(ATR) A new soccer stadium proposed in Vancouver could host Olympic celebration events or sponsorship showcases. Organizers of the 2010 Games are said to be interested in using the new arena, expected to be complete in 2009.
Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is planned as a 15,000-seat open-air stadium to be built above railway tracks behind Waterfront Station, the city's downtown transit hub. While set for a mid-2009 debut, Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot is hoping to fast-track the project so that it can become a venue for the FIFA 2007 World Youth Championship.
Vancouver is one of seven Canada cities that will play host to the tournament. Other cities include: Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Victoria.
Whitecaps president John Rocha said the cost of the new Vancouver stadium will be similar to the $60 million, 22,000-seat stadium planned in Toronto for the championships.
"We have a vision, we think we have the opportunity to build a great jewel for the city to represent all facets of sports, art and tourism," Rocha said. He says talks have begun with VANOC about using the arena during the Olympics.
Opening and Closing ceremonies for 2010 are planned for BC Place, a domed stadium, the first-ever for an Olympics, but the location of a medals plaza for Vancouver is still undetermined.
London Lord Mayor in Vancouver
London Lord Mayor Michael Savory says he had to work from the ground up in his campaign to seek donations for the London 2012 bid after he was rebuffed by heads of international corporations. He found some CEO's wouldn't donate, because their branch offices in Paris and New York would've demanded matching pledges for those cities? bids.
We went to the staff, those young men and women who we knew were keen on sports and wound them up to say, chase your boss, find out why his company is not supporting London?s Olympic bid," Savory said Tuesday during a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon.
Within a month, he said, the same executives would end up donating.
"You've got to get the people involved and that's what we've succeeded in doing," Savory said. "We won the bid because of that."
Reported by Bob Mackin in Vancouver
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