(ATR) The roof may be up, but the fabric dome over B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver is still leaking and questions remain about whether the roof collapse earlier this month could have been prevented.

BC Place Stadium with its roof in place.

(ATR) The roof may be up, but the fabric dome over B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver is still leaking and questions remain about whether the roof collapse earlier this month could have been prevented.

It might as well have been a bucket-makers convention instead of a landscapers show at the stadium this week, with pails and other vessels scattered about the stadium floor to catch drips.

The Landscaping Expo was the first event held in the arena since repairs were carried out following the roof deflated.

The 60,000 seat arena will be the location for opening and closing ceremonies at the 2010 Olympics.

A large tear in the Teflon covering was patched and the roof was re-inflated a week ago. While it appears normal from the outside, the 24 year-old roof apparently still needs more work to be weather-tigh

The deflated stadium roof earlier this month.

t.

We can only hope we dont get another wind storm or snow storm to further put greater stress on these tears, said Guy Gentner, a critic of the way the roof collapse has been handled. He is seeking a public inquiry into the matter.

Warnings were supposedly made about snow accumulating on the air-supported roof but a snow-melting system was not activated. The Jan. 5 collapse is described as a controlled event, meant to prevent further damage to the torn fabric.

Vancouver 2010 has issued a statement that expresses confidence in BC Place Stadium.

Installed nearly 25 years ago, the roofing material is said to be at the end of its designed life, but the roof has passed recent inspections.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.