It is foolish to think that somehow Calgary's 88 infrastructure is in any way satisfactory or enticing to attracting a new bid.
If Calgary bids on the Olympics it will be inclusive of massive renovations to each existing proposed venue.
The renovation of BC place for example spiraled out of control in part due to the necessity of partial repair and replacement for use during the Olympic ceremonies. A project that was originally supposed to cost $100m eventually topped out at over $500m. It's a nice stadium, I really enjoy watching a football game there, but a $500m CFL stadium should not have been a top priority for the province when the busiest hospital in the province is between 50 and 80 years old. The province loses between 7-13 million a year on BC place.
Calgary is going.to have to.do extensive.renovations on each existing venue which will likely cost more than a from scratch build.
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In its 2002 evaluation of Vancouver's bid during the bidding process for the 2010 Games, the Evaluation Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) highlighted the number and quality of existing competition and training facilities as one of the bid's strengths. Of the competition venues that the bid proposed for use during the Games, six required new construction, with the remainder already built in Vancouver and Whistler. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (VANOC), which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of facilities for the Games, pledged that all new construction of permanent facilities, whether on public or private land, would be funded by the government.[2]
According to CEO John Furlong, VANOC "started our venue construction as early as possible".[3] Construction on Cypress Mountain, the first new competition venue to be completed, began in March 2006 and was completed only eight months later, three years ahead of the start of the Games.[3] By December 2007, all three competition venues at Whistler were completed and open for training and testing.[4] Final construction was completed in February 2009, and sporting events were scheduled at the venues to ensure that they would be adequately tested before hosting the Olympic events. In total, six new competition venues were constructed: Cypress Mountain, Richmond Olympic Oval, UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic Centre, Whistler Olympic Park, and The Whistler Sliding Centre.[5]
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Because of the significant distance between Vancouver and Whistler, Olympic Villages and media facilities were constructed in both locations. In addition, while medals ceremonies for the events held in Vancouver took place at the pre-existing BC Place, an additional venue was constructed in Whistler to award medals there. BC Place is an indoor stadium, so the Olympic torch cauldron, which was lit in the middle of the stadium during the opening ceremony, could not be left there because of safety concerns.[22] A second "external cauldron" was erected on the Coal Harbour waterfront, next to the Main Media Centre.[23]
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I was there for the opening ceremonies in Calgary at McMahon. If Calgary hosts again, they are going to have to replace that venue. The oval is still great. I have heard it was recently renovated so I don't know if it meets current IOC standards for seating capacity. Ski jump will have to be constructed elsewhere, luge and bobsled track likely needs huge upgrades for modern events.
There are massive logistical problems for hosting an event in Calgary with Alpine events elsewhere. The existing infrastructure is really not that helpful in terms of cost as it will all need extensive upgrades. It may be more attractive to the IOC for selection but they don't give two farts about how much something costs.
If someone doesn't care about the costs and just wants the Olympics that's one thing but Calgarians need to be realistic about the huge expense and multi year inconvenience this will be for a few weeks of what is admittedly a kick ass party.