August 27, 2007

VANCOUVER 2010

Construction began in April 2006 on the UBC Winter Sports Centre, which includes refurbishing the existing competition arena and construction of two new rinks. To date, the renovation to the existing Father Bauer rink and the construction of the new practice rink are complete and have been handed over to UBC for their summer hockey schools. The foundations for the new main arena are complete and the structural steel roof is being erected. The main arena is on schedule for completion by summer 2008. Following the Games, the venue will become a recreational and high-performance multi-sport legacy facility.

Fraud Alert

Vancouver’s Olympic security unit warns contractors

RCMP goes public with existence of special squad watching builds

JEAN SORENSEN

correspondent

VANCOUVER

The RCMP is keeping a close eye on Olympic venue builds from the contract on down to labourers working on the sites.

“We realize that the large majority of contractors are hard working and ethical,” said RCMP Sgt. Pierre Lemaitre, “but large capital expenditures do present the opportunity for the unscrupulous to attempt to defraud or profit from criminal activity.”

Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, in operation since 2003, recently went public to let contractors and suppliers know they have an eye on them.

The multi-disciplined squad, including forensic accountants, construction specialists and undercover officers, looks for any criminal activity relating to contracts, sub-standard materials or services employed on Olympic 2010 work-sites. They also look at incidents of theft, immigration irregularities and labour practices.

This is the first time a Canadian law enforcement agency has formed such a unit to watch over Olympic Games venue construction. V2010-ISU is led by the RCMP and consists of RCMP, Vancouver Police Department, West Vancouver Police Department and Canadian Forces members.

The threat of organized crime infiltrating the Olympic Games has been a constant one, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has warned.

In August 2002 — after the announcement of the short-listed Olympic venues for 2010 which included Vancouver — Jacques Rogge, IOC head, warned organizers to be alert to organized crime after an alleged member of the Russian Mafia attempted to fix the figure skating events at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.

City of Richmond

Construction continues on the Richmond Oval, which will be home to long track speed skating during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It will house a 400-metre speed skating track and seat approximately 8,000. The Oval will be home to up to 12 medal events, with a potential 36 medals to be awarded. The Oval is being built by the City of Richmond, who will also own and operate the facility. The Richmond Oval project will also include a new waterfront plaza.

In spring 2006, an internal document outlining the Canadian military’s plans to help the RCMP police the Olympics was leaked to Montreal’s La Presse. In the document, the Lt. Gen. Marc Dumais, head of Canada Command, maintained organized crime groups could “take advantage of the large volumes of funds being disseminated to make illicit profits.”

Giuseppe “Joseph” Zappia was charged with fraud and conspiracy for allegedly falsifying construction costs associated with the Olympic Village built for the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. The case dragged on for years until Zappia was acquitted in 1988, after key witnesses died.

V2010-ISU members are in contact with other security units from Olympic host cities, including Salt Lake, to gain further information on problems they may encounter. The unit also passes on information to international security units hosting future games.

Unit leaders would not comment if members of organized crime groups were known to be working on venue jobsites or were affiliated in any way.

The security unit is taking a proactive, “advisory” role with VANOC, the Olympic committee, attempting to forewarn them about possible pitfalls.

V2010-ISU will not vet or accredit companies awarded VANOC contracts, nor is the unit running background checks on company principals and employees. VANOC has existing protocols to source such company information should it be deemed necessary.

V2010-ISU works at arm’s length from VANOC and is called in to investigate when the organizing body notes anything irregular. As well, the unit collects information from other sources.

While no criminal charges have been laid to date, investigators have intervened providing timely information on individuals and events. Officials refused to comment on what the circumstances were.

VANOC may ask for assistance or the unit will receive a tip from a construction company noticing irregularities in a service contract or sub-standard materials being delivered to a site. As well, RCMP or police detachments noting problems at sites (theft of materials and equipment or damaged equipment) will relay the information to the integrated unit where it may be investigated further or tracked for trending.

Individuals who suspect illegal activity, such as seeing individuals signing off on materials that were not delivered to a site, can use Crimestoppers (1-800-222-TIPS) if the employee wishes to remain anonymous.

The unit is also interested in receiving information on immigration or labour law violations.

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