Environment feared loser in Olympic bid

Swiss environmental organisations have harshly criticised canton Graubünden's bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Swiss environmental organisations have harshly criticised canton Graubünden’s bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The groups, including the Swiss branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature and Pro Natura, said most of the required infrastructure would have to be built for the games, despite claims to the contrary by the organisers.

They said previous Winter Olympics and the world alpine skiing championships planned for Sankt Moritz in 2003 had proved that existing sports facilities were insufficient.

They also said a feasibility study presented by the organisers in February failed to take environmental concerns into account. Money set aside for environmental protection is only a third of the amount pledged by the committee of the failed Sion 2006 bid, they argued.

The bid also makes no mention of how the Olympic facilities would be put to use after the games, according to the environmental groups.

swissinfo with agencies