Calgary says yes to Olympic bid... Sorry Edmonton, we're not getting hockey!
On October 4, 2018, the International Olympic Committee invited Calgary (Canada), Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden) to become Candidate Cities in the path to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Since July 2016, Calgary has been conducting ample exploration and dialogue into the viability of the City hosting the Games for the second time, ensuring that a bid corresponds with the City’s long term economic and environmental goals. Currently, the process is running through a public engagement stage until mid-November, and upon request, the Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation has produced a document that explains their fully funded financial plan, which I’ve outlined below. By January of 2019, Calgary must submit their bid proposal to the IOC to begin the process of determining the 2026 Host City, with the final decision being made at the end of 2019.
Past Mirroring the Present
Ironically, there are quite a few similarities between what Calgary was going through in the early 1980’s (during the previous bid), and what Calgary is going through today. Between 1980 to 1985, The National Energy Program was instituted by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, leading to a precipitous drop in oil prices, which resulted in hard times for the Province leaving many Albertans out of work. The announcement that Calgary had won the bid for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games had the effect of overnight providing an air optimism and confidence back to the City. Calgary was able to construct facilities that to this day are still being utilized for training and entertainment purposes.
In the current bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the City of Calgary would only be required to construct two new facilities, while refurbishing and modernizing many of the existing facilities utilized in 1988.
New Facilities to be Constructed:
1) Multi-Sport Complex & Fieldhouse
During the Games, the proposed centre would host figure skating, short track speed skating, and wheelchair curling. After the Games, the proposed multi-sport complex would allow for community use, host regional, provincial and national competitions, and provide a 400m indoor track, an in-field for throwing and jumping sports, a FIFA-sized soccer field, basketball courts, volleyball courts, badminton courts, batting cages, a climbing wall, dry-land training space, and removable spectator seating for events.
2) Mid-Size Community Arena
During the Games, the proposed 5,000-seat, two-ice sheet arena would host some hockey games, the para-hockey games and training. After the Games, the proposed arena would host regional, provincial and national competitions. It would also be used by athletes and the community for training, competition and recreation, giving Calgary two new ice sheets.
Existing Facilities to be Used:
1) Olympic Oval: long-track speed skating
2) McMahon Stadium: opening and closing ceremonies
3) Winsport Sliding Track: Luge, skeleton and bobsled
4) Winsport Ski Hill: half-pipe, aerials, big air, moguls, slope style
5) Saddledome: hockey
6) BMO Centre: International Broadcasting Centre
7) Big Four Building: Main Press Centre
8) Max Bell Arena: training
9) Canmore Nordic Centre: cross-country skiing and biathlon
10) Nakiska Ski Resort: downhill ski events
Note: Only two events are proposed to be held held outside of the Calgary/Canmore region (in Whistler) - Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined. Hosting these events in Alberta would require newly-built specialized facilities which could add an additional $70 million in costs and, unlike all planned local venues, would have minimal utility after the games.
Overall 2026 Winter Olympic Games Budget
Source: 2026 Public Funding Summary
The overall budget of the Games is $5.11 billion (all amounts in 2018 dollars), funded through two sources: Private Funding of $2.233 billion and Public Investment of $2.875 billion. The breakdown is as follows:
Private Funding
The Operating Budget projects operational expenses for the Games at $2.451 billion, which is 91% funded by private revenues from IOC, sponsors, ticket revenues and merchandising. The remaining 9% is funded through a contribution to the Paralympic Games by all three orders of government.
Public Investment
The Public Investment Draft Budget, which was presented to City Council on September 11, 2018, funds urban development (venues and housing), essential services, security and the government contribution to the Paralympic Games, proposed at $2.875 billion (in 2018 dollars), with each order of government contributing the following:
Now although I am an Edmonton resident, I truly see the value in Calgary hosting this world class event, not only for the City, but for the Province and Country. After attending my first Winter Olympic Games in Korea this past February, I saw first hand how the Games had the ability to bring diverse masses of people together to share in competition and celebration. Alberta and Calgary need a win right now, a reason to see possibility in the future, and this would definitely provide the flint to ignite this optimism. The Olympics provide a medium to showcase the City of Calgary, and the Province of Alberta, in a more positive light to millions of viewers and attendees globally. That is, as an innovative, beautiful, welcoming, environmental, and volunteer-based locale that exhibits unrequited perseverance, open for business and tourism to the world.
Lake Louise, Banff National Park. Source: Shutterfly.