Calgarians to vote on Olympics bid

CALGARY • Calgary city council voted Wednesday to continue pursuing its bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

A motion to kill the bid failed by a vote of 8-7. At least 10 votes were required to terminate the bid since it’s considered a “reconsideration” of a previous council decision and therefore requires more than a simple majority of votes to pass.

As the motion fell two short of the required 10 votes, the Nov. 13 plebiscite that will allow Calgarians to vote on the Games will proceed.

Before the vote, Calgary 2026 chair Scott Hutcheson offered a full-throated defence Wednesday for allowing Calgarians to vote on the Games.

But even as he urged council to permit the Olympic bid to proceed at least until the Nov. 13 plebiscite, Hutcheson blasted councillors for threatening to “undermine” a process that started nearly three years ago.

“The Calgary 2026 team (and) the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to get to where we are today can walk away with their heads held high knowing they fought hard for what would’ve been a lifechanging legacy for this city.

“If the plebiscite is cancelled today by your vote, your legacy will be a much different one,” Hutcheson told council members.

“Alternatively, if you show leadership today by voting to let the plebiscite proceed, you’ll be allowing the spirits of Calgarians to speak and that is how history will reflect this moment.”

The vote comes following an 11th hour proposal to fund the 2026 Winter Games signed by the provincial and federal governments.

The funding proposal is based on a scaled-back hosting plan and public dollar ask of $2.875 billion. Previously, the hosting plan pegged the public sector portion at $3 billion.

Calgary would be on the hook for a $370 million cash contribution to the Games, along with $150 million in previously committed dollars for improvements to Victoria Park and the Stampede grounds. The city would also be required to pay a $20 million premium to secure a $200 million insurance policy to cover contingencies.

The province would contribute $700 million in cash. The federal government will provide $1.423 billion in cash and a further $30 million in “leveraging initiatives.”

Council discussed the revised bid in an hours-long, occasionally testy debate Wednesday.

Hundreds of volunteers, athletes and supporters of the bid flooded into council chambers. Overflow seating was set up outside chambers to allow the rowdy group of Calgarians in the Yes camp to watch.

“I just think the Olympics are important to the economy, I think it brings good spirit,” said Aaron Barnes, who said he was not affiliated with any group.

“I think the economy and the country in general have been down.

“And just to bring something uplifting to the country, it’s just good for it.”