[Rumour] Calgary preparing for 2026 Winter Olympics bid. May open door to CalgaryNEXT funding

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

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?

Beijing is re-using facilities that were built for 2008 in 2022.

• The Bird's Nest will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• Curling will be in the Water Cube.
• Hockey will be held in the arenas where gymnastics & handball and basketball were held in 2008.
• Figure skating will be in the same arena where volleyball was held.
• The Convention Centre that served as the International Broadcast Centre in 2008 will be used for that purpose again.

[Ducay]

I imagine Toronto will be hoping LA doesn't win and take N.America out of the running for 2028.

[CroFlames]

I think given the amount of winter sports Calgarians engage in, a Winter Olympics bid might make sense. Many of the facilities built for 88 have been used by amateurs and professionals throughout the years.

With another Olympic bid, upgraded structures would continue to be used after the Olympics leave.

My 2 cents.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Another thing that separates Calgary from many other Winter sport eligible locations is Banff. It's one of the most desirable tourist locations in Canada. Photos of the Banff area hit the front page of reddit more than anywhere else in the world. Plenty more tourists would come to an Olympics in Calgary for this reason (and I'm sure this played a factor in the success of the last one as well).

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The top end talent is the same (or better for some sports like hockey where regular seasons affect things), so that equals out.

But in many events you have countries with entries that wouldn't make in in a WC but can go to the Olympics and can have an impact, through upsets in qualifying rounds. And there are more qualifying rounds so chances of getting bumped are greater. In track, for example, an extra qualifying round = an extra chance to have an off race.

Interesting, I guess I look at it the other way. At the WC the margin of error is smaller. Take track, in a race with a diluted field (Olympics) you can afford to have a miss-step. At the WC the field is tighter and therefore the repercussions of a miss-step can be greater. In short at the WC you need to be “on” for every race, at the Olympics you can take an early race “off” or “easy”. Also, in my mind, back to back or three time WC Gold is more impressive than an Olympic gold. The ability to reach and maintain a level of completion across multi years in amazing. At the Olympics you can get someone that peaks at that time, but can’t maintain that level.

[Joborule]

Is it possible to build a new ski jump to current standards at COP, or would it have to be on a different hill out of the city?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Another thing that separates Calgary from many other Winter sport eligible locations is Banff. It's one of the most desirable tourist locations in Canada The World. Photos of the Banff area hit the front page of reddit more than anywhere else in the world. Plenty more tourists would come to an Olympics in Calgary for this reason (and I'm sure this played a factor in the success of the last one as well).

FYP, we forget that some people save for years and years to come to Banff

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Is it possible to build a new ski jump to current standards at COP, or would it have to be on a different hill out of the city?

They'd just have to demolish the McD's on 16th ave to building the landing haha.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

They'd just have to demolish the McD's on 16th ave to building the landing haha.

It was no good in 88. I remember going to ski jumpin and the guys were getting air off the uphill at the end of the landing zone. One of the jumpers got air, and ended up hitting one of the camera booms.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Interesting, I guess I look at it the other way. At the WC the margin of error is smaller. Take track, in a race with a diluted field (Olympics) you can afford to have a miss-step. At the WC the field is tighter and therefore the repercussions of a miss-step can be greater. In short at the WC you need to be “on” for every race, at the Olympics you can take an early race “off” or “easy”. Also, in my mind, back to back or three time WC Gold is more impressive than an Olympic gold. The ability to reach and maintain a level of completion across multi years in amazing. At the Olympics you can get someone that peaks at that time, but can’t maintain that level.

Usain Bolt seems to prize the Olympic golds over his WCs. The fastest man in the world is the Olympic gold winner, not whoever has the current WC.

In the Olympics, the field may be diluted. But it still has all the same top guys as a WC, and since a lot of qualifying rounds are knockout, so a misstep is the same.

Anyway, for whatever reason, the Olympics are seen as more prestigious IMO. Maybe it's just the extra publicity.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Is it possible to build a new ski jump to current standards at COP, or would it have to be on a different hill out of the city?

I don't think so. It shouldn't have been built there in the first place. The location was to be at Wintergreen IIRC but it was insisted that it be in the city limits even though it faces North with gusty west-east winds.

[Flash Walken]

If the Saddledome, built for the 88 Olympics, is 'too old' to be used as a facility for a contemporary NHL team, why on earth do we think facilities like the Oval aren't going to need huge upgrades as well?

[calf]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If the Saddledome, built for the 88 Olympics, is 'too old' to be used as a facility for a contemporary NHL team, why on earth do we think facilities like the Oval aren't going to need huge upgrades as well?

I think everyone is saying they need upgrades. But upgrades are cheaper than building from scratch.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by calf

I think everyone is saying they need upgrades. But upgrades are cheaper than building from scratch.

And via a bid we wouldnt be paying for it all by ourselves.

So what do you do? Let all of those buildings deteriorate, renovate them or replace them?

All of those cost money.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by calf

I think everyone is saying they need upgrades. But upgrades are cheaper than building from scratch.

This is not true. Upgrades are often more expensive because of the complexities involved with using an existing structure.

Just look at Vancouver's BC Place. Originally budgeted for a $100 million renovation, the project exploded to a cost of more than 5 times that amount before it was completed.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by calf

I think everyone is saying they need upgrades. But upgrades are cheaper than building from scratch.

They are, but I think people are badly underestimating how much in upgrades will be needed. Someone mentioned the Beijing facilities being reused, but those are facilities that will be 15 years old or less when they need to be reused. Calgary's facilities will be nearly 40 years old by the time 2026 rolls around. And at least the Chinese facilities are 21st century based, unlike the mid 80's facilities Calgary used.

So yes it's nice that it won't have to be all new facilities from scratch, but others will need significant upgrades, and there will still need to be new venues. Boston just submitted a bid where they spent very little on new facilities, and the general public still didn't want it. The cost of security cannot be underestimated in the desire to not have these events, it's become extremely costly just for that.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The cost of security cannot be underestimated in the desire to not have these events, it's become extremely costly just for that.

Security in Vancouver was almost $1 billion. In London it ran $1.6 billion. And that's money the goes 'poof', not investment in infrastructure.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Security in Vancouver was almost $1 billion. In London it ran $1.6 billion. And that's money the goes 'poof', not investment in infrastructure.

And is part of the overall cost that is covered (primarily) from TV revenue

Cherry-picking one cost in the project and saying it goes 'poof' is disingenuous.

If the games make a profit overall, they make a profit - regardless of the security cost.

And the remaining infrastructure still remains, again, regardless of the security cost.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

This is not true. Upgrades are often more expensive because of the complexities involved with using an existing structure.

Just look at Vancouver's BC Place. Originally budgeted for a $100 million renovation, the project exploded to a cost of more than 5 times that amount before it was completed.

Sure, except BC Place now has a world class $1billion+ stadium for the cool price of $500 million.

[Senator Clay Davis]

BC Place is worth more than $1 billion? CenturyLink in Seattle cost around $600 million and is obviously much better. I really doubt BC Place can be valued any more than $500 million.