Vancouver View - Women Ski Jumpers in the Cold; Official Scalping Website; VANOC Deficit

Female Jumpers Lose Appeal for Vancouver

Women ski jumpers have lost their legal battle to compete in the Vancouver Olympics.

The Supreme Court of Canada refused Tuesday to hear an appeal of a British Columbia ruling denying a bid to allow women’s ski jumping at Vancouver. The court issued no reasons.

The decision virtually ends the skiers’ legal quest to participate in the games. Women's Ski Jumping USA president Deedee Corradini vowed to continue the battle until a women's event is added to the Games.

The IOC decided in 2006 to add only ski cross to Vancouver 2010 and not women's ski jumping.

In May 2008, ski jumpers filed lawsuit seeking a court order to add a women's event or cancel all men's competitions. Before a week-long April 2009 trial, the suit was amended to seek a non-binding application that the Games are a government activity.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled the women were victims of discrimination by the IOC, but the Canadian constitution does not apply to the foreign-based IOC. The B.C. Court of Appeal upheld the verdict in November.

Official Scalping Website

VANOC is hoping to capitalize on scarce tickets for the 2010 Games with ticket auctions and an authorized resale website.

Vancouver 2010 launched its long-awaited online ticket exchange on Monday. There is no limit to ticket prices, but VANOC is levying a 20% commission on all transactions with the buyer and seller splitting the charge evenly. Only Visa is accepted, but payments will not be remitted until after the Paralympics.

"We would prefer that the prices posted are low," Deputy CEO Dave Cobb said. "But we were prepared to sacrifice our control over that in order to have a safe place for people to buy legitimate tickets with a primary objective of the seats being full for the Games."

The resale page has a parallel auction page where prime ticket packages are available for inflated prices. A pair of tickets behind the bench the Canada versus United States men's hockey game was listed for $2,500 Canadian dollars, nine times the original price of $265 for the pair.

Through Oct. 31, VANOC reported $183.7 million in ticket sales. The number of tickets sold remains a secret.

VANOC Reports Deficit

VANOC reported $74.09 million deficit for the quarter that ended on Oct. 31 but the organization claims it is "on track" for a balanced budget.

Chief financial Officer John McLaughlin was unable to say how much bailouts from various levels of government would help achieve the goal.

"I'd have to actually find that out for you," McLaughlin said. "It is a relative small number compared to all the private sector revenue we've got."

Deferred operating revenues dropped from $112.36 million in the previous quarter to $81.1 million. Historical revenues are now $1 billion, while expenditures are $927.2 million.

Monday's report included a $7.6 million infusion from B.C. Housing "as a contribution towards legacy social housing." In October 2008, the provincial Crown agency announced it would help fund the move of Whistler Olympic Village portables to communities like Sechelt and Surrey.

The IOC agreed in August to pay cash-strapped VANOC up to $22 million to cover losses because it failed to deliver two more global sponsors. B.C. taxpayers, however, are ultimately liable for losses.

VANOC and Orchestra Fix Broken Strings

While it will still play a part in the Games, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra refused a VANOC request to prerecord music for the opening ceremonies while other musicians mimic the performance.

Long-time Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Director Bramwell Tovey refused the request because he viewed it as "fraudulent" performance. VANOC issued a rare Saturday night press release apologizing to the orchestra.

"VANOC regrets that the complex technical requirements of the Opening Ceremonies have put the VSO in a difficult position and both parties wish to move forward in the spirit of preparing for the great Games ahead," the release said.

The group will perform three times during the cultural Olympiad and has already recorded 90 national anthems.

See and hear the VSO record the Canadian national anthem for the Vancouver Olympics in this 2008 report by Bob Mackin for 24 Hours Vancouver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVdZvWBcA_4

Briefly….

…VANOC will announce its third phase of its transportation plan on Jan. 11 or 12, said executive vice-president Terry Wright. The new information will focus on overcoming transportation challenges on the opening and closing days of the Games. VANOC is hoping to entice downtown businesses to change opening hours or keep staff home during the Games to achieve a 30 percent reduction in traffic…

… Coca-Cola is speaking out against a Pepsi and Gatorade ad campaign promoting a new cheer for the Canadian national hockey teams. "It is an obvious attempt to capitalize on the Olympic Games," according to a prepared statement from Coca-Cola Canada. "Ambush marketing deprives deserving athletes, young talents, event organizers and local communities of much-needed funding. If companies wish to be part of the Olympic Games festivities, they should make a long term investment in the Games and host communities as an official sponsor."

…A German worker injured in a 55-foot fall at the Cypress Mountain Olympic snowboarding venue is making a full recovery at home. Martin Blackburn, Vancuover general manager of Swiss-based temporary seating provider Nussli, said the 44-year-old man suffered a broken arm on Oct. 6, but does not have nerve damage. WorkSafeBC cited Nussli because the man had no safety harness when the platform he was on was dislodged by a crane. Fall protection is mandatory when working 10 feet or higher from the ground. Blackburn said the company revised its erection procedures.

U.S. currency except where noted. Based on exchange rate of CAD$1=USD$0.947.

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With reporting from Bob Mackin.