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Kids wishes will come true after all
05 FEB 2010: A group of terminally ill children whose wish to go to
the Vancouver Winter Olympics was threatened when the company operating
their cruise ship hotel pulled up anchor will have places to stay after
all.
About a dozen children and their families from Canada and the US were scheduled to attend the Games starting next week, staying on the Norwegian Star cruise ship in Vancouver harbour under a program run by Make A Wish Canada.
On Tuesday Edmonton-based Newwest Special Projects suddenly cancelled plans to bring in the ship because of higher than expected costs and slow sales.
Make A Wish executive director Ross Hetherington says media reports about the crisis have triggered a flood of calls from hotels and people offering their homes and even private yachts.
Hetherington says arrangements for the alternate accommodations are still being finalized but it looks like the children, who range in age from eight to 17, will have their wishes fulfilled.
The kids will watch Olympic events and get a chance to meet top Olympic athletes.
And not just the kids…
Tourism Vancouver said there were enough available rooms in the area to accommodate all guests who were supposed to stay on the Norwegian Star during the Winter Olympics.
The Vancouver organization said it is helping people who were booked on the Star to find alternative accommodation.
The available lodging may not be in the downtown core, and might be "nontraditional" such as bed-and-breakfasts or private rentals, as most downtown hotels are full, but there is an expectation that some rooms could still become available closer to the start of the Olympics.
It was an “unfortunate situation” said Tourism Vancouver, who are nonetheless, “committed to helping people find something, and we believe they will."
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