Peter Kieser

"Get up, sir."

Hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics cannot be justified on economic grounds alone. That is one of the key findings of Olympic Costs and Benefits: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Going to protest? 2010 Olympics Know Your Rights.

2003

• 1 February: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)
• 3 July: OLYMPICS; Vancouver Wins 2010 Winter Olympics by 3-Vote Margin (The New York Times)

2004

• 20 February: Furlong chosen CEO of Vancouver 2010 (CBC)

2005

• 26 August: Vancouver 2010 Settles Dispute Over Domain Name (GamesBid.com)
• 1 December: British Columbia Wants Labour Peace For Vancouver 2010 Games (GamesBid.com)

2006

• 19 June: Ottawa to probe 2010 venue cost overruns (Vancouver Sun)

2007

• 26 July: Financial gaps could compromise Olympic security: documents (CBC)
• 16 August: Olympic security needs new boss (The StarPhoenix)

2008

• 24 December: VANOC's cost-saving plans rankle politicians (CBC)

2009

• 8 January: Warning sounded over Olympic bus plan (Stephen Reees, Independent)
• 21 January: Organizers revise 2010 Olympics budget in face of economic slowdown (CBC)
• 23 January: Add it all up, and you'll find the Olympics is going to cost us 6 Billion (so far, anyway) (Vancouver Sun)
• 23 January: Activists concerned about right to protest (Vancouver Sun)
• 28 January: Cops defend ticketing in the Downtown Eastside (Vancouver Courier)
• 28 January: Federal budget mum on security costs for 2010 Olympic Games (CBC)
• 30 January: VANOC budget up 7% (Toronto Sun)
• 12 February: 2010 Olympics countdown festivity greeted with celebration and protest (CBC)
• 12 February: NDP complains that many 'official' Olympic countdown events aren't open to public (News 1130)
• 16 February: Latest cost overruns may slash social housing in Olympic Village project (CBC)
• 18 February: Olympic security costs escalate in B.C. budget (Vancouver Sun)
• 20 February: Initial Games security budget left out millions in possible costs (Penticton Herald)
• 9 March: Hastings Park forced to lay off staff for 2010 Olympics (CBC)
• 10 March: More Olympics-related layoffs feared (CBC)
• 10 March: Road plan for 2010 Olympics foresees major traffic disruptions (CBC)
• 10 April: The Olympic Games look like a rich man's game (Vancouver Sun)
• 20 April: Downturn affects Vancouver's Olympic plans (The Oregonian)
• 23 April: Surrey man, 73, gets police visit after writing Vanoc (Vancouver Sun)
• 8 July: 2010 Olympic security plans include 'free speech areas' (CBC)
• 14 July: Anti-Olympics mood deepens in Whistler (The Globe and Mail)
• 13 August: More Olympic road closures planned: civil liberties group (CBC)
• 20 August: $3B shortfall challenges B.C. finance minister (CBC)
• 15 September: Roving teams shield Olympic brand (CBC)
• 7 October: IOC Tries to Take Down Olympic Photos on Flickr (Now Public, Independent)
• 16 October: $30 million in bonuses await VANOC staff (CBC)
• 29 October: Activists interrupt Olympic torch relay (CBC)
• 18 November: Torch run security burns into police budgets: Costs not covered by Olympic organizers (CBC)
• 18 November: Vancouver police get sonic crowd control device (CBC)
• 18 November: Vancouver police disable sonic weapon (CBC)
• 24 November: Vietnam-era guide to civil disobedience updated for 2010 Winter Games (Yahoo! News, CBC)
• 26 November: Sightseeing float-plane tours banned (The Province)
• 30 November: U.S. firm to build Canadian Olympic pavilion (CBC)
• 1 December: Vancouver parking-meter rates could rise (CBC)
• 2 December: ISU questions anti-Olympic blogger (North Shore Outlook)
• 7 December: Homeless won't be forced to shelters: VPD chief (CTV)
• 10 December: Vancouver orders removal of anti-Olympic mural (CTV)
• 15 December: B.C. musician decries VANOC's control of song rights (CBC)
• 16 December: Lululemon irks Olympic officials with 'rogue' clothing line (Vancouver Sun)
• 17 December: Olympic torch delayed by Toronto protesters (CBC)
• 18 December: Olympic bus confusion (CKNW)
• 21 December: Budget Hits Will 'Basically Gut' AIDS Vancouver (The Tyee)
• 21 December: American selected for organ duties in 2010 (News 1130)
• 21 December: B.C. only province with rising greenhouse gases (CBC)
• 22 December: Native knitters investigated, B.C. MLA says (CBC)

2010

• 8 January: Whistler's homeless relocated ahead of Olympics (CBC)
• 10 January: Games security clears streets of garbage bins, newspaper boxes (Vancouver Sun)
• 11 January: Anti-Olympic paintings appear at site of removed Beatty Street murals (Georgia Straight)
• 12 January: Cambie Bridge to close for Olympic ceremonies, including dress rehearsal (Vancouver Sun)
• 14 January: Homeless living in Games security zones to move voluntarily, say police (Vancouver Courier)
• 14 January: Vancouver Winter Olympics: A Festival of Corporate Greed (Global Research, Independent)
• 15 January: City will close 30 streets during Games (Vancouver Courier)
• 20 January: Whistler lenders move to foreclose (CBC)
• 20 January: Olympics no longer 'smoke-free' (The Province)
• 21 January: Whistler-Blackcomb on auction block (Vancouver Sun)
• 21 January: Don't Dare Use Students as Scabs during Olympics: CUPE (The Tyee)
• 21 January: Olympic skepticism highest in B.C., new poll shows (CTV)
• 25 January: 'Red Tent' Campaign Planned for Homeless during Olympics (The Tyee)
• 25 January: As Olympics near, people in Vancouver are dreading Games (Sports Illustrated, CNN)
• 26 January: 'Inappropriate' free Olympic tickets turned down (Yahoo News!, CBC)
• 27 January: Pickpocket warnings issued as Olympics approach (CBC)
• 27 January: Sun, Province to Promote Governments' Homeless Message (The Tyee)
• 28 January: IOC president backs Cypress Mountain events (CBC)
• 28 January: Canadian Pavilion not getting much support (News 1130)
• 28 January: Former Olympians left out of these Games (News 1130)
• 28 January: No Olympic economic bounce for Whistler grocer (BC News Kelona, Vancouver Sun)
• 28 January: Some courier companies concerned over Olympic traffic restrictions (News 1130)
• 28 January: 'Saluting' Nazi filmmaker a no-win for VANOC (National Post)
• 28 January: Vancouver's Chinese community won't cancel New Year parade for Olympics (National Post)
• 29 January: Planes, boats and automobiles: Olympic security measures kick in (News 1130)
• 29 January: Vancouver's push to ban plastic bottles won't hold during Olympics (Vancouver Sun)
• 29 January: Little Olympic fever, big headaches ahead (Times Colonist)
• 30 January: Procession of Olympic buses arrive at border (News 1130)
• 31 January: Games will be safe: Premier (CKNW)
• 31 January: Big Brother will start watching Monday (News 1130)
• 31 January: Vancouver's Olympics head for disaster (The Guardian)
• 1 February: Whistler owner wants Ottawa to pay $90M US: report (CBC)
• 1 February: Olympic cruise ship hotel plan in jeopardy (CBC)
• 1 February: Prepare to pay for parking at Granville Island during the Games (Vancouver Courier)
• 1 February: Olympic lineups to be hours long (CBC)
• 1 February: Olympic homeless pavilion feels contrived and dumbed down (Vancouver Sun)
• 1 February: Anti-Olympic activists get their game on (Vancouver Sun)
• 2 February: Labour woes at Hertz car rental (CKNW)
• 2 February: Olympic floating-hotel scheme sinks (CBC)
• 2 February: RCMP memo cites airport security lapses (CBC)
• 3 February: Military giant involved with Olympic spy cameras (24 Hours)
• 4 February: $900m security budget won't cover looming terrorist attack (The Province)
• 4 February: Olympic traffic lanes roll out in Vancouver (CBC)
• 4 February: Olympic infringements on freedom of speech land Canada on watch list (Georgia Straight)
• 4 February: Internet sites being used to recruit anti-Olympic protesters (News 1130)
• 4 February: Anti-Olympic protesters call for support (CBC)
• 4 February: In the Shadow of the Olympics (The New York Times)
• 5 February: Olympic road closures drive office workers home (CBC)
• 5 February: B.C. to give 3,400 Olympic tickets to VIPs (CBC)
• 5 February: Hold the burger: Olympic chef changes menu after McDonald’s objects (The Province)
• 6 February: Local business owner claims the Olympics are costing him his livelihood (News 1130)
• 6 February: 2010 Poverty Olympics torch relay kicks off Sunday (Vancouver Sun)
• 6 February: Why I loathe the Olympics and why I hope they succeed (Vancouver Sun)
• 7 February: Freelance reporter, Olympic critic turned back at Canadian border (The Province)
• 7 February: Convicted former Samsung chairman Lee reinstated as IOC member following pardon (Metro News)
• 7 February: Olympic security doesn't stop at Canadian border (USA Today)
• 8 February: Photos: Signs of Olympic resistance in Vancouver (Georgia Straight)
• 8 February: Photos: Olympics bring security checkpoints, fences, and closures to Vancouver (Georgia Straight)
• 8 February: Olympic restrictions have cabbies griping (CBC)
• 8 February: Bus trouble for VANOC as drivers revolt (Toronto Sun)
• 8 February: Security set to deal with Olympic protesters (The Province)
• 8 February: Activist ticketed for postering in the DTES (Vancouver Media Co-op)
• 8 February: Why This Is Vancouver's Last Super Spectacle (The Tyee)
• 10 February: Schwarzenegger unworthy to carry our Olympic torch (The Province)
• 10 February: California transit buses don't make grade at Olympic mountain venue (Vancouver Sun)
• 10 February: Condo tenants blast Irish House's music (The Province)
• 11 February: Olympic protesters mobilize in Vancouver (Georgia Straight)
• 11 February: Isaac Oommen: Why Vancouver will welcome the Olympics with a massive protest (Georgia Straight)
• 12 February: No Olympic benefits at Granville Island (CBC)
• 16 February: VANOC cancels 20,000 more Cypress tickets (CBC)
• 24 February: A $1 Billion Hangover From an Olympic Party (The New York Times)
• 26 February: Games privatize profit and socialize losses (Vancouver Courier)

Work in progress.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimated the Games would pump $4.2 billion into the B.C. economy from 2002 to 2020. That sounds like a lot until you consider that the province's gross domestic product was almost $198 billion in 2008 alone. If the retail industry suffers in B.C. during the Games like it did in Utah during Salt Lake 2002, then the benefits will melt further. — Bob Mackin, 24 hours.