2026 - should Calgary bid?

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Damn hippies.

They obviously got over it with 2 World Cups held at Lake Louise every year.

[jayswin]

Absolutely! I think it would be cool for the world to see the transformation (and for the networks to show the then and now pics/videos) of our city since 1988.

Imagine this...



Compared to this, plus telus sky and Brookfield towers, plus a new soprts complex (likely with a new football stadium and hockey arena), the Winsport arena, and all the new architecture. Not to mention, the more cultured, world class feel we're starting to get here.

And, also, who knows what other towers might go up by 2026.

[Tinordi]

Climate change laughs at this question. There'll be a paltry imitation of winter but that time in Calgary.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Absolutely! I think it would be cool for the world to see the transformation (and for the networks to show the then and now pics/videos) of our city since 1988.

Imagine this...

This photo is from at least 2000-2001

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Tyler

This photo is from at least 2000-2001

Is it? I just typed in 1988 Calgary in google and that was one of the only skyline photos that turned up.

Just out of curiosity, what's "2001 or later" specific in that photo?

[jayswin]

Oh, Pengrowth Saddledome for starters, lol.

[getbak]

The first tower of Bankers Hall was still under construction in 1988. The second wasn't built until a decade later.

Here's a more accurate photo of the Calgary skyline around the Olympics:

[Northendzone]

Count me as the lone dissenter in this group so far.......I think the Olympics are cool and all, but the cost......

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Count me as the lone dissenter in this group so far.......I think the Olympics are cool and all, but the cost......

Calgary was the first host city to make money from the Olympics. And with so much infrastructure able to be re-used or upgraded, there's no reason to think we couldn't do it again. Plus it would allow Calgary to collect billions in federal funding that we wouldn't be able to get any other way

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Calgary was the first host city to make money from the Olympics. And with so much infrastructure able to be re-used or upgraded, there's no reason to think we couldn't do it again. Plus it would allow Calgary to collect billions in federal funding that we wouldn't be able to get any other way

Utter bunk. Sure Calgary "made money" because it didn't have to pay back the federal loans.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Calgary should definitely bid on it. Considering the existing infrastructure, it could potentially make money. Even if it doesn't, I don't think it would be that much of a drain, and the resultant infrastructure improvements would be great for this city.

I think it would also help for future competitions have Canadian athletes training in newer ski jumps, bobsled/luge/skeleton tracks, etc., that are a bit behind many other places.

The Calgary Olympics was one of the best Olympic games, and I think it would have some strong consideration from that standpoint as well. Calgary's new arenas should be up (hopefully there will be a stadium as well, which would be great). The LRT will have expanded some more by then, and hopefully some of that money would go to greatly helping in that regard. I don't see too many downsides to it, with security in today's world being the biggest risk, unfortunately.

[Zarley]

I think if you were to tally the spinoff and legacy benefits of the 88 games, which are obviously difficult to quantify, you would find that the initial investment has paid for itself many times over.

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Climate change laughs at this question. There'll be a paltry imitation of winter but that time in Calgary.

[SebC]

Do it. We'd be a great host if we can get some hotels built and keep the Saddledome going.

=============================

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Climate change laughs at this question. There'll be a paltry imitation of winter but that time in Calgary.

Whatever climate issues Calgary has would also affect other potential candidates.

Originally Posted by spuzzum

How about a joint Calgary Edmonton bid? They'd almost be forced to build a high speed connecting train between the two cities. And it would truly bring Alberta at least together.

I'm fairly certain that the IOC wouldn't go for this. And rightfully so. What value does Edmonton bring that would justify splitting up the athletes, media, and dignitaries?

Originally Posted by craigwd

Bob track - this would have to be torn down and rebuilt. It's generally considered to be too easy a track nowadays. Requires very little technical ability to drive.

As a layman, I think keeping the existing track alongside a second track would make for a phenomenal facility. Easy track for learning, tough track for more advanced competitors.

Originally Posted by flameswin

Absolutely! I think it would be cool for the world to see the transformation (and for the networks to show the then and now pics/videos) of our city since 1988.

It would be cool for us, not necessarily that cool for the rest of the world. Other cities have transformed far more dramatically from 1988 to today... Dubai, Mumbai, London, Shanghai, virtually any major city in China. I don't mean this as a slight against Calgary either - in 1988, we were ahead of many other places in terms of building highrises. Those other places have since passed us by virtue of their larger populations.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Climate change laughs at this question. There'll be a paltry imitation of winter but that time in Calgary.

Actually, this is an incorrect statement. A study of all the host cities going fairly far back, list Vancouver and Calgary as only 6 of 14, I believe it is, that would be climatically stable enough to host the Games again. I'll see if I can find it.

[Lil Pedro]

Would be a great year for Canada if we hosted both the Winter Olympics and the World Cup!

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Utter bunk. Sure Calgary "made money" because it didn't have to pay back the federal loans.

So...indeed the Calgary orginizing committee did make money which means it was not "utter bunk" as you claim.

[Minnie]

Oops, I didn't remember completely correctly, as far as Vancouver goes, when I viewed the chart at a glance, and it was a study of the last 19 host cities, not 14. But Calgary still stands.



From here - they do say the following about Vancouver though -

Vancouver, for instance, could host the Games again, but this time they'd have to hold skiing and snowboarding competitions at a higher elevation in the Rockies.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So...indeed the Calgary orginizing committee did make money which means it was not "utter bunk" as you claim.

Depends on what accounting methods you use.

Barney, however, said that Calgary’s “profit” only happened because the organizers counted “the money they [got] from the various levels of government” as revenue; they did not count the money as expenditure, which it would be from the taxpayers’ perspective.

Once that money is factored in, no Olympic Games has ever made a profit, Barney said.

The Goldman Sachs report agreed with Barney’s assessment. While several Games made profits under their reporting parameters, “if one fully accounts for all of the costs related to hosting a Games, it is questionable whether an Olympics ever truly makes a profit,” the report said.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/cana...ty-277167.html

[Magnum PEI]

USA probably gets it in 2026. Its a waste of money anyways. I hope Canada never has the olympics again. The 'Own the Podium' thing is a waste too.

Originally Posted by Tyler

This photo is from at least 2000-2001

Calgary Tower has the new paint scheme and it looks like the Arriva tower under construction so I would guess ~2006.

[Joborule]

Do it. I want to be alive for it this time.