2010 Winter Games on track for economic, social impact so far: report
Vancouver, B.C. - Up until the end of last year, the 2010 Winter Games were meeting expectations for economic and social impacts for the province and the country, said a new report.
But analysts for PriceWaterhouseCoopers said that was before the worldwide financial meltdown, and only time will tell whether the Games ultimately are a boon or a bust.
The consulting group will continue to monitor the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games until well after the athletes go home to determine whether any of the predicted negative impacts come true, like the jump in sex tourism or disruption to businesses.
The report found that the Games had a $788-million positive impact on the province's gross domestic product and generated 18,362 person-years of employment from the time Vancouver won the bid in 2003 until December 2008.
Project manager Ed Mansfield said the events are on target or above on the projection made in 2002 for their economic, cultural and social impact.
But analysts found that the province has not seen the pre-Games tourism expected.
