Interesting article that focuses on how the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver created major infrastructure projects that will have the most lasting impact on the city; no necessarily in an increase in tourism or prestige that an Olympics apparently brings (or doesn't bring according to this study). A large amount of funding for these infrastructure projects was from the Provincial and Federal governments. Now if the Olympics helps Calgary get more funding for the CalgaryNext Project, LRT to the Airport, improved winter sports facilities and improved roadways - I am all for it!!! We can use the Olympics as a means to improve our city for the future, like we did in 88, and capitalize on funding from multiple levels of government not just local. And as others have stated if we can manage the Olympics properly, once again like we did in 88, we should be able to break even. Lots of good for the City could come from this.
Quote that sums things up
"The best way to think about this is in terms of leveraging … and what you are attempting to do is use the vehicle of the event [Olympics] to achieve other public policy objectives,” he said. “Arguably the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the Canada Line, the Convention Centre, the community centres, those are the other public policy objectives that you are trying to achieve – and the Games provided the vehicle for doing that.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle15036916/