VANCOUVER - The International Olympic Committee believes people in Vancouver still support hosting the 2010 Winter Games even though there have been recent protests and an Olympic flag was stolen.
Gilbert Felli, the IOC's Olympic Games executive director, said the Olympics often are a magnet for dissent.
"Because of the number of media around, it's a good place when you have a case to put forward,'' Felli said Thursday as an IOC co-ordination commission wrapped up three days of meetings in Vancouver. "We know the cases we have got today are not linked with the Games.
"We believe that the protesters that are here are not more, or even less, than sometimes in the past in some of the cities we went too.''
John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee, said the Games' business plan should be ready to go before VANOC's board of directors next week.
"I believe our executive will be able to make a positive recommendation to our board Tuesday about the business plan and a budget everybody will feel very good about,'' he said.
Just last month, a ceremony in downtown Vancouver to mark the three-year countdown to the start of the Games was disrupted by anti-poverty protesters who threw eggs and paint-filled balloons. One person climbed on a stage and shouted obscenities.
On Tuesday, the Olympic flag that flew in front of Vancouver city hall was stolen.
Rene Fasel, chairman of the IOC co-ordination commission, said people have a right to object to the Games.
"Canada is a free country,'' said Fasel. "You can not expect a 100 per cent of the people are supporting the Olympics.
"If some people are making protests, it is part of liberty. Stealing a flag is not legal. We are sad and disappointed that can happen, that people have a lack of respect.''
On the subject of getting ready for the Games, Fasel said the IOC is satisfied with VANOC's progress.
"VANOC has been making very good progress in it's preparations for the Games across the board,'' he said.
The commission was especially pleased VANOC has found accommodation for media and sports officials in Whistler, site of the skiing and sliding events during the Games.
"We have broken the back of that problem,'' said Furlong. "We are headed toward a very position solution.''
Terry Wright, VANOC's executive vice-president of service operations and ceremonies, said about 5,000 rooms will be needed in Whistler. Of those, about 3,000 will be used by the media.
To date, about 4,000 rooms have been secured while another 600 have been tentatively agreed to.
Most of the rooms are in privately owned condominiums and townhomes, Wright said. All are located in Whistler, within walking distance of the media centre.
The cost of the rooms will be based on a formula contingent on what their yield was during February of previous years, Wright said.
Finding the rooms means there is a "very low likelihood'' any media will be housed in a cruise ship docked in the harbour at Squamish, a community halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, Wright said.
With Thursday being International Women's Day, Fasel was asked about women's ski jumping not being included in the 2010 Games.
A group of Canadian women ski jumpers are so angry over the IOC's action they have filed a complaint with Canada's Human Rights Commission.
"They have not fulfilled the criteria to be an Olympic sport,'' said Fasel. "It's not about discriminating against women.''
Felli was asked if he had any concerns about B.C. Place Stadium hosting the Olympic's opening and closing ceremonies. The inflatable roof on the stadium deflated in January because of a tear.
"We have full confidence what happened is an incident and we should be in good shape for the Games,'' said Felli.
Furlong said he was pleased with the meetings with the IOC.
"It was a very good few days," he said. "Our team feels good. Great ideas were exchanged.
"We are very happy with the status of the visit and look forward to the next stage of our planning now."
The next co-ordination commission visit is scheduled for September.
