[Senator Clay Davis]

How about no new arena actually in the bid? How about no meaningful infrastructure people want? Would that be something that interests you? (No Edmonton at least?)

The 2026 Winter Olympic games would cost $5.23 billion, according to Calgary 2026.

The organization tasked with exploring a bid for Calgary to host the Games says $3 billion of that would have to come from city, provincial and federal funding.

It's not known what the cost breakdown would be for each level of government, but Calgary 2026 president and CEO Mary Moran says they hope to have that breakdown 30 days in advance of a plebiscite planned for Nov. 13.

She said Step 1 was coming up with the $3-billion figure.

"Now we've got to go have the conversation, who pays for what," she said.

An earlier estimate of the total cost from the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee was almost $1-billion less.

All figures are in 2018 dollars.

The plan includes two new facilities in Calgary, a fieldhouse that would host figure skating and short track speed skating during the Games, and a new mid-size arena capable of seating 5,000 to 6,000 spectators.

The rest of the events would be hosted in refurbished venues dating from the '88 Olympics in Calgary, Canmore and Kananaskis and an upgraded McMahon Stadium.

Ski jumping and combined nordic events are planned for Whistler, while curling facilities are to be determined.

The draft plan calls for a revamp of the Saddledome rather than a new NHL-calibre arena, although there is a caveat saying a new arena could be incorporated into the plan.


There are no figures included for potential infrastructure investments, including possible transit expansions.

Moran said that's not within the organization's purview.

"We would says that's not part of the games," she said. "If cities and provinces and countries decide to invest in other things…. Those would not be a necessity for the 50 days of the Games."

Moran said Calgary 2026 anticipates $7.4-billion worth of economic impacts coming into Calgary and Alberta from the Games.

She also said there would be $2.2 billion of private investment that would not materialize without the Games.

Moran said she doesn't see any other economic development project with the same kind of return on investment.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...plan-1.4818444