We're often told about the potential benefits of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
But hosting the 2010 Games is going to be very bad news for at least one Vancouver business.
Hastings Racecourse has announced it will be forced to shut down from February 1 to March 2, 2010 -- because it is too close to a key Olympic venue and poses a security risk. The racetrack itself will already be closed for the winter, but the restaurant and casino are affected.
About 200 people will be out of work for the month. The company which runs the course is trying to hook them up with other "vendors" in the area at Games' time.
In a leaked internal memo, general manager Raj Mutti says the racetrack wanted to remain open and was eager to take advantage of the multitude of business opportunities from the Games, especially with a key venue right next door.
But VANOC has forbidden the racetrack from opening because it's within the security footprint of the Pacific Coliseum, which will host speed skating and figure skating events.
Mutti says the company tried to negotiate some "flexibility" with VANOC, but a recent meeting confirmed the closure is inevitable.
