Subject :VANCOUVER -- More than four years after the Olympic flame went out on the West Coast, the Vancouver
VANCOUVER -- More than four years after the Olympic flame went out on the West Coast, the Vancouver Organizing Committee released its final reports Thursday and turned out the lights. Cody Kessler Jersey . VANOC said the Games broke even, with total revenues and expenses just shy of $1.9 billion. The group that organized the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics has no more assets or outstanding debts and has asked government to dissolve the company. "It was 11 years ago yesterday we took the stage in Prague and we made promises," CEO John Furlong said in an interview. "We made commitments in the name of the country, we made commitments to the IOC and we made commitments to the Canadian public that we would deliver the Games in the black and so we set out to do that." It was a challenging journey, he said, pointing out the global economic collapse in 2008. "I think that worried us," Furlong said. With the Sochi Games in the not-so-distant past and fresh concerns about the World Cup in Brazil, Furlong said there has been much discussion about the cost of such large events and the difficulties some countries have had. "I look at our situation and think we are a very good model of how to do these events. This is, to me, very good for the Canada brand of being reliable, being trustworthy, keeping your promises, being on time and on budget, being responsible about the things that really matter to the public," he said. At the end of the day, the final financial report said the federal government contributed $74.4 million, the British Columbia government $113.4 million and other governments $176 million. The International Olympic Committee kicked in $659 million in sponsorships and contributions to help cover the tab. Ticket sales raised $269 million, while licensing and merchandising accounted for another $54 million. An independent audit by Ernst and Young confirmed the results. The final financial statement said all sites have been remediated and turned over to the province and local governments as legacy venues and the organizing committee asked government to dissolve the company after its final meeting on June 27. The final report said several claims and disputed contracts have been resolved since the event, along with an 18-month coroners review of the Whistler Sliding Centre, where a Georgian luger was killed in a training accident. Critics point out that some of the most expensive infrastructure of the Games, including the Sea to Sky Highway, the Vancouver Convention Centre and a rapid transit line to the airport were not included in the final tally. The expansion of the Vancouver Convention Centre cost $883 million, $388 million over budget. The SkyTrains Canada Line linking Vancouver to the airport cost $2.1 billion. But Furlong said all the buildings and infrastructure are currently in use and board chairman Ken Dobell said the Games left a debt-free legacy for the country. "First of all, it cost what it was supposed to cost," Dobell said. Significant capital upgrades were made that had to happen sooner or later, and the host communities now have recreation and community facilities for residents. "Was it a worthwhile endeavour? The way Vancouver did it, for sure," he said. Christian Kirksey Jersey . Mike Vecchione tied it at 2 with 4:01 left in the first, Saskatoon native Eli Lichtenwald gave the Dutchman the lead 57 seconds later, and Daniel Ciampini capped the spree with 2:57 to go. Briean Boddy-Calhoun Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest.TAMPA, Fla. - Antti Niemi provided some offence in addition to stopping the puck.Niemi made 32 saves and added an assist as the San Jose Sharks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday night.Joe Thornton and Tyler Kennedy scored for the Sharks, who are 2-2 on a seven-game road trip. Niemi improved to 5-0-1 against the Lightning.As far as complete games, it was one of our better ones of the season, San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. I thought there was real positive energy with all four lines. The pairs played well. Nemo made some big saves right off the bat.Tampa Bay got a goal from Steven Stamkos, and Ben Bishop stopped 37 shots. The Lightning are 0-1-1 since their six-game winning streak was snapped.Their goalie played well, Bishop said. If he doesnt play that well maybe we win that game.Shortly after Niemi made a nifty save on Ryan Callahan, Thornton put the Sharks up 1-0 at 5:23 of the second. Thornton tied Bobby Clarke for 42nd place all-time with his 1,210th point.Isnt that amazing? McLellan said. You talk about Joe Thornton and Bobby Clarke together. Theyre both tremendous players.Kennedy made it 2-0 on a breakaway with 9:23 left in the second. Brent Burns and Niemi assisted on Kennedys first goal in 30 games, dating to Jan. 14.Stamkos cut the Lightnings deficit to 2-1 on a redirection of Andrej Sustrs shot 9:35 into the third.Niemi had threee saves on Callahan during a 5-on-3 power play that lasted just over a minute earlier in the third. David Njoku Jersey. Callahan finished with seven shots.You know theyre going to get shots, Niemi said. Youve got to be real patient not to play yourself out too far.San Jose outshot the Lightning 17-9 during a scoreless first period. San Jose had six shots during a power play on Bishop, who also stopped an in-close chance by Joe Pavelski.You make your own luck out there, Stamkos said. You have to deserve it and work hard, and we didnt deserve it for the first two periods. In the third we had some good chances because we played the right way and got rewarded.NOTES: Sharks G Alex Stalock, placed on injured reserve Wednesday, had minor surgery on his left knee. ... Stamkos, who broke his right leg one year ago, didnt take part in the morning skate. ... Thornton played in his 1,225th NHL game, which is one away from tying Ed Westfall for 90th place all-time. ... Thornton has 16 goals and 39 points in 35 games against the Lightning. ... Tampa Bay C Tyler Johnson, who left Tuesdays game at Chicago after being cross-checked in the ribs, played. ... Lightning C Alex Killorn returned after missing four games due to an upper body injury. ... 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