According to the estimates of a special commission set up to check the Tromsø 2018 budget, the cost of the games will be 2,29 billion EUR, and not 1,08 billion EUR as presented by Tromsø 2018. The unexpectedly high sum could now put a stop to the Olympic plans, as government is reluctant to cash out the necessary money.
Sochi 2014
Meanwhile, the situation is quite different in the nearby neighbor of Russia. There, the government has made a 9 billion EUR commitment to the development of the Sochi region in connection with the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the Russian Olympic website informs. In addition comes major non-budget financing like private investor funds of up to 2,3 billion EUR.
The Sochi 2014 will be Russia’s first ever Winter Games. The Black Sea resort with the nearby Caucasus mountains was elected Olympic host city on July 4, 2007, during the 119th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Guatemala City.
Barents Olympics
Strong forces in Norwegian government have expressed major support for Tromsø’s Olympic ambitions. The red-green coalition government has made the High North a key priority area, and is expected to the see the Tromsø Olympics as part of its investments in the region.
The new cost estimates could now however cool the government’s enthusiasm with the project.
The winter games in Tromsø would give a boost to northern Norwegian economic development. It would also be first ever Olympic games held in the Arctic. Furthermore, it could be promoted as a Barents project, with involvement from the neighboring countries of Russia, Finland and Sweden. Norway has previously organized the winter games twice, in Oslo 1952 and Lillehammer 1994.
Photo:Sochi2014.com
