By Jeremy Hainsworth
The Associated Press
RICHMOND, British Columbia — International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge predicted an “extraordinary and memorable” Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics as the one-year countdown to the games began Thursday.
On behalf of the world’s Olympics committees, the Russian, Canadian, U.S. and British Olympic representatives accepted invitations to Vancouver for the Games.
Rogge presented the invitations in Vancouver, the first time it was has been outside the Olympic home base of Lausanne, Switzerland.
“The countdown has begun,” Rogge told a crowd at the new Olympic speedskating oval in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. “In just one year, the slopes of Whistler, the Pacific Coliseum and Cypress Mountain will be open for Olympic competition.”
Earlier in the day, Rogge unveiled the torches for the Olympic relay across Canada and congratulated the Games organizing committee for its work to this point.
Rogge said earlier that everything appears to be on track for the games.
“I have been extremely pleased with the progress of the organization,” Rogge said.
Rogge, however, did acknowledged the Olympics in general have not been immune to the effects of the global economic crisis. He said a focus has been kept on controlling costs.
The Vancouver organizing committee recently dipped into its contingency fund to the tune of $40 million to cover rising costs because of the slowing economy.
The city also just approved a new budget that will allow it to borrow $350 million or more to take over building of the athletes’ village after the original lender stopped payment because of cost overruns and a crashing real estate market.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson recently announced taxpayers are “on the hook” for village costs.
Rogge said he’s confident Vancouver can recoup its costs through sales of the village condos.
The Vancouver Games have an operating budget of $1.63 billion — a $104 million increase over the original budget that was developed about two years ago.
Games security was originally estimated at $140 million to be split between the provincial and federal governments. The Canadian government has since acknowledged that cost could be as high as $800 million — or 1 billion in Canadian funds.
British Columbia’s finance minister Colin Hansen acknowledged on Monday that B.C.’s share of security costs will “likely” blow a hole in the province’s total games budget.
Rogge told a news conference security infrastructure will leave a legacy that will outlast the 17 days of the games.
When the latest Canadian budget was released on Jan. 27, there were no Olympic security numbers.
Organizing committee CEO John Furlong said the final figures are expected soon. He said Rogge had not been briefed on security costs.
Asked about the $1 billion estimate for security, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan said: “We’ll see what the final number is when it comes in, but it’s not wildly off base.”
“We’re simply trying to come to an arrangement with the province and there will be an announcement when that’s ready.”
The Games have also received criticism for infrastructure projects built to support them such as a new highway between Vancouver and Whistler, a new rapid transit line and a conference center.
Organizing committee chair Jack Poole dismissed the criticism Thursday.
“To describe these long-term capital assets as costs of a two-week event is laughable in the extreme,” Poole said.
Thursday’s ceremonies wrapped up with a sold-out concert featuring Canadian performers such as singer Sarah McLachlan and the Alberta Ballet.
