After nearly two years of planning, the Winter Games will start to take shape as more organizers get involved.
"We're becoming real, we're becoming operational," John Furlong, chief executive officer for the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee (VANOC), said Monday.
"We've been 18 months planning and now the project is going to come to life. Job One is to get these venues started."
The plan for this summer is for construction to start on the $102-million biathlon, cross-country and ski jumping facility at Callaghan Valley, about eight kilometres south of Whistler.
Work will also begin on the $52.8-million bobsled and luge track, which will be built on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler.
Furlong expects VANOC to expand from its current staff of about 80 to 1,200 as more venues get built.
"VANOC is small today but the organization will start to grow," Furlong told reporters after a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade. "In the next three or four months, you'll see us move in the direction of getting the venues started.
"We're also going to be moving along with some of our more integrated planning in areas like security, technology, accommodation and transportation."
Premier Gordon Campbell said his Liberal government will contribute $15 million this year to help develop and support B.C. athletes.
The 2010 Vancouver Olympics will take place from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28 while the paralympic competitions will be held March 12 to 21.
with files from CP Online
