Despite his best efforts, Victoria 2022 Commonwealth Games bid committee chair David Black couldn91裸聊视频檛 convince B.C. Finance Minister Carole James that backing the city91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频滼ames said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淲e have analyzed the bid committee91裸聊视频檚 work and see that too manydetails remain unknown to fully understand the costs, obligations and risks associated withhosting such a large-scale event.91裸聊视频�
Black, a key member of Victoria91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 terribly disappointed,91裸聊视频� he said in an interview Thursday. 91裸聊视频淚 thought it was an enormousopportunity for Victoria and it really would help build the city.91裸聊视频�
He said he understood the position of the government and said James apologized when she calledto inform him of the decision. 91裸聊视频淣othing I said to her was going to change her mind.91裸聊视频�
James stated that the NDP were elected with 91裸聊视频渁 very clear set of priorities91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渨hen there is more time to do the worknecessary to protect B.C. taxpayers from financial insecurity.91裸聊视频�
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. 91裸聊视频淭hings change,91裸聊视频� Black said. 91裸聊视频淚don91裸聊视频檛 know where the Liberals would have been today 91裸聊视频� but the last thing [Liberal] sport ministerSam Sullivan did was to send off a letter saying they were in support.91裸聊视频�
With the bid for the 2022 Games now sunk, Black doubted that Victoria would see anotheropportunity 91裸聊视频渋n our lifetime.91裸聊视频�
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 thecountry91裸聊视频檚 2030 Games bid will likely come from the City of Hamilton if they choose to do so, asthe first British Empire Games 91裸聊视频� the predecessor of the Commonwealth Games 91裸聊视频� were held there in1930.
