TIME TO DO OLYMPICS HOMEWORK

Pity the poor Calgarians who have tried to follow the recent machinations over Calgary’s proposed bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We can sympathize if their heads are still spinning like an Elizabeth Manley triple Salchow-double loop after a death-defying week of deal, no deal, deal at city council.

But, really, it has been a long and twisting bobsled run ever since sports icon Doug Mitchell and the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority first proposed in June 2016 a return of the Winter Games.

The turmoil began as soon as the proposal was dropped into the city’s lap. Under Mayor Naheed Nenshi, council didn’t know whether it should be pro, con or neutral. In fact, it was all of the above.

There was no leader willing to stick his or her neck out and drive the bid forward to whatever conclusion. Instead, it was almost driven into the ground on repeated occasions.

From mogul to mogul, the idea was bounced from advisory committee to bid exploration committee, and then to the bid corporation and council’s bid assessment committee.

You’ve earned a gold medal if you’re still following.

Sapping public trust and confidence, there were countless confidential meetings over costs, risks, staffing and negotiations.

This week, the bid almost suffered the agony of defeat in Wide World of Sports-style. (Look it up on YouTube, kids.)

It was only last-minute posturing and fiscal rejigging that brought in a non-life threatening but far from smooth landing.

(Note to Calgary: For the 2064 Games, let’s figure out a different process.)

Finally, it’s all behind us, like a missed 540 tail grab. It’s time to focus on the only question that counts: Should Calgary host the 2026 Games?

It’s a question all voters should answer on Nov. 13, or in the advance polls starting Tuesday. The result, which will still require ratification from council, will shape Calgary’s future for some time to come, either way.

It’s also a question wisely imposed on us by the Alberta government as a condition of its $700-million funding. It reinforces that we all have a share in this.

Although we don’t have all the information we would like to have, such as the location of the crucial curling venue, and we don’t have much time to think about it, we do know the big picture and many details of the $5.1-billion plan.

As per its mandate, Calgary 2026 Bid Corp. has created a blueprint that refurbishes and utilizes almost all of the venues from the 1988 Games and the ski-jumping venue from the 2010 Vancouver Games in Whistler.

Funding from all three levels of government will now come in slightly under $3 billion.

In a plea for reason, we advise ignoring the extremists in the polarizing Yes-No debate. Check out the facts yourselves. As a start, read the full “Draft Hosting Plan Concept” on Calgary 2026’s website.

This is a big question. And as academics David J. Finch and Norm O’Reilly so sagely noted previously on these pages: “The trouble with big questions is that they’re complex, confusing and painful to answer.

“Research shows that a common human response to complex problems is to pursue simplicity and comfort.

“We look for shortcuts and bubble-wrap ourselves in a comfort zone of people who agree with us.”

Once you’ve escaped your bubble wrap and answered all your questions, get out and vote, please.

Turnouts are notoriously low in plebiscites. But in this vote the stakes are high and it needs full democratic participation.