So just how flexible is the IOC when it comes to utilizing old facilities that would be upgraded? Or are they like FIFA in that they want flashy new huge venues for everything?
LA in '84 (summer I know) made it work because nobody wanted the games, they were able to pretty much dictate the terms to the IOC for them hosting, and had almost everything built with private dollars.
Barcelona is another recent success story, taking an existing plan they had to redevelop parts of their city and then utilizing the Olympics to make that happen. Calgary could be very similar to this example with the infrastructure projects and other developments we are already planning for, so make the Olympics works for us instead of winning a bid and then looking at how to make it work for the city.
I highly recommend reading this book for context:
http://www.economist.com/news/books-...th-just-say-no
http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Maximus.../dp/0815726511