HRM’s Games bid receives a boost
By Holly Fraughton

The expected benefits of Halifax’s Commonwealth Games bid dominated NovaKnowledge’s spring luncheon series Wednesday.

Thomas Jones, CEO for Commonwealth Games Canada, and Scott Logan, CEO of Halifax’s 2014 bid committee, sang the praises of the municipality’s efforts to host the Games.

After beating out Ottawa, Hamilton and Ontario’s York Region in domestic competition for the Games, Halifax is now in the international race with Glasgow, Scotland, and Abuja, Nigeria.

Organizers estimate the Games will create almost $2 billion in economic spinoffs in the form of new jobs, tourism and business relationships.

But some have expressed concerns that the investment is risky, with critics pointing to the economic failure of Montreal’s 1976 Olympics.

But Mr. Logan said the Commonwealth Games would produce no such "white elephant."

"We’ve learned a lot since Montreal back in 1976 . . . and we’re going to make sure we don’t make sure we don’t repeat mistakes," he said.

Mr. Jones said Nova Scotia’s sport system would benefit from hosting the Games by offering role models for participants.

"More than ever, it is now time to not only focus, but invest in sport," he said.

The estimated cost of hosting the Games has jumped from $785 million from $500 million, and further details are not being released because committee members don’t want the competitors to know their plans.

This secrecy has sparked some controversy, but Mr. Logan said the total cost of the bid process will be released after it has approval from all three levels of government.

Mr. Logan acknowledged the failure to provide information immediately and thoroughly could be a factor in the lack of complete support but said discretion is normal in the bidding process.

"People have to understand that we’re not the funding agency. . . . There’s a whole process here that we have to go through, one that we can’t necessarily control."

Mr. Logan said he is satisfied with the amount of support the committee members have received.

"Our partners are strong partners, they’re very supportive of us, and in due course they will make sure that we have the support we need to win this," he said. "All three levels of government clearly want us to win this bid."

Health Promotion Minister Barry Barnet recently said Halifax’s bid is in second place behind Glasgow’s, which is good news. Mr. Logan agreed.

"The thing is, Scotland is one year ahead of us and they’re running a great campaign," he said. "So are we, and as we get more and more into this thing, we’ll see support come back because we have a strong bid."

( hfraughton@herald.ca)

Copyright © 2006 The Halifax Herald Limited