Calgary can host Games, the question is should it

Is Calgary 2026 a shot worth taking?

That’s the question still facing the city’s Olympic bid exploration committee, which, in a progress update destined for today’s council meeting, concluded that hosting the 2026 Winter Games can be done, but isn’t yet sold on whether it should be done.

“While we believe a Calgary 2026 Games bid is feasible, the question of prudence is quite different,” concludes portions of the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) report, posted to the city’s website Friday evening.

Hashing out the burning questions of “can” and “should” has been a preoccupation of the committee since its formation.

Headed by former police chief Rick Hanson, the 17-member committee started work last September with council-allocated funding of $5 million.

Numbers released to council by CBEC in June suggests they expect to finish their work about $1.8 million under budget.

Today’s report — the last one before the committee’s final recommendation, expected later this month — unequivocally concludes that making a bid for the 2026 Olympics is feasible, pointing to 14 key factors in coming to that conclusion.

Those factors weren’t included in what was posted online Friday.

The question of prudence, the report continues, is one that requires more examination — a “holistic process encompassing both an objective and subjective assessment.”

To that end, the committee listed six unresolved issues that need answering before they’re ready to make their pitch.

These include questions of funding, net benefit to Calgary and alignment into the city’s future vision, construction of new infrastructure and if a bid would have a reasonable chance of being successful.

A month ago, CBEC told council more than $2 billion in public funding would be required to host the Games, and include a cost-to-revenue deficit of $425 million.

As well, questions surrounding the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s as-yet-unveiled changes to financial support to host cities will weigh heavily on the committee’s final decision.