Citizens asked for input on 2026 Games

Questionnaire posted online

Residents of Calgary and the Bow Valley Corridor are being asked to share their feelings on a potential bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

The Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) launched an online questionnaire Wednesday, seeking citizen feedback as the group spends $5 million exploring whether Calgary should try to bring the Winter Games back in 2026.

“Understanding what people in Calgary and the surrounding area think about a potential bid is an important part of our exploration process,” Brian Hahn, general manager of CBEC, said in a news release.

“We want to know where they see the benefits to submitting a bid but also what their concerns are.”

The online questionnaire — found at www.ShouldCalgaryBid.com — shares paragraphs of information with respondents and asks how they feel about a potential bid from an economic, environmental and community-impact standpoint.

The survey also details the legacies of Calgary’s 1988 Winter Games and asks respondents how they feel about a bid “from the viewpoint of creating and sustaining a legacy for Calgary.”

The paragraphs of information included in the survey offer some insight regarding what moving forward with a bid would mean for the city.

“In order to even bid on the Games, Calgary (as well as Alberta and Canada) would need to dedicate millions of dollars to the development of a competitive bid without a guarantee of success,” states the survey.

It also states an Olympic bid would likely require some new venues for sports, accommodation and media.

Results from the public questionnaire and any other future public engagement will be integrated into CBEC’s final report, scheduled to be presented to city council by July. It will be up to councillors to make a final decision on whether Calgary should proceed with a formal bid later this year.