Vancouver city council voted Thursday to spend another $26 million on three Olympic venues, after it was told last week that rising construction costs have added millions to the city's Olympic tab.

The Hillcrest curling rink and two practice ice rinks at the Killarney and Trout Lake community centres were originally estimated to cost about $80 million.

But due to rising costs, it's estimated that the three venues will cost more than $105 million.

Dave Rudberg, Vancouver's general manager for Olympic operations, cautioned that costs could go up further.

"We're still dealing with estimates," Rudberg said. "There's no guarantees until we actually go to tender. We really won't be able to provide the kind of certainty around the costs that are needed."

Despite the uncertainty, council voted unanimously to approve spending nearly $9 million to cover the increased costs of the curling rink and $17 million for a pool and the two ice rinks the city planned to build at the same time, in order to receive Olympic funding.

That decision was made easier thanks to an earlier commitment from the Vancouver Park Board.

On Monday, the park board voted unanimously to lend the city $19 million toward the costs of the venues.

Coun. Peter Ladner said the city has no choice but to cover the rising costs.

"These are projects we decided and the park board decided are top priorities for the city, regardless of the Olympics," said Ladner. "And we're able to use Olympic money to hasten the development of these projects.

"To not do this now is to miss out on the $43 million that VANOC [wants] to give to us — that is indeed our Olympic legacy."

Council also defeated an amendment proposed by Coun. Tim Stevenson to put a matching amount of just under $9 million into social programs.