Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Seriously? Calgary has benefitted IMMENSELY from '88 in a myriad of ways, and in almost countless amateur sports. And it is still reaping benefits 27 years later.
As for the cost, not only does it bring in provincial and federal funding which aids in getting infrastructure projects completed (as the article above discusses), but Calgary has a huge head start already, with several facilities in place or simply needing an upgrade.
Even major upgrades (like the bobsleigh track would need) are typically cheaper than starting from scratch. The land is already committed, the facilities are already there - an upgrade means they can continue to benefit Calgary for another 25 years.
Yes, the IOC are a disgusting organization. But conversely, the Olympics are a wonderful event.
You have to look at the specifics when you weigh the costs and the benefits. Calgary is in a pretty unique position whereby the costs can be controlled and contained to a pretty significant degree.
And no city should be more aware of the benefits than Calgary already is.
I would be strongly in favour of this. And I would not be even a little surprised if an Olympic bid becomes part of the process for CalgaryNext.
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That was in 1988. Right now the only major thing Calgary needs desperately to fix is Crowchild/Bow, and that's probably a $2 billion project. So obviously that's not getting tied in. Green line is already happening, so is the Ring Road. Other than that? Can't think of anything badly needed.
Facility upgrades? Meh, spend that money to upgrade schools and hospitals instead, those are things the public needs, not winter facilities which are wants. I get that winter sports fans won't agree, but that doesn't change what deserves fiscal priority. Even low end though, you're looking at around $500 million in upgrades to be ready for the 2026 Olympics, which you have to remember could have
twice as many athletes as 1988. No dispute that it'll be cheaper than building from scratch, but that doesn't mean it'll be cheap. And there will still need to be quite a few new facilities needed for the many new events since 1988.
And then there's security, which is guaranteed to be a minimum of $1 billion, the cost it was in Vancouver. Factoring in inflation and such, probably $1.25 billion at a minimum. And that assumes nothing changes the dynamic. A terrorist attack in North America anywhere close to this event ensures a significant rise in security costs. So it's wild, unpredictable variable.
So right there, just a basic estimate is looking at $2 billion, and that assumes everything goes right which we know it won't. And that always forgets that sports now are more money based than ever. Tickets will likely be, relatively speaking, much more expensive than 1988. I get that people want the Olympics, it's just very poor fiscal management to spend any money on it.