IOC hints at success, but Calgary needs $2M more for possible bid

IOC says 2026 Games pitch could succeed but extra cash necessary to form BidCo

The International Olympic Committee has indicated a Calgary bid for the 2026 Games could succeed, but an estimated $2 million — on top of the $5 million already dedicated to exploring a bid — is needed to keep the city’s Olympic dreams alive.

A report going to council Monday says the extra cash is needed to quickly form a de facto Bid Corporation (BidCo), due to recent changes to the IOC’s 2026 candidature process.

Council won’t need to make a decision regarding pursuing an Olympic bid, or the formal creation of a BidCo, until July, but bureaucrats say if the city wants a competitive bid, significant work stands between now and a July vote.

And that extra work requires “additional funds in the order of $2 million,” according to the report, which notes a formal funding request will be made to council on Nov. 20.

The ask for more money comes after the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee ceased operations at the end of October following 10 months of work and a conclusion that a repeat Calgary Olym- pics would cost $4.6 billion, including $40 million to bid.

The committee, chaired by former police chief Rick Hanson and managed by Brian Hahn, determined it’s feasible for the city to host a repeat Olympics, but further work is needed to know if it’s prudent.

The group spent $3.5 million of its $5-million budget and the remaining $1.5 million is now being used by city bureaucrats to analyze if Calgary should bid, based on five principles the committee identified surrounding funding models, operating costs and financial guarantees.

The report going to council Monday states while many unknowns within the overall bid process exist, there have been indications from the IOC that all five princi- ples could be satisfied and “Calgary could mount a successful bid for the 2026” Olympic Winter Games.

“However, due to the revised 2026 candidature process, an increased investment is required to ensure that Calgary can mount a competitive bid should Council choose to proceed,” states the report. “Without that investment, it will not be possible to proceed with a competitive bid.”

At an August vote, opposition to a repeat Calgary Games doubled among the previous council members, with four councillors voting against administration’s recommendation to keep an Olympic bid on the table, though one — Brian Pincott — is no longer on council.

Four new faces are now on council, including Ward 3 Coun. Jyoti Gondek, who said she’ll go into Monday’s conversation with questions and an open mind.

Gondek said she’s of two trains of thoughts on the Olympics, noting the games could be an amazing opportunity to bring the community together, but the dollars have to make sense and a relationship with the IOC requires predictability and certainty.

“Until I have a sense of comfort that the IOC is genuine in its effort to try to change, I don’t know that I’m overly trusting at this stage. I’m cautious,” she said.

Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu, who has long opposed pursuing an Olympic bid, said he’s adamantly against spending more money on a potential bid.

“To me, it’s just throwing good money after bad,” he said.

“Two million is a lot of money.”