Green groups put dampener on Graubünden Olympic dream

Environmental organisations are warning canton Graubünden not to get carried away by its hopes to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Swiss branch of the WWF, Pro Natura and an environmental transport group, say the canton should look before it leaps.

Environmental organisations are warning canton Graubünden not to get carried away by its hopes to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Swiss branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Pro Natura, and a national group for environmentally-friendly transport, say the canton should look before it leaps into an olympic bid.

The organisations say there is a danger the bid would lead to an explosion of costs as well as damage the environment. They argue the region already has a large infrastructure catering for tourists, and that an Olympic bid would lead to further construction. The groups warn the cantonal authorities against going for a bid at all costs, because there would then be no turning back.

A feasibility study on a possible bid is being unveiled on February 15 in Chur. The decision by local authorities within the canton on whether or not to launch an official bid is expected to follow within months. Other parts of Switzerland are also toying with the idea of a bid, and it will then be up to the Swiss Olympic Federation to choose one to apply for the games.

From staff and wire reports