AustralianFan Posted October 6, 2022 Report Share Posted October 6, 2022 Posted on Oct 5, 2022 4:02 PM by Robert Livingstone in Featured, Future Winter Bids The Canadian province of Alberta is entertaining proposals to bring the Olympic Winter Games back to Calgary in the near future, a government official revealed Tuesday. Rendering of upgraded McMahon Stadium with Olympic overlay for failed Calgary 2026 Olympic Winter Games bid During a ceremony marking a CAD $17.5 million (USD $13 million) provincial investment in Canada Olympic Park – a legacy of the Calgary 1988 Winter Games – Alberta’s Minister of Culture Ron Orr revealed that a potential project to host the Games has emerged. “There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for a future opportunity and we will certainly be looking at those as they come and as it becomes appropriate to talk about details,” Orr said. The City of Calgary has almost all of the amenities it would need for a Games at this stage and, of course, this kind of redevelopment would obviously add to that,” Orr added, according to Calgary Herald. Orr did not elaborate on the nature of the plans being put forward. Calgary mounted a contentious campaign to host the 2026 edition of the Games that divided City Council and polarized public opinion in 2018. The bid was later quashed by 56.4 percent of voters in a hard fought city-wide plebiscite. Now, four years later a Vancouver centered project led by four hosting First Nations and targeting 2030 has been put forward by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). British Columbia hopes to reprise the 2010 Games by building on its legacy. But Vancouver may have to face a public vote of its own should one Mayoral candidate, who has promised to let taxpayers have their say on the issue, win an October 15 municipal election. Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules a national Olympic Committee must choose a single interested bidder to enter an ongoing dialogue process for any future Games. The COC selected Vancouver last year and has since been involved in discussions that could see the bid chosen for targeted dialogue for the 2030 Games – Olympic-speak for shortlist – by the IOC as early as December or as late as next Spring. The final election will take place next Fall. Vancouver’s rivals include Sapporo in Japan and Salt Lake City in the United States. Bids not successful for 2030 could end up back in the mix for 2034. Calgary’s opportunity would be for the 2034 Games at the earliest but backers would have to wait for Vancouver to be withdrawn from dialogue before that becomes possible. Certainly any plans emerging for a Calgary bid are at the very early stages and perhaps only an opportunistic tease to justify the Canada Olympic Park investment. Reportedly Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who was city councilor when the 2026 bid was in debate, was not aware of any new plans. Neither was the COC, the only entity in Canada with the authority to officially launch a bid. “We have heard the reports of comments made yesterday [about a Calgary bid], but we are not aware of any other proposed bid, in Alberta or elsewhere in Canada,” a COC spokesperson told GamesBids.com. “The COC is currently focused on supporting an Indigenous-led process to assess the feasibility of Canada hosting a 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games in British Columbia, working under the leadership of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.” The next Winter Olympics will be held in Northern Italy by Milan-Cortina 2026. Credit: Alberta primed for new Calgary Winter Olympics bid amid focus on Vancouver in 2030 - 5 October 2022 - gamesbids.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2022 “Nearly four years after a majority of Calgary voters said no to pursuing the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the provincial government says it is aware of another effort to bring the games to Alberta and it is not ruling the possibility out. “ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2022 7 minutes ago, AustralianFan said: Posted on Oct 5, 2022 4:02 PM by Robert Livingstone in Featured, Future Winter Bids The Canadian province of Alberta is entertaining proposals to bring the Olympic Winter Games back to Calgary in the near future, a government official revealed Tuesday. Rendering of upgraded McMahon Stadium with Olympic overlay for failed Calgary 2026 Olympic Winter Games bid During a ceremony marking a CAD $17.5 million (USD $13 million) provincial investment in Canada Olympic Park – a legacy of the Calgary 1988 Winter Games – Alberta’s Minister of Culture Ron Orr revealed that a potential project to host the Games has emerged. “There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for a future opportunity and we will certainly be looking at those as they come and as it becomes appropriate to talk about details,” Orr said. The City of Calgary has almost all of the amenities it would need for a Games at this stage and, of course, this kind of redevelopment would obviously add to that,” Orr added, according to Calgary Herald. Orr did not elaborate on the nature of the plans being put forward. Calgary mounted a contentious campaign to host the 2026 edition of the Games that divided City Council and polarized public opinion in 2018. The bid was later quashed by 56.4 percent of voters in a hard fought city-wide plebiscite. Now, four years later a Vancouver centered project led by four hosting First Nations and targeting 2030 has been put forward by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). British Columbia hopes to reprise the 2010 Games by building on its legacy. But Vancouver may have to face a public vote of its own should one Mayoral candidate, who has promised to let taxpayers have their say on the issue, win an October 15 municipal election. Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules a national Olympic Committee must choose a single interested bidder to enter an ongoing dialogue process for any future Games. The COC selected Vancouver last year and has since been involved in discussions that could see the bid chosen for targeted dialogue for the 2030 Games – Olympic-speak for shortlist – by the IOC as early as December or as late as next Spring. The final election will take place next Fall. Vancouver’s rivals include Sapporo in Japan and Salt Lake City in the United States. Bids not successful for 2030 could end up back in the mix for 2034. Calgary’s opportunity would be for the 2034 Games at the earliest but backers would have to wait for Vancouver to be withdrawn from dialogue before that becomes possible. Certainly any plans emerging for a Calgary bid are at the very early stages and perhaps only an opportunistic tease to justify the Canada Olympic Park investment. Reportedly Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who was city councilor when the 2026 bid was in debate, was not aware of any new plans. Neither was the COC, the only entity in Canada with the authority to officially launch a bid. “We have heard the reports of comments made yesterday [about a Calgary bid], but we are not aware of any other proposed bid, in Alberta or elsewhere in Canada,” a COC spokesperson told GamesBids.com. “The COC is currently focused on supporting an Indigenous-led process to assess the feasibility of Canada hosting a 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games in British Columbia, working under the leadership of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.” The next Winter Olympics will be held in Northern Italy by Milan-Cortina 2026. Credit: Alberta primed for new Calgary Winter Olympics bid amid focus on Vancouver in 2030 - 5 October 2022 - gamesbids.com The key quote from the Gamesbids.com report would be : “Calgary’s opportunity would be for the 2034 Games at the earliest but backers would have to wait for Vancouver to be withdrawn from dialogue before that becomes possible.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2022 "We have engaged in some initial processes and we're exploring it. There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for our future opportunity, and we will certainly be looking at those as they come in … so yes, it's possible." He noted Calgary has almost all of the amenities needed to host the Olympics, but added he doesn't want to go into conversations that "may be happening." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 6, 2022 Report Share Posted October 6, 2022 I'm not sure if Calgary could be awarded the 2034 edition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2022 “We have engaged in some initial processes and we’re exploring it. There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for our future opportunity, and we will certainly be looking at those as they come in … so yes, it’s possible.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 7, 2022 Report Share Posted October 7, 2022 I think 2038 would be possible for Calgary if not 2034. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2022 23 hours ago, SportLightning said: I think 2038 would be possible for Calgary if not 2034. For 2034, Calgary would require, at minimum, Vancouver to have withdrawn from continuous dialogue with the Future Host Commission for 2030 or 2034. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2022 8 October 2022 “It is understood that the Calgary Chamber of Commerce was not involved in preliminary discussions regarding the bid.” “However, its President Deborah Yedlin said they would back the bid if the idea moved forward.” "We will support an Olympic bid because it's something that's important for the city, we need a renewal of our sports infrastructure," said Yedlin, as reported by CBC.” “Yedlin added that the city is still benefitting from the legacy of the 1988 Games.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 8, 2022 Report Share Posted October 8, 2022 It all depends. Maybe as possible they could make a joint bid of Vancouver-Calgary 2030. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2022 40 minutes ago, SportLightning said: It all depends. Maybe as possible they could make a joint bid of Vancouver-Calgary 2030. Maybe a bit too far apart between Calgary and Vancouver 971 kms apart or 10 hours driving. But these days anything is possible in this new norm age, provded both cities even want to share the Olympics. I somehow doubt they would want to share but only guessing. Look at Tahiti surfing venue for Paris 2024 and is on the other side of the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryker Posted October 9, 2022 Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 I commented on this in another thread, but this sounds like another one of those bids where some politician is saying "hey wouldn't it be great to host the Olympics?" The mayor is not supportive so that puts any hope of this getting off the ground dead on arrival. Then you have the fact that one of the key venues from the failed 2026 bid, the Saddledome, is crumbling and all attempts to get a new arena built for the Flames have failed. Odds are by 2034, the Flames will be relocated and the Saddledome demolished. Vancouver is the better option financially and logistically. NHL: Calgary Flames' home arena is quite literally falling apart (yahoo.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 1 hour ago, stryker said: I commented on this in another thread, but this sounds like another one of those bids where some politician is saying "hey wouldn't it be great to host the Olympics?" The mayor is not supportive so that puts any hope of this getting off the ground dead on arrival. Then you have the fact that one of the key venues from the failed 2026 bid, the Saddledome, is crumbling and all attempts to get a new arena built for the Flames have failed. Odds are by 2034, the Flames will be relocated and the Saddledome demolished. Vancouver is the better option financially and logistically. NHL: Calgary Flames' home arena is quite literally falling apart (yahoo.com) As well as the Alberta Minister for Culture, the Chamber of Commerce has expressed support. Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who opposed it in 2018 as a city councillor, also appears “more open to the idea” than she was back then. On Tuesday, she didn't say what the city's position on the possibility of hosting the Olympics would be, but she said the minister's comments came as a surprise. "I don't know what Minister Orr is talking about. I'm looking forward to the provincial government engaging with us as the so-called site," she said, adding she was in a council meeting when she received text messages about the comments. For 2034, Calgary would require at minimum for Vancouver’s bid to have crumbled or withdrawn from continuous dialogue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 9, 2022 Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 10 hours ago, AustralianFan said: these days anything is possible in this new norm age, provded both cities even want to share the Olympics. Yeah, anything is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 Calgary explores the idea of a bid - Fancsjeux.com - 7 October 2022 “Amazing. A new Olympic bid is being discussed in Canada. But it does not involve Vancouver, a potential candidate city for the 2030 Winter Games. Alberta’s culture minister Ron Orr said this week that a project could emerge in Calgary, host of the 1988 Winter Games. “We’re engaged in some initial processes and exploring the idea,” he acknowledged.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted October 9, 2022 Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 19 hours ago, stryker said: I commented on this in another thread, but this sounds like another one of those bids where some politician is saying "hey wouldn't it be great to host the Olympics?" The mayor is not supportive so that puts any hope of this getting off the ground dead on arrival. Then you have the fact that one of the key venues from the failed 2026 bid, the Saddledome, is crumbling and all attempts to get a new arena built for the Flames have failed. Odds are by 2034, the Flames will be relocated and the Saddledome demolished. Vancouver is the better option financially and logistically. NHL: Calgary Flames' home arena is quite literally falling apart (yahoo.com) Not a hope in hell Calgary moves. There is not a single other city that could provide as much revenue as Calgary. A new arena will get done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 9, 2022 Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 42 minutes ago, Faster said: Not a hope in hell Calgary moves. There is not a single other city that could provide as much revenue as Calgary. A new arena will get done. I think a new arena would fixed that problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryker Posted October 13, 2022 Report Share Posted October 13, 2022 On 10/9/2022 at 4:02 PM, Faster said: Not a hope in hell Calgary moves. There is not a single other city that could provide as much revenue as Calgary. A new arena will get done. Fair enough though I`ll believe it when I see it. Unfortunately for Calgary they need more than just one arena. The 2026 bid was the Saddledome`s last chance. Given its current state, I cannot see the city investing money to upgrade it and spend taxpayer money on a new arena. Odds are by 2034 the Saddledome will be leveled. This is going to force Calgary to likely partner with Edmonton or perhaps Lethbridge or Medicine Hat. Then there`s the issue of WinSport. How much cash are they willing to spend especially given the 2026 bid didn`t think upgrades were worthwhile and they chose to include Vancouver`s ski jump instead. So while a spread-out Alberta bid is certainly logistically possible, is it a better and more feasible option than a much more compact Vancouver bid? I don`t think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted October 14, 2022 Report Share Posted October 14, 2022 Compact Vancouver? With more than 20 events 6 hours or more from Vancouver? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2022 “The track used at the 1988 Olympics closed in 2019, with delays in securing the required funding leading to the 2021 Luge World Championships relocating from Calgary to Whistler.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted October 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2022 With demise of the Vancouver 2030 bid, what does this mean for Calgary ? Robert Livingstone talks about this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comped Posted October 29, 2022 Report Share Posted October 29, 2022 Realistically, the likelihood of Calgary even bidding on 2034 just went up about 100-fold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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