The accolades are starting to pour in for the 21st Winter Games, as the Olympics near their halfway point.
Despite an especially troubled beginning, that included the death of Georgian luger Nordar Kumaritashvili just hours before the opening ceremonies, Gilbert Felli, executive director of the Games for the International Olympic Committee, said Saturday that "everyone is rating the Games very highly.
"We are very pleased with the smooth running of the Games, so far, and there's no reason to believe the next eight days won't run just as smoothly," Mr. Felli told a special news conference to mark the approximate half-way point of the 17-day event.
"We have been working for nine years with VANOC, and we are extremely satisfied. Our expectations have been met."
He said Olympic athletes, whom he described as "the heart of the Games", have been impressed by both the quality of the venues and the "very high level" of services provided.
Mr. Felli's praise is the first high-level reaction from the IOC to the 2010 Winter Games, which were plagued by numerous glitches and snafus over its first few days. One British correspondent labelled them "the worst Games ever".
VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb echoed Mr. Felli's remarks, saying athletes and team officials have been "extremely complimentary" about the way the Games have unfolded so far.
Mr. Cobb seemed most proud of the way transportation to Games venue - a traditional Olympic headache - has worked to date.
He reported that one unidentified chef de mission, who had had been at seven previous Olympics, told him that this was the best Games transportation system he had seen.
"Transportation is definitely one of the biggest challenges at any Winter Games, and we had some growing pains at the beginning," Mr. Cobb said.
"But people have been very pleased at the way it is working now."
Mr. Felli said he has been particularly impressed with how quickly VANOC has reacted to fix problems as they have arisen.
"Most of the issues have been solved in 24 hours, and that has been a positive surprise."
The IOC executive said, like many, he has been astonished at the outpouring of residents into the streets of the city to celebrate the Olympics and the boisterous atmosphere at all Games venues.
"I believe people are really enjoying the Games, and the Canadian people are behind the Games," Mr. Felli said.
He said long-standing IOC concerns about the difficulties in transporting thousands of spectators all the way to Whistler for alpine events are no longer an issue.
"Personally, I was very concerned about this before the Games, so I have been surprised at the smooth-running of transportation."
On budgetary matters, Mr. Cobb said VANOC has contingency funds to make up for the added cost of transporting massive amounts of snow to the rain-drenched slopes of Cypress Mountain and the cancellation of $1.5-million worth of tickets.
At the same time, overall ticket sales have exceeded expectations and the sales of Olympic merchandise have soared far beyond expectations.
There are huge line-ups lasting to midnight outside the HBC's downtown so-called "Olympic superstore" where Games-related products are sold.
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