Despite his best efforts, Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid committee chair David Black couldn香蕉视频直播檛 convince B.C. Finance Minister Carole James that backing the city香蕉视频直播檚 bid was a sound business idea.
The NDP decided that now is not the time to provide $400 million toward the cost of the Games,nor agree to cover any shortfalls that might arise out of staging this international multi-sportevent.
香蕉视频直播淲hile we appreciate the energy and passion of the bid committee, we cannot make a commitmentto support the bid through direct finding, nor can we provide a financial shortfall guarantee,香蕉视频直播滼ames said in a statement. 香蕉视频直播淲e have analyzed the bid committee香蕉视频直播檚 work and see that too manydetails remain unknown to fully understand the costs, obligations and risks associated withhosting such a large-scale event.香蕉视频直播�
Black, a key member of Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 1994 Games committee, had assembled a team of movers andshakers from the city to help bolster the bid. But in the end, the decision to support the bid camedown to timing and risk, he said.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 terribly disappointed,香蕉视频直播� he said in an interview Thursday. 香蕉视频直播淚 thought it was an enormousopportunity for Victoria and it really would help build the city.香蕉视频直播�
He said he understood the position of the government and said James apologized when she calledto inform him of the decision. 香蕉视频直播淣othing I said to her was going to change her mind.香蕉视频直播�
James stated that the NDP were elected with 香蕉视频直播渁 very clear set of priorities香蕉视频直播� to make life moreaffordable for B.C. residents and add to long-term economic growth around the province. She saidthe government will consider future bid proposals 香蕉视频直播渨hen there is more time to do the worknecessary to protect B.C. taxpayers from financial insecurity.香蕉视频直播�
Among the question marks giving the province pause were the uncertainty of commitments fromthe federal and local governments, Games revenues, final venue locations and costs for securityand emergency response.
Black said when he initially spoke with B.C. party leaders John Horgan, Andrew Weaver and ChristyClark, all three supported the bid, subject to seeing the budget. 香蕉视频直播淭hings change,香蕉视频直播� Black said. 香蕉视频直播淚don香蕉视频直播檛 know where the Liberals would have been today 香蕉视频直播� but the last thing [Liberal] sport ministerSam Sullivan did was to send off a letter saying they were in support.香蕉视频直播�
With the bid for the 2022 Games now sunk, Black doubted that Victoria would see anotheropportunity 香蕉视频直播渋n our lifetime.香蕉视频直播�
While James stated that she expected that B.C. communities will consider bidding for futureGames, such as the 100th anniversary in 2030, Black said that unlikely to happen.
The 2026 Games are not a possibility for Victoria according to Sport Canada, he said. And thecountry香蕉视频直播檚 2030 Games bid will likely come from the City of Hamilton if they choose to do so, asthe first British Empire Games 香蕉视频直播� the predecessor of the Commonwealth Games 香蕉视频直播� were held there in1930.
