Calgary 2026 Takes a Step Forward

13 FEB 1988: THE COLOURFUL CROWD LOOKS ON AS HUNDREDS OF BALLOONS ARE RELEASED DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1988 WINTER OLYMPICS IN CALGARY.

(ATR) The Canadian Olympic Committee is not yet commenting on the Calgary City Council vote on June 20 to explore a bid for the 2026 Winter Games.

"The deadline is June 30. We won't react until then," said COC spokesperson Ricky Landry.

A majority of councillors voted to spend $5 million on a Bid Exploration Committee after lobbying from the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority. The southern Alberta city hosted the 1988 Games.

"It’s time," Mayor Naheed Nenshi told a media scrum outside city council. "It’s time in the worldwide Olympic movement, it’s time in the sport history of this city, and it’s time in the cultural history of this city for us to bid for another Olympic Games."

If a bid happens, it will rely on the 1988 legacy ice and snow venues at Calgary Olympic Park, but could also kick start a proposal to build a new arena for the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames and stadium for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders.

Calgary Sports Tourism Authority chair Doug Mitchell said a Calgary 2026 bid would keep costs down by renovating existing facilities left from 1988.

Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League commissioner and National Hockey League board governor. The $47.8 million ice hockey arena built at the University of British Columbia for Vancouver 2010 bears Mitchell’s name after his $10 million donation to his alma mater.

In March, COC chief executive officer Chris Overholt wrote to an undisclosed number of mayors under the heading "Canadian Olympic Games Bid Procedure."

"Hosting the Olympic Games is a great opportunity, with the potential for transformational change, new facilities and infrastructure, global exposure, economic development, sporting success, nation building and much more," said the Overholt letter. "Canada has a proud Olympic history and great hope for the future."

Quebec City briefly pondered exploring a bid. Vancouver hosted the 2010 Games, but is unlikely to bid. Venues for long track speed skating and curling were adapted to other uses and the city is undergoing a building and real estate boom, with land values among the highest in North America.

Written by Bob Mackin

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