Fancy sewer heating system notwithstanding, Vancouver Olympics organizers have been slammed by a watchdog group as they ready the city for the 2010 Olympics.
According to the subtly named Impact of the Olympics on the Community Coalition, Winter Games organizers receive a D- for their preparations so far. Much of the near-failing grade concerns broken promises on housing and civil liberties, but the environment also factors in. The report accuses organizers of preferring “less-sustainable methods of transportation, despite bid promises to ensure sustainability.” A new four-lane highway has also been bitterly disputed. In addition, from the article:
The IOCC report card finds that other sustainability commitments — such as the zero waste management strategy and green building design — have received insufficient resources. Still other promises have yet to be addressed at all; these include a liquid waste strategy, hydrogen fuel infrastructure installation plans, and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies.
An executive vice president at the Vancouver Organizing Committee responded, “If the findings are accurate or fair, we’ll consider them.”
