Lam Park
- Hamilton-Mainland Streets will be designated to link the two sites
- ongoing consultation with local residents, businesses & community organizations
- commitment to no-cost entry, accessibility & creation of family-friendly atmosphere (alcohol free and non-smoking)
- entertainment stages to showcase British Columbia artists & performers
- information services, big screens, merchandise sales & broadcast facilities
- comprehensive security provisions
- linkages to rapid transit, Queen Elizabeth Theatre & proposed Four Host First Nations Pavillion
- capacity for over 20,000 people with operations from 11:00am -11:00pm
- commitment to leaving tangible legacy
- private sponsorship opportunities
“These live sites will feature diverse activities and be a nightly gathering place for residents and thousands of visitors,” said Councillor Anton. “We look forward to working with VANOC, Province of British Columbia, Government of Canada and our other partners to ensure the Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games experience is accessible to as many people as possible.”
In addition to the Olympic Live Site Plan, Mayor Sullivan and Councillor Anton will support two other Olympic-related measures at City Council this week, including:
- Memorandum of Understanding between Canadian Olympic Committee & City of Vancouver
- $150,000 for improvements to Pedestrian Connector between Georgia Viaduct & BC Place
“Our members look forward to helping out and making this exciting initiative a memorable success for everyone,” said Charles Gauthier, Executive Director of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. “Because Downtown Vancouver is so accessible by transit, it is a natural home for many 2010 celebrations.”
The proposed Live Site Plan represents an important element of the City of Vancouver’s plan to celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games. Additional measures will be announced in the coming weeks and months.
