The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games will cost only 1.63 billion Canadian dollars (US$1.56 billion), 700 million Canadian dollars less than the original estimate of 1.7 billion, the game committee VANOC said in a business plan Tuesday.

The game is even expected to have a surplus, which would be used to fund sports in Canada, organizers said at a news conference in Vancouver.

VANOC released its 200-page business plan, which says venue construction program is on budget and on time.

The unveiling comes a day after a watchdog group for the games gave VANOC a D- grade for not meeting their social and environmental promises.

The Impact of the Olympics on Community Coalition named lack of environmental assessment, poor planning for low-income housing and lack of transparency as reasons for the poor mark.

(China Daily May 9, 2007)