Numbers revealed in a Commonwealth Games support letter from Sidney are old, says David Black, lead organizer of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 bid for the 2022 Games.
Black said Thursday morning the cost estimates for the bid have changed significantly since the bid committee asked area municipalities for their support, and following two days of meetings this week with Commonwealth Games committee members from London and Toronto.
The Victoria bid committee, led by Black, was expected to hold a media conference this morning to discuss sport venues, the budget and more, but that was postponed until next week. In an interview, Black said information out of those meetings changed significantly late yesterday, necessitating the delay.
The media conference was expected to shed more light on the Games bid process and costs associated with hosting the 2022 sporting event B次元官网网址� especially following a watchdog groupB次元官网网址檚 reveal this week of an endorsement of the Games bid from the Town of Sidney that revealed federal and provincial contributions of $450 million.
That letter, signed by Sidney Mayor Steve Price, outlines plans for $300 million from the Commonwealth Games Federation and Sport Canada and $150 million from the Province of B.C. B次元官网网址渁nd a guarantee against overruns.B次元官网网址�
John Treleavan, vice-president of the Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria, said that was the first time any monetary amount associated with the bid was revealed. For their organization, he said, it raised concerns about a lack of transparency with the public on just how much the Games could cost.
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 we deserve to hear the pros and cons in a public debate?B次元官网网址� Treleavan asked. B次元官网网址淭his falls apart if there isnB次元官网网址檛 public support.B次元官网网址�
The Grumpy Taxpayer$, added Treleavan, are not against the Games, but question the need to spend so much money on the event, citing the high cost of past games, including the last time Victoria hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1994.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen this movie before,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd I hope Sidney had more information on the business plan (for the Games bid) before they made such a decision.B次元官网网址�
Black, who owns media company Black Press, said criticisms of a lack of transparency on the cost B次元官网网址渁re fair.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 apologize to the people who might be worried about that,B次元官网网址� he said.
Black said the postponed media conference B次元官网网址� which he expects will be rescheduled to next week B次元官网网址� will hopefully address those issues around transparency.
He said the numbers in the Sidney letter are old and have changed as the bid committee has learned new things, such as how big a percentage of money the federal government is willing to contribute. As well, in meeting with Games committee members recently, Black said theyB次元官网网址檙e working through each sportB次元官网网址檚 requirements, venues available and the overall budget.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e revised some of the things weB次元官网网址檙e going to do,B次元官网网址� Black added, but said he would not comment on costs specifically, until next week.
Black added the bid committee also kept a lid on costs while Vancouver was also bidding for the Games.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e out, so itB次元官网网址檚 no longer an issue.B次元官网网址�
Asked about security costs B次元官网网址� another Grumpy Taxpayer$ concern B次元官网网址� Black said Victoria is one of the safest places in the world to potentially host the Games. And while he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 give the associated cost estimate, said they are expected to be B次元官网网址渓ess expensive.B次元官网网址�
Victoria is making its bid against Liverpool and Birmingham, both in England, which are considered front runners.
The Grumpy Taxpayer$ have sad they are figuring the Games, if hosted in Victoria, would cost an estimated $1 billion, based on costs for the 2014 Glasgow Games, which they say cost $720 million (US), with security costs of $112 million (US) B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渙f which almost 80 per cent was public (taxpayer) funding.B次元官网网址�
