Cash-strapped VANOC asked the provincial government for a bailout March 26.
"I am writing to request funding from B.C. with respect to the 2010 opening ceremonies and other projects," wrote VANOC chief financial officer John McLaughlin to B.C. Winter Games Secretariat president Philip Steenkamp. "These are areas where we believe that additional funds would create further mutually beneficial outcomes."
The letter was obtained by 24 hours via Freedom of Information, but the amount McLaughlin sought was censored. On June 16, McLaughlin said VANOC shifted $8.3 million from its rainy-day fund to secret works at B.C. Place Stadium. An FOI request to the government for details on that transaction yielded a Feb. 5 invoice from McLaughlin to Steenkamp for $3.5 million. On Oct. 26, McLaughlin was asked by 24 hours for details on the B.C. Place funds and the bailout appeal.
"We're going to need to do a little bit of checking up for you on some of that stuff and we'd be happy to talk to you ..." McLaughlin said. "We'll arrange to talk after this."
Repeated requests to interview both McLaughlin and Steenkamp were not fulfilled.
"It is difficult to get a straight answer and a full answer about the costs of the Olympics," said NDP Olympics critic Kathy Corrigan.
