Olympics-Weak economy a hurdle for 2010 suppliers, sponsors

* Some suppliers could not get bank credit

* Organizers remain confident on contracts

* IOC trying to find needed sponsors

By Allan Dowd

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 16 (Reuters) - The economic slowdown has proven to be a major hurdle in the race to sign up needed suppliers for next year's Winter Olympics, organizers said on Tuesday.

The recession has already made it difficult to line up sponsors for the 2010 Games in Vancouver, but it has also made it difficult for some companies to bid on supply contacts for jobs such as providing food at local venues.

"In the end, we're happy with the companies we do have, but in some cases we haven't had as many to choose from as we might of otherwise hoped for," said John McLaughlin, chief financial officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC).

All suppliers had to undergo pre-bid screening, but in some cases firms that passed that test later had to drop out because they could not get the bank credit needed to pursue the contract, officials said.

VANOC, which has a C$1.7 billion ($1.5 billion) operating budget, still has to award contracts for about 62 percent of its planned spending for the Olympics, which begin next February in the Pacific Coast city.