Because the anti-olympic folks need to pull the most extreme example to try and get their point across. An estimate is simply just an estimate. Everybody knows that.
Then let's look at the most recent example. Estimated cost of the Pyeongchang Games: $7 billion. Actual cost: $13 billion.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
All those people arguing no on the basis that the money should be spent on something else... sure would look foolish if we say no to the Feds' transfer payment contribution only to see the money go to funding the Jeux de la Francophonie or Commonwealth Games elsewhere in Canada instead.
We pay enough to the rest of the country in transfer payments already it sure would be nice to get a chunk of that back, even if we have to spend it on certain kinds of infrastructure.
Sadly I think facts and logic will be at the back of the bus through any plebiscite process and we'll just wind up with a get-out-the-vote contest that won't really do anything to settle the debate around public consultation and endorsement.
All those people arguing no on the basis that the money should be spent on something else... sure would look foolish if we say no to the Feds' transfer payment contribution only to see the money go to funding the Jeux de la Francophonie or Commonwealth Games elsewhere in Canada instead.
We pay enough to the rest of the country in transfer payments already it sure would be nice to get a chunk of that back, even if we have to spend it on certain kinds of infrastructure.
Sadly I think facts and logic will be at the back of the bus through any plebiscite process and we'll just wind up with a get-out-the-vote contest that won't really do anything to settle the debate around public consultation and endorsement.
They're still going to fund the commonwealth games and just for laughs gags
The Olympics is basically just adding to the death-by-1000-papercuts
Calgarians are whining about spending on a Flames arena but gung ho for the Olympics?? Makes sense
I love this. Because it shows that you have absolutely no understanding of the dynamic difference between the two things.
You're right. A publically funded Arena for small handful of Billionaires and a co-funded public event that leaves lasting public infrastructure are the same things. No difference at all.
Keep on shining you crazy diamond!
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The Flames slapped together a powerpoint presentation that likely took 2 hours to do then asked the taxpayer for 800 million bucks.
And you're disappointed we didn't jump at the chance to give away our money?
The worst part is still all the cringeworthy talking up of the project they did for years beforehand. Ken king always mercurially referring to something in the works. Meanwhile he presents that garbage proposal that a university student would have been ashamed of.
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Iand a co-funded public event that leaves lasting public infrastructure are the same things. No difference at all.
More likely it is just going to leave us with serious debt. You could also argue that the IOC is not a group I would want my money going to either. I don't want to build the Flames their new rink and I don't want a bloated Olympics. I loved the 88 Olympics but those times are gone.
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More likely it is just going to leave us with serious debt. You could also argue that the IOC is not a group I would want my money going to either. I don't want to build the Flames their new rink and I don't want a bloated Olympics. I loved the 88 Olympics but those times are gone.
My point was that in building a new arena the City was 100% on its own for a building to house a private enterprise.
With the Olympics the Feds and Province kick in part of the money and we're left assets that are for public use and benefit.
You want to go skiing at COP? Olympic money.
You want to skate at the Oval? Olympic money.
U of C residences? Olympic money.
And on and on it goes.
So comparing the City paying for a new arena for the Flames versus being a one-third partner in an Olympic bid just shows a gross misunderstanding of the actual context of the two items.
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More likely it is just going to leave us with serious debt. You could also argue that the IOC is not a group I would want my money going to either. I don't want to build the Flames their new rink and I don't want a bloated Olympics. I loved the 88 Olympics but those times are gone.
Hey, you got to have your fun!
Let us who didn't get to participate last time have ours!
My point was that in building a new arena the City was 100% on its own for a building to house a private enterprise.
With the Olympics the Feds and Province kick in part of the money and we're left assets that are for public use and benefit.
You want to go skiing at COP? Olympic money.
You want to skate at the Oval? Olympic money.
U of C residences? Olympic money.
And on and on it goes.
So comparing the City paying for a new arena for the Flames versus being a one-third partner in an Olympic bid just shows a gross misunderstanding of the actual context of the two items.
I agree with you that the benefits of the Olympics outweigh the benefits of an arena. But you have to look at the other side of coin ie costs, which is where a lot of people are taking issue with the Olympics. The costs for the Olympics as a whole dwarf the city money toward an arena, and even once you split that among the various levels of governments you'll probably see a substantial difference in costs on the city's ledger over their arena contribution. How much more? No one knows, I doubt we'll get a straight answer before hosting this thing and we probably won't know until after, but any rainbow spinning on the neat infrastructure we may or may not get needs to be tempered by the hefty price tag.
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My point was that in building a new arena the City was 100% on its own for a building to house a private enterprise.
With the Olympics the Feds and Province kick in part of the money and we're left assets that are for public use and benefit.
You want to go skiing at COP? Olympic money.
You want to skate at the Oval? Olympic money.
U of C residences? Olympic money.
And on and on it goes.
So comparing the City paying for a new arena for the Flames versus being a one-third partner in an Olympic bid just shows a gross misunderstanding of the actual context of the two items.
You think so small. I want a human hunting range, gold plated streets and giant anti-terror robots.
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It seems like once you get really big numbers, they lose their impact.
People regard $200 million as a lot of money. They regard $4 billion as a lot of money too. Do they regard it as 20 times as much money? I get the feeling that's not the way it's perceived. It's just a kind of a vague 'more.'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
It seems like once you get really big numbers, they lose their impact.
People regard $200 million as a lot of money. They regard $4 billion as a lot of money too. Do they regard it as 20 times as much money? I get the feeling that's not the way it's perceived. It's just a kind of a vague 'more.'
Most people can barely handle their own finances. Don't expect them to even comprehend these sorts of figures.
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Things getting a little testy. It does seem to paint the picture that Nenshi is all in on this (and that provincial support is tepid)
Quote:
Calgary's city manager shares the concerns some members of council have expressed that they aren't getting all the information they'd like about a prospective bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
On a few occasions in the past couple of weeks, some members of council have received information, while other elected officials were given different answers to their questions.
When the federal government announced last week that it and the provincial government agreed to share the $30-million cost of preparing an Olympic bid, some councillors were informed about it hours later by the city.
Jeff Fielding told CBC News he understands the concerns councillors have when they say they're not getting all the information they need in a timely manner.
"The negotiations were fast-paced and things were changing all the time, but that excuse really doesn't hold water," said Fielding. "I'm expecting us to get better, quite frankly."
The city's top public servant said he doesn't begrudge elected officials for complaining.
"This is what I'm hearing from the council, that they would like to have better information from us well enough in advance and I think we can do a better job on that," said Fielding.
When asked when council can expect to see an improvement, Fielding responded with one word: "Immediately."
