Potential 2026 bid goes to Calgary council
CALGARY City councillors are slated to discuss behind closed doors on Monday whether there’s an appetite to bid for the 2026 Olympics, Postmedia has learned.
A local group has been working for months to drum up support to bring the Winter Olympics back to Calgary. They’ll present councillors with a proposal on Monday.
With a looming deadline to submit an expression of interest to the Canadian Olympic Committee, Monday’s meeting will mark the early steps in a possible bid for the Games, according to a Postmedia source.
“They need council support to be considered the Canadian bid by the Canadian Olympic Committee,” the source said.
A potential bid would eventually go to the Canadian Olympic Committee, a group that would consider all bids from Canadian cities before deciding whether to submit a formal bid to the International Olympic Committee .
“These are early days,” said the source. “This is really just about whether (council wants) to do this or not.”
Some city councillors said Sunday they would welcome the idea of bringing the Olympics back to Calgary after the city hosted Canada’s first Winter Olympic Games in 1988.
The festivities 28 years ago are considered one of the most successful Olympics ever.
The Winter Games left Calgary with more than $140 million in profit revenue and lasting facilities — the Olympic Oval, Canmore Nordic Centre, WinSport — that have served as crucial training centres for future Olympians.
“I’d be happy with a bid,” said Coun. Ray Jones.
“It did a lot for the city back in 1988. It put us on the map internationally sports-wise and (as) a city (of) volunteers . ... Immediately following the 1988 Games, it really boosted tourism in the area.”
Coun. Shane Keating said there’s been talk of an Olympic bid for nearly three decades.
Speculation about Calgary endeavouring to host the Games ramped up last September when Toronto decided against bidding on the 2024 Summer Games, citing concerns over costs.
If Calgary does pursue the 2026 Games, new facilities may be needed and aging buildings from the ’88 games will almost certainly require significant upgrades and renovations.
The interest in hosting the world’s foremost international sporting event comes as Calgary debates the merits of a new $890-million hybrid arena-stadium-field house complex.