Homeless focus of 2010 Olympic preparation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, is focused on a stretch of land inhabited by homeless people, officials say.

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said this week that the portion of Vancouver's downtown region frequented by homeless people would be in better condition before the start of the Winter Games in 2010, The Toronto Globe and Mail reported Saturday.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said, however, the east portion of the city's downtown would likely be filled with homeless individuals for years to come despite efforts to improve housing options.

"The Downtown Eastside will be for many years a place you find people of low incomes," Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Spencer Herbert downplayed reports of offering homeless people one-way travel tickets prior to the Games' start on Feb. 12, 2010.

"Some people would do better if they were given opportunities. We are not going to take them and force them to go anywhere. But certainly the options have to be there for them," he said.