B.C. and Canada divided over 2010 benefits

The 2010 Olympics may look good to Canadians from a distance, but up closer in the host province the Winter Games don't seem to have the same allure.

A new poll conducted this month suggests Canadians living outside British Columbia felt more positive about the benefits of the 2010 Winter Olympics than those living in the province.

While 72 per cent of the Canadians surveyed in the Canadian Press Harris-Decima telephone poll said next year's Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler will have more benefits than drawbacks for the country, just 52 per cent of British Columbians felt the same way and 39 per cent thought there would be more drawbacks for Canada.

Just 19 per cent of Canadians thought the Olympics would bring more drawbacks for their country.

"It's surprising to see the region of Canada which is hosting the event showing the highest level of pessimism about the Olympics and its impact overall," Harris-Decima senior vice-president Jeff Walker said.

More than 2,000 Canadians were surveyed over two weeks between Jan. 8 and 25 and results have a margin of error no greater than 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.

The first sampling was conducted at the same time reports emerged in Vancouver that the city would have to oversee financing of the $1-billion athletes village after the project's initial lender refused to pay more cash.

Walker says that the athletes village controversy likely had an impact on the numbers.

"It's hard to believe it wouldn't," said Walker. "It got a lot of media coverage in B.C.

"We also know from previous work we've done on this question, that there has been a level of concern about the hosting of the Olympics and the kind of expenditures associated with the Olympics across the province."

When asked about the benefits to British Columbia specifically, Canadians and B.C. residents again had divergent opinions.

While 73 per cent of Canadian respondents felt there were more benefits than drawbacks to the province, only 54 per cent of native British Columbians felt the same and 40 per cent expected more drawbacks.

Just 20 per cent of the Canadians who responded felt there would be more drawbacks than benefits to B.C.

British Columbians were also divided on the issue of benefits and drawbacks with 58 per cent of respondents on B.C.'s Lower Mainland feeling the Games will have more benefits than drawbacks for Canada. Only 45 per cent of residents outside that area saw more benefits.

Renee Smith-Valade, vice-president of communications for the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee, said she wasn't surprised by the results.

"With just a year to go to the Games naturally British Columbians are more attuned to the cost of the Games as well as the impact on their day to day lives -- especially in the host regions," she said via e-mail. "The local media coverage of the Games scrutinizes far more intensely than anywhere else in the country and this also shapes public opinion."

Smith-Valade also said that VANOC's polling results show largely similar results for B.C. but suggest growing support from across Canada.

Tourism, the country's image abroad and national pride were the top three areas Canadians thought would be boosted by hosting the Games, according to the Harris-Decima poll.

Toronto's Irene Marquez can see the positive side of the Olympics.

"I think it's going to be good for the economy and attract more tourists," she said in a recent interview.

Just five per cent of those asked said they were very likely to travel to the city for the Games and another 10 per cent said it was somewhat possible they would.

Dennis Atchinson of Fredericton says he won't be trekking across the country to take in the Games.

"Nope. Too expensive," he said.

When asked if he'd be heading to Vancouver in 2010 to take in the Games, Steve Dolan of Toronto said he'd looked into the idea.

"It's a little bit too expensive," said Dolan. "Might change my mind coming up to the time."

Calgary's Sarah Howell, the wife of Olympic wrestler Ari Taub, said she and Taub are thinking about going to the Games.

"I grew up in Vancouver, so we're thinking about taking the family out and watching some events," she said. "I'd like to see some figure skating, but my husband probably prefers hockey and speedskating or skiing."

Considering Canada has yet to win a gold medal at its own Olympics, the country set an ambitious goal of winning more medals than any other country in 2010.

But of the Canadians polled, just 23 per cent thought hitting that target was very important, 41 per cent felt it was somewhat important and 35 per cent didn't think a big medal haul was important at all.

"It would be great to see Canada win as many medals as they can," said George Borshukov, a Bulgarian living in Vancouver. "It's always exciting for the host country and very demoralizing if they don't win many."

If Canada doesn't win more medals than any other country, but takes gold in men's hockey, 60 per cent of those surveyed said they'd still consider the Olympics a success for the host team.

"I think many, many Canadians will judge the success of the Games dependant upon the success of the hockey team," said Chris Rudge, chief executive officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee. "I think there is no Canadian in this country that ever wants to see our hockey team play for a bronze medal.

"I am a fan as much as I am a leader of sport, I'll be cheering for that hockey team as much, or harder, than anyone."

The organization responsible for preparing Canada's team to win the most medals is Own The Podium, which oversees the five-year, $120-million business plan for the team.

Even though $55 million of that comes from Canadian taxpayers, many people weren't familiar with the program as just under one in four surveyed knew of the organization.

"It surprises me it's that high," joked Own the Podium's chief executive officer Roger Jackson, before adding: "The athletes and the sports know it. The athletes are saying 'If it wasn't for Own The Podium, we can't imagine how we'd train.'

"The athletes are talking about it all the time and there will be an incredible awareness of that brand and that title as we lead into the Games."

In Toronto, Dolan said he'd heard of Own The Podium.

"It's sounds a little, I don't know . . . ego?" he said. "But I'm sure they could own the podium. They've got that many good athletes and they will probably get that many medals."

When told what Own the Podium does, 72 per cent of respondents said it was a good idea for the federal government to fund the program, while 17 per cent thought not.

There was no Canada-B.C. divide on that question as no less than 62 per cent polled in every region across the country believed it was worthwhile spending taxpayer dollars on Own the Podium.

Atchinson guessed correctly in Fredericton that Own the Podium was a funding structure for athletes and said it's high time there was one.

"It irritates me that money appears two years before the Olympics," he explained. "I used to coach women's basketball. I saw where funding went and the timing of the funding and it was never when it was needed for the development of the athlete."

With files from The Canadian Press