UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 09 | May 10, 2001

Board to decide on Olympic village invite

The Board of Governors will decide at its May 17 meeting whether to accept the invitation that UBC serve as the site of the athletes' village for the 2010 Whistler Winter Olympics bid.

The proposal would see some 2,400 athletes, coaches and officials housed at UBC from Feb. 5 to 21, requiring games organizers to build approximately 1,200 new residential units to accommodate them.

"We have been very clear in our insistence that UBC students living in residences not be displaced," says UBC vice-president, Students, Brian Sullivan.

In order to accommodate a one-week extension of the reading break, the proposal calls for adjustments to the beginning and end dates of the spring term.

According to a survey conducted by the Whistler Bid Corp., 67 per cent of neighbourhood residents support the idea that UBC host the athletes. Ten per cent of those surveyed were neutral. Seventy per cent support Whistler and Vancouver hosting the games.

In addition, the UBC Olympic Village Work Group, chaired by Sullivan, has consulted more than 60 campus and community groups over the past few months.

An open house held earlier this month provided the community with an opportunity to obtain information and provide input about the proposal.

Concerns include potential disruption for student residents, as well as the impact of increased traffic coming to and from UBC.

For more information on the proposal, or to provide feedback prior to the Board meeting, contact the Office of the Vice-president, Students, at vpstudents@exchange.ubc.ca.