AP Interview: IOC president ‘optimistic’ Vancouver will avoid budget shortfall

Rogge doesn’t expect Vancouver budget deficit

LONDON — International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge is confident the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver will break even despite a budget shortfall.

In an unprecedented gesture, the IOC said last month it would offer financial assistance to Vancouver’s organizing committee, VANOC, if it ends up with a budget gap following the Feb. 12-28 games.

“We are optimistic together with VANOC that there will be no deficit,” Rogge told The Associated Press by telephone. “However, if you want to manage carefully, you have to account for all possibilities. In case there would be a deficit … the IOC would agree to participate in the deficit together with the other stakeholders.”

VANOC has a shortfall of up to $37 million on its $1.75 billion operating budget. Organizers have said they don’t expect a complete bailout, and the IOC has not said how much it would kick in to help cover any deficit.

“Don’t ask me precise figures,” Rogge said. “I think we have to discuss with them when the situation arises. There is a willingness to support in part the deficit.”

The IOC has signed nine international sponsors for Vancouver and the 2012 London Olympics, two short of the 11 sponsors that backed the 2006 Turin Winter Games and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Rogge said the IOC is still in talks with potential additional sponsors for 2010-2012, though the prospects are uncertain. However, he said the deals with nine sponsors had brought in $883 million, more than the $830 million from the Turin and Beijing sponsors.

“We already have more money with nine sponsors than 11,” Rogge said. “If we can add something to that, we will, but I cannot guarantee anything about that.”

Overall, Rogge predicts a highly successful Vancouver Olympics.

“I am very optimistic about Vancouver,” he said. “I think it’s going to be great games. There are many reasons for that. First of all, the love and the knowledge of the Canadians for winter sports. It is a winter sport country by definition, together with Switzerland and Austria.

“Not only are they capable, there’s also the love of the population for sport. And also you have a fantastic geographic beauty of Vancouver and Whistler. It’s going to be a superb setting.”

On another issue, Rogge said signs of an upturn in the global economy were promising for the negotiations on U.S. broadcast rights for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics. The bidding was put off because of the recession until after the Oct. 2 vote in Copenhagen on the 2016 host city.

The IOC recently announced TV rights deals in Brazil and Spain for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics worth $210 million and $100 million, respectively.

“That shows already there is a movement and a momentum for a good negotiations,” Rogge said. “Obviously we will not start negotiations before the (Copenhagen) session, but I would say anytime after the session or in the first quarter (of 2010) could be a possibility.”

NBC, which has televised all Olympics since 2000, is expected to bid along with Fox, ABC Sports-ESPN and CBS. If Chicago — which is competing against Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo — gets the 2016 Games, it could push up the U.S. rights fee.

“We are going to study the market,” Rogge said. “Everyone is telling us the world is quietly getting out of recession. It has to be confirmed. We have to see how the TV economy is evolving. That is something that will be known in a couple of months. We have plenty of time.”

Rogge expressed confidence that golf and rugby will be approved for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics when IOC members vote on the sports in Copenhagen on Oct. 9. The IOC executive board voted last month to recommend golf and rugby, while rejecting baseball, softball, karate, squash and roller sports.

The two sports will each be put to a separate vote, with a majority required for approval. Some members have indicated they are not happy about being presented with just those two choices.

“I am confident they will approve it,” Rogge said. “There are definitely members who would have preferred another sport, even maybe two other sports. You cannot avoid that, but I think that the members will definitely agree that the two sports presented are very strong sports, that these two sports could add a lot to the Olympic program.”

If one or both are rejected, Rogge said, there will be no second chance. The next vote would be in 2013 for sports to be included in the 2020 Olympics.