Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastiche
Calgary did bid on them actually. It was a competition between Calgary and Vancouver at the national level.
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Yeah, and to be honest, would've made more sense strictly from a venue standpoint and probably financial.
I don't think the Calgary team was as organized or as polished as the Vancouver bid (I blame that on spending too much on the white elephant bid for the 2005 World's Fair), or the fact that going back to Calgary again would have optics issues which this country/the COC seems to have issues with at some points.
Anyways, Calgary's venues would still be useable with minor or moderate upgrades. The Oval is still possibly the top track in the world. Alpine could be at Nakiska again with some upgrades to the hill and or Sunshine, or Louise (although Parks Canada and the environmentalists prevented that option the first time).
Bobsled and Luge, no issue other then small changes to COP in general to handle some more people. COP could be upgraded to host the freestyle events.
Curling was at Max Bell or Corral, and could be again given what the size is of the venue in Vancouver. The second rink Vancouver has at the PNE is better for having figure skating/short track as opposed to having it all at GM Place, especially now with Women's hockey too in there as part of the schedule.
I am guessing something would've been newly constructed somewhere, or, the new Flames arena would be have done in the past 8 years, with the Saddledome having the same role of the PNE.
A new Ski Jump will have to be used, and I would say wherever they held the skiing. Isn't Whistler's temporary and to be torn down after? Same could go with the one setup in Calgary/Kanaskis/Banff.
My whole point is, in 30- or so years when the Winter Olympics come back to North America for the second time since Vancouver, and Canada would have a hope of getting them after the US gets them in 2026-ish, Calgary would have to build new venues as they'd be 40 years old.
If Calgary had 2010 and did moderate, less costly upgrades (remember, the trust fund setup out of the 1988 Olympic profits through CODA pays for the operating expenses and upkeep, making them self sustaining already), Vancouver could get the 2034 games and build the new venues then.