The Hangover

(Aired on January 27, 2010)

I suppose it's probably not cool of me to bring up reality today, on this day of Olympic triumph.  The community, and indeed the province and the entire country are all being encouraged to look directly into the light - that burning torch that lights our hopes and dreams.

As for me, I won't be lining up to get that happy pill.

Olympic organizers had hoped that the excitement surrounding the games would have built to a fever pitch by now.  In fact, Angus Reid says it's going the other way.  More people are having their eyes opened to the negative impact the games will have.

And how can you blame people for being skeptical?  The cost of the Olympics has now reached $6-Billion and climbing.  That's just public money; it does not include corporate sponsorships.  Price Waterhouse Coopers just released a study saying the economic spinoff will be about $1-Billion.  And there is nothing to indicate any of that will be felt anywhere but the Lower Mainland.  Even Squamish, supposedly in a prime location to cash in, is saying it's not expecting a significant economic benefit.

My math isn't too good, but by my calculations $6-Billion spent minus $1-Billion coming in adds up to a lot of debt for years to come.  Billions of dollars that could be going to health, education, social programs, and other secondary considerations for our government.

The party will be huge, but the hangover will be absolutely epic.

Supporters argue that the impact of the games will be more intangible than measurable.  But even the spirit of the games is being undermined.  While the surface is all rah-rah, musicians performing as part of the games have been told they aren't allowed to say anything remotely derogatory about the event.  The lasting legacy of these games won't burn nearly as bright as the torch itself.

It's true, the Olympics will represent a windstorm of activity for B.C.  But we all know what a tornado leaves in its path - devastation - and that's exactly what our province has in store.

(Note: I got caught up in traffic behind the torch this morning.  Don't get me wrong, it's my own dumb fault for not knowing where the torch was going to be and when.  If anyone should know, it should be me.  But you can imagine my feelings toward this whole thing now.)