ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 27, 1998

Author/Local: Pat Fry/6447

CC File No. 4202

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Pacific Games in Vancouver 2001

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RECOMMENDATION

A.THAT Council endorse, in principle, the Pacific Games in June 2001, and agree to act as Host City, noting that this does not imply a City funding commitment.

B.THAT staff from Engineering, Park Board, Police Department and the Office of Cultural Affairs report back to Council on details of the proposed arrangements to ensure the smooth planning and operation of the Games.

COUNCIL POLICY

There is no applicable Council policy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council’s endorsement of the Pacific Games taking place from June 16 - 29, 2001.

BACKGROUND

In October 1997, Council received an executive summary of the Pacific Games from Mr. William Winnett, Chairman of the Pacific Games Organization. The summary outlined the 2001 Pacific Games, the Pacific Economic Forum and the Pacific Cultural Festival.

DISCUSSION

The pacific region consists of forty-three countries (approximately 46% of the world population). The games were initiated in 1995 by the National Olympic Committees of the Pacific region. The games will take place from June 16 - 29, 2001. Although not confirmed, the games will include thirteen sports activities and four thousand athletes. The selection of sports will be determined by the National Olympic Committees of the pacific regions and the host organizers. The summary indicates existing facilities will be used for most of the sports, however there is mention of building three additional venues paid for mainly by third parties.

The projected budget for the games is $148,000,000. Vancouver and the GVRD municipalities’ contribution is listed at $1,000,000. The steering committee has been advised that the City of Vancouver is not prepared to provide funding for construction of facilities, stadium, track and pool venue rentals or City service costs associated with hosting the games. However, staff will be available for the research and planning process and to provide direction on the specific city requirements of each sporting event.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The proposal put forward by the Pacific Games 2001 Committee outlines a significantly large event, which will definitely impact the Vancouver Police Department. There are several areas of police involvement that will have to be determined as planning commences and it is important that we proceed with caution in relation to the scope of the event.

The key areas of police involvement will revolve around the protection of the athletes and security of "games" sites. As outlined in document "Game Plan 2001" there appears to be a distribution of the games activities and venues, with the athletes village being at UBC. If this remains the case, the requirements for the Vancouver Police Department would be considerably less than that of the overall security role and involvement of other police agencies. Our APEC experience leads us to be cautious, as situations may change with alternate plans resulting in increased activities in the City.

It is extremely important that City staff, including the Police Department becomes involved in the planning process and that funding is provided for adequate research on transportation

and security issues. This proved invaluable during the planning for APEC and ensured that the City was represented well.

The Vancouver Police Department will provide a liaison to ensure that joint planning is set in place between City Departments and other involved police agencies.

PARK BOARD

The Pacific Games 2001 Organizing Committee presented an overall summary and description of the Pacific Games to a group of Park Board Commissioners and senior staff in October 1997. At this meeting , the Chair and Commissioners indicated their support in principle for the event.

At this time, the Park Board has not made any specific commitments in terms of facilities and costs. Further discussions and negotiations with the event organizers will be required to determine all the necessary arrangements for the use of various facilities, parks and beaches within the Vancouver Park Board jurisdiction. Once the request for specific facilities to be used during the Pacific Games is determined, a report will be presented to the Park Board for final approval.

The Economic Forum and the Cultural Festival are the remaining issues that cannot be specifically addressed in this report. Both of these events will be stand alone and details of where and what these represent is yet to be determined.

CONCLUSION

The report is intended to obtain Council’s endorsement of the Pacific Games in June 2001.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver