Major games bids ‘not fiscally appropriate,’ Iveson says
Calgary has turned down Edmonton’s offer to help with a 2026 Winter Olympics bid, says Mayor Don Iveson, and any plans for Edmonton to go it alone on those types of major games bid should be completely off the table.
“It’s just not fiscally appropriate,” Iveson said, after a citizens’ panel told council much the same thing Tuesday.
Iveson said he approached Calgary suggesting a regional approach to major games bids to spread the cost and benefit.
He found no interest, he said: “I did think ... maybe it’s finally time for Alberta’s two cities to start acting like Albertans together, but we’re not there yet. So, c’est la vie.”
But Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he’s not opposed to partnering with Edmonton.
“If we get to the point of actually designing what a games would look like, that would be the point where we would deeply engage with them,” Nenshi said.
Edmonton pulled out of its Commonwealth Games 2022 bid after the price of oil took a dive and the province said it could no longer afford its contribution. The price of oil is lower today.
The citizens’ panel, convened after the bid was nixed, told council to focus on single-sport events that are more manageable and give more bang for the buck. The Commonwealth Games can cost $1 billion.
The world of major sports is constantly and dramatically shifting, said panel chair Reg Milley.
Olympic officials are also recognizing increased costs make it unreasonable for a single city to host the games, said Bob Nicholson, head of Oilers Entertainment Group and a panel member.
He asked Olympic officials about Calgary’s bid, he said. They said Calgary would need a partner because it lacks adequate ski hills and doesn’t have the two large arenas necessary to accommodate figure skating, men’s hockey and women’s hockey.
Milley said Edmonton should focus on events up to the scale of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which has a lower profile than the men’s event. The ITU World Triathlon, Tour of Alberta and World Junior Hockey are all examples of signature events Edmonton does well and reaps major benefits from, he said.
“The city should continue to be ambitious, but you should be realistic,” Milley said, suggesting it could host six major events every 12 years, and one mega event, such as participating in a Commonwealth Games, once every 20 to 30 years.
According to the panel, the city should develop a clear strategy to weigh the lasting benefits of each event. It should also have one coordinating body that develops expertise in making the bids.
Calgary is expected to make a decision on pursuing a bid for the 2026 Winter Games in the coming months after elected officials earmarked $5 million to form a bid exploration committee.