Cost of games could jump to C$2 billion.

British Columbia is on the lookout for 30,000 skilled tradesmen from India to build necessary infrastructure for the 2010 Winter Olympics, according to a report in The Times of India.

Gordon Campbell

"The province of British Columbia needs 25,000 to 30,000 tradesmen, including electricians, plumbers and construction workers. They will help build houses and other infrastructural facilities.

There are over 25,000 vacancies in other provinces. Initially, these people will get work permits. Later, they will be offered permanent residency," said Curtis Panke, incharge of global placements for WWICS.

"Countries like Canada and Australia are facing problems due to a dipping population and a booming economy. People in these countries are aging fast and they are on the lookout for English-speaking professionals and skilled tradesmen." There are also openings for businessmen and farmers in Canada provided they can invest money in that country.

"Businessmen and farmers with a net worth of Canadian $300,000 can purchase land and settle in the province of Nova Scotia.

Entrepreneurs with experience in management can settle in Quebec. There will be no examination in English for these categories," said J.S. Ahluwalia, vice-president, WWICS. Ahluwalia said affluent farmers from Burdwan district can shell out such money and buy 50-acre plots in Canada.

"Everybody between 22 and 60 years of age can apply. The processing time is much less than in other cases. So far, 50 farmers from various parts of the country have left for Canada," he said.

WWICS organised a seminar in Calcutta for those interested in the projects. With Vancouver Games just under five years away, construction is scheduled to begin this summer on the first of the venues being built for the Winter Games.

Come summer, work is expected to begin on the $102-million biathlon, cross-country and ski jumping facility at Callaghan Valley, about eight kilometres south of Whistler, and the $52.8-million bobsled and luge track to be built on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler.

Premier Gordon Campbell recently announced his Liberal government will spend $15 million this year to help develop and support B.C. athletes.

The 2010 Olympics will run from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28, followed by the paralympic competitions March 12 to 21. In all, more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 80 countries are expected to participate.

History will be made when B.C. Place stadium becomes the first indoor venue for a Winter Games opening ceremony.

The men's hockey final will be held on the last day at G.M Place, home of the NHL Vancouver Canucks. Figure skating, curling and speed skating will also be held in Vancouver.

Cypress Bowl, which on a clear day offers a breathtaking view of the city and the sparkling waters of Burrard Inlet, will be home to snowboarding and freestyle skiing. The resort community of Whistler, about 110 kilometres north, will stage the Alpine skiing, Nordic events, ski jumping and bobsled.

The Games are scheduled to operate on a $1.35-billion Cdn budget, but that cost jumps to around $2 billion Cdn when another $620 million in venue costs are included. The B.C. and federal governments have pledged $310 million each towards building facilities. The B.C. government has also agreed to cover any cost overruns.

The $60-million speed-skating oval now will be located in Richmond on Vancouver's outskirts instead of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. The switch was made after the proposed cost of building the arena jumped to $80 million.

Richmond will include the oval as part of a $153-million municipal revitalization project.

Work will begin early next year on the speed skating oval.

By 2007, construction will be underway on the curling venue and the athlete villages in both Vancouver, along False Creek, and in Whistler.