More than a week after the voting, The Canadian Olympic Association announced Tuesday that Vancouver will represent Canada at the bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Vancouver was one of three candidate-cities who wanted to bid for the Winter Olympics. Calgary and Quebec City were also in the running.

The ballot boxes had been sealed since Nov. 21 because it was thought the decision would become an issue during the Quebec election. After today's announcement, many are saying Quebec City's bid was hampered by the province's volatile political climate.

Vancouver-Whistler spent over $1 million to promote its bid for the Games. Corporate sponsors donated the funds, hoping an Olympics game in Vancouver will bring as much revenue into the city as the highly successful Expo '86 did over a decade ago.

The B.C. bid was highly favoured because Whistler's superb ski mountain. There is still much a lot of work left to do, says B.C. Premier Glen Clark, including improving the road between Vancouver and Whistler.

Calgary Olympic committee spokeswoman Terry Bullick says that getting the bid for Canada is only the first step. She says the real work begins when the competition starts at the international level.

No other country has formally applied for the 2010 Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee will make decide the host country in 2003.