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Organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics and their Florida-based bus contractor are going to mediation next month in a bid to solve their impasse and avoid a court battle.
Gameday Management CEO Tony Vitrano claims VANOC owes $10 million. He said the Nov. 8-10 mediation will involve West Vancouver-based Fitzpatrick and Co.
“My understanding is everyone wants to work it out,” Vitrano said. “It’s non-binding, yet a requirement of the contract.”
Vitrano is now transportation operations lead for the London 2012 Olympic committee. His 40-person department includes six former VANOC employees.
Several subcontractors in Canada and the United States say they continue to wait for final payment after sending buses and drivers to work for Gameday at February’s Olympics and March’s Paralympics.
Neither VANOC chief financial officer John McLaughlin nor executive vice-president Terry Wright responded to interview requests. VANOC vice-president of communications Renee Smith-Valade would not comment on the mediation or whether it would delay the post-Games financial report.
“While we are still working towards releasing a financial report before the end of the year and possibly in November, it would be premature to confirm dates,” Smith-Valade said.
bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca