One way or the other Olympic 2026 vote needs to be decisive

Anyone who thinks holding a public vote on some particularly contentious issue will then settle such an argument once and for all need only spend a single day in the U.K. to be thoroughly disabused of such a quaint and innocent notion.

That country is busily tearing itself apart at every level of society as it endlessly digests then repeatedly regurgitates the dramatic referendum result, back in June 2016, in which the Brits narrowly voted to leave the European Union.

With that scheduled farewell to the EU now less than six months away, the place is awash with anger, confusion, suspicion and petty political gamesmanship. This has left the country with a lame duck prime minister who is at odds with just about everyone and a leader of the Opposition who merrily promotes a four-day work week along with a return to the type of mass nationalization that almost bankrupted the place 50-odd years ago.

What’s left in this vacuum of leadership is a nightmare of frozen indecision.

There are chilling warning signs that Calgary might be setting itself up to embark on a similar dreadful journey with the looming plebiscite on whether to proceed with a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Granted, the Nov. 13 vote isn’t of the same huge potential magnitude as the one that ended in a Yes for Brexit, but the result still could haunt Calgary for many a year if there isn’t a strong majority one way or the other.

In the case of the U.K., the Brexit result came in with 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent in favour of leaving the EU: it would not be too much of a stretch to imagine the Olympic Yes or No result being just as close.

In Calgary’s case, the potential for shenanigans and long-term animosity is accentuated because the result of the Olympic vote is not deemed binding. That situation adds a motherlode of potential bitterness to any eventual outcome.

Given the support for a bid among the mayor, most councillors, civic administration and a host of business folk — along with the obligatory past and present Olympians — it would be astounding to find that a close vote in favour of going for these Games would be then ditched.

Nope, one single, solitary vote that takes the “in favour” tally past the 50 per cent mark would be happily judged a veritable slam-dunk of citizen support and cause for jubilant celebrations both here at City Hall as well as at the Geneva headquarters of the International Olympic Committee.

But what if it turns out the other way? What if 51 per cent say No to any Olympic bid? Perhaps then we will discover City Hall judged that while the people have spoken, perhaps they just didn’t do so in a loud enough voice. Hey, perhaps they just didn’t understand all those benefits after all.

Will our mayor, a man not known for his self-effacement when it comes to appreciating his own vast intellect and superior vision to any and all who might have a differing point of view, accept that such a close-run thing is indeed good enough to put any bid for the 2026 Games on ice?

Regardless, any close vote will result in years of recriminations and accusations. We are hearing it already — this week’s nasty dump of snow immediately triggering social media outrage about how we should be medalling in clearing roads rather than speedskating, while calls for increased arts funding or a helping hand for financially challenged Heritage Park trigger Olympic funding comparisons and pointed questions about local priorities. Imagine seven years of such bitterness among fellow Calgarians.

So whichever way this plebiscite goes, let us hope there is a strong majority one way or the other. Both sides of the debate should at least agree on that.

Regardless, any close vote will result in years of recriminations and accusations.