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frinkprof · 06-09-2010, 01:48 PM

Edmonton/Calgary joint bid likely won't ever happen. Just too far apart, even with the HSR link. The IOC wants all venues accessible within a short commute (i.e. not the best case scenario of 75 minutes on HSR) of the athlete and media villages. The Winter Olympics get a pass on the alpine events being further away understandably due to geography of the various bidding cities relative to mountains, but certainly not on other events such as having curling and speed skating in Calgary while hockey and figure skating is in Edmonton or other such arrangements.

As for a 2022 bid, I have no problem with submitting a bid to the COC. Quebec will likely be the next choice at the national level though. If Calgary went on to the IOC level, I would not expect to win. I also picture something more like 2034, 2038 or 2042.

As for the Summer Olympics, Toronto will be the only realistic choice in Canada for some time. I think they may have a shot in 2024 or 2028. This will be the major focus of the Canadian Olympic Committee rather than another Winter Olympics I think.

Rotation-wise, I'd expect the next Americas Winter Olympics to go to the USA, Denver is my guess, then 8-12 years after that, maybe Canada. Don't count out South America as a possibility either, as the Olympic Movement has gone in that direction of late (Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, possibly South Africa 2020).

Something I'd like to see Calgary go after is a Pan-American or Commonwealth Games. Easier to win (less international competition), a more workable scale for a city of Calgary's size, and you would still get an attractive infrastructure package as a legacy. Probably new stadium (replacement for McMahon), velodrome, athlete's village (affordable housing), transportation projects. Next North America rotation year for Pan-American Games would be 2027 (after 2015 Toronto, 2019 South America, 2023 Central America).

Commonwealth Games were last held in Canada in 1994 in Victoria. 1998 was Kuala Lampur, 2002 Manchester, 2006 Melbourne, 2010 New Delhi, 2014 Glasgow, Gold Coast, Australia looks like they will bid for 2018. Canada has also hosted in 1978 Edmonton, 1954 Vancouver, and 1930 Hamilton (first Commonwealth Games). Canada is definitely due for hosting it again. I think something like the 2022 or 2026 Commonwealth Games could be realistic for Calgary.

06-09-2010, 01:48 PM	#41
frinkprof First Line Centre Join Date: Dec 2009 Exp:	Edmonton/Calgary joint bid likely won't ever happen. Just too far apart, even with the HSR link. The IOC wants all venues accessible within a short commute (i.e. not the best case scenario of 75 minutes on HSR) of the athlete and media villages. The Winter Olympics get a pass on the alpine events being further away understandably due to geography of the various bidding cities relative to mountains, but certainly not on other events such as having curling and speed skating in Calgary while hockey and figure skating is in Edmonton or other such arrangements. As for a 2022 bid, I have no problem with submitting a bid to the COC. Quebec will likely be the next choice at the national level though. If Calgary went on to the IOC level, I would not expect to win. I also picture something more like 2034, 2038 or 2042. As for the Summer Olympics, Toronto will be the only realistic choice in Canada for some time. I think they may have a shot in 2024 or 2028. This will be the major focus of the Canadian Olympic Committee rather than another Winter Olympics I think. Rotation-wise, I'd expect the next Americas Winter Olympics to go to the USA, Denver is my guess, then 8-12 years after that, maybe Canada. Don't count out South America as a possibility either, as the Olympic Movement has gone in that direction of late (Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, possibly South Africa 2020). Something I'd like to see Calgary go after is a Pan-American or Commonwealth Games. Easier to win (less international competition), a more workable scale for a city of Calgary's size, and you would still get an attractive infrastructure package as a legacy. Probably new stadium (replacement for McMahon), velodrome, athlete's village (affordable housing), transportation projects. Next North America rotation year for Pan-American Games would be 2027 (after 2015 Toronto, 2019 South America, 2023 Central America). Commonwealth Games were last held in Canada in 1994 in Victoria. 1998 was Kuala Lampur, 2002 Manchester, 2006 Melbourne, 2010 New Delhi, 2014 Glasgow, Gold Coast, Australia looks like they will bid for 2018. Canada has also hosted in 1978 Edmonton, 1954 Vancouver, and 1930 Hamilton (first Commonwealth Games). Canada is definitely due for hosting it again. I think something like the 2022 or 2026 Commonwealth Games could be realistic for Calgary. Last edited by frinkprof; 06-09-2010 at 01:56 PM.