British Columbia said that it spent $895 million to host the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to AP. That's $155 million more than the official Olympic budget of $740 million. The release on Friday of the new number is the first time the province has acknowledged that expenses such as pavilions at the 2006 Turin and 2008 Beijing Olympics were part of the costs that British Columbia paid to host the world. Previously, the government's budget for the Olympics only covered venues in British Columbia, entertainment sites and services such as medical assistance and security. The provincial budget is distinct from money spent by the Olympic organizing committee on the games. A final tally of those figures is expected in the autumn.
