Comments on: Olympics impacts report: Environment, bad; business, good; housing, undecided

By: Maurice Cardinal

Maurice Cardinal — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:33:57 +0000

I’ve read the report and it doesn’t cut it for me for the same reasons Tessa cited – too biased.

It’s premature and serves little value at this early date except to create PR spin.

I’m still waiting to hear what they did with the 50 odd acres 30 feet deep of contaminated soil the Athletes’ Olympic Village was built on. No one seems to know where it went. Was it treated, moved somewhere else to leach into groundwater, or simply dumped in the ocean?

Truly funny comment Glissando, but the Olympia on Denman is still under serious threat from VANOC, which isn’t so funny.

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve the Olympics you can post them here …

http://www.olyblog.com/f/09/998Denman.shtml

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:59:02 +0000

I would be interested in reading it for myself. Has it already been published Frances?

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:04:56 +0000

“* The Games may have contributed to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and water consumption in British Columbia by stimulating pro-environmental awareness and practices, either directly or indirectly. However, the trend on both these fronts in B.C. after 2003/2004 suggests a move towards more environmentally friendly practices and increased acceptance of the idea of sustainable development that is likely to have existed regardless of the 2010 Games.”

Oh, please. I’m guessing this study didn’t think about the four lane highway built to Whistler as a direct result of these games, the increased trips to and from Whistler and the resulting sprawl that is going to cause, for instance the 1,100 homes being built in Porteau Cove by Concord. And there’s not even any evidence listed to back it up. Nothing but “increased environmental awareness. Seriously?

As for housing, it doesn’t sound like they looked at the impact of the Olympics on the housing market prices more generally than simply the number homeless and social housing units. The squeeze there is likely influenced by the Olympics – I think it would be hard to argue otherwise – in particular the number of rental units where eviction renovations have taken place to jack up the rents.

How much of an impact? Hard to say. Still, that didn’t stop them from reporting a claim of a link between increasing numbers of business in Vancouver. Whistler, sure, and it likely had some impact in Vancouver, too, but correlation does not equal causation and by putting 17 per cent increase there, it sounds all wonderful when the impact, if any in Vancouver, resulting from the Olympics would likely be no more than a tiny portione of that.

And it doesn’t make sense for them to take such a generous view of the impacts in business and ignore similar market impacts in housing, unless they want to spin the results.

Especially considering the test was written by the IOC themselves, I think it’s highly likely to be bias in favour of positive impacts, and I think that’s what we’re seeing here.

By: Glissando Remmy

Glissando Remmy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:24:56 +0000

The Five Kalamari Rings Thought of the Weekend

“Roast lamb with a side of sautéed rice and vegetables, Greek salad and dip in tsatziki sauce; dolmades and spanakopita appetizers, ah, the oven roasted lasagna or the mouth watering souvlaki with a side of homemade homuous. Olives, the symbol of peace, well, not quite but they come in a large assortment and in different stages of pickling. Deep fried kalamari or garlic cooked shrimps. Someone, please call for John Furlong! Because, when I’m thinking Olympic Games all that comes to mind is Olympia Pizza restaurant on Denman. And by the way, their legacy is real, has long been established, is delicious and is for here to stay! “