Ben Thomas spent the last three years trying sort out accommodation for Germany's national Olympic delegation during the 2010 Games. He was hoping to house them in Whistler, with easy access to the sporting events in which the German athletes are known to excel.

But Thomas has been given some bad news.

"Basically, they have a choice whether to set up their big German house in Whistler or Vancouver and unfortunately they've chosen Vancouver," he says.

Their decision is a disappointment but not a surprise.

"Given everything that's going on in the world right now, unfortunately it's a no-brainer to go down to Vancouver," he says.

Part of the problem is simple economics. There are more hotels and amenities in Vancouver, at about a third the cost of what's on offer in Whistler -- where many aren't renting at all.

In Whistler, demand is down. Thomas, a vacation property broker, still has about 400 available units.

The tough economic times that have made Whistler a tough sell are being made harder still by indecision and infighting. A by law that would have made running the 2010 Games a lot easier for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) has been stalled.

The idea was voted down by local councillors in response to Vanoc's suggestion that they may not, for economic reasons, hold daily medal ceremonies in a formerly forested area of the village still under construction to become a medal ceremony venue.

"That would not be cool -- they should have it here," one New York tourist told CTV.

Talk of creating a national neighbourhood in the celebration plaza has been silenced already, because of expense and uncertainty.

The fear is if no medals are awarded in Whistler, tourists might only visit venues like the Olympic Park -- without visiting the Village or spending any money there.

"I think they should come up here and experience it and maybe if they like it people will come back to Whistler," says New Zealand tourist Kate Rhodes.

And that seems to be the hope, even if those tourists might not include the German National Olympic Committee.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan