[News] UPD: Calgary City Council approves exploratory bid study for 2026 Olympics

[Bunk]

Wow, the IOC comments directly on preliminary Calgary 2026 report. It seems rather extraordinary. At minimum it signals flexibility and willingness to negotiate. It also makes them seem very eager for a Calgary bid specifically.

https://gamesbids.com/eng/featured/i...h-new-reforms/

IOC Says Calgary 2026 Budget Estimate Can Be Reduced With New Reforms

In rare comments from an International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson regarding preparations by a city considering a bid for the Olympic Games, the IOC said it believes that a draft budget released by the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) Monday for a possible Calgary 2026 Olympic Games bid may be overstated.

“While we have not seen the detail of Calgary’s draft budget, we remain confident that by working together to refine operational planning, that opportunities exist for significant savings,” the statement read.

“We understand that Calgary’s estimated budget has been modelled on the experience of Vancouver 2010, and did not benefit from the new approach of organising the Games, which emphasises efficiencies and sustainability in the context of a city’s long-term planning as a part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 framework.”

[Muta]

That article confirms what I've heard for several months, that the IOC is very, very interested in a Calgary bid.

[Table 5]

Having a budget Olympics make sense and all, but I'd be lying if I wouldn't be disappointed if we had an Olympics and didn't end up with a few legacy infrastructure projects out if it. In some ways I'm more interested in that, than the party.

Also, having events in the Corral is also a little bit akin to Wayne Gretzky being driven around in a pickup truck. I mean let's have a little bit of ambition.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Muta

That article confirms what I've heard for several months, that the IOC is very, very interested in a Calgary bid.

Could it be because Calgary is the only non-dictatorship that has shown any real interest in hosting it? Yeah, most likely. But since they are extremely desperate, great chance to really go with the lowball bid. Cut that price down by say 35-50%, demand the IOC kicks in significant more. Might be worth bidding at that point. Their desperation offers a unique leverage opportunity, might as well go for it and if they say no, tell them to enjoy Almaty.

[Northendzone]

fyp

Originally Posted by Muta

That article confirms what I've heard for several months we have always known, that the IOC is very, very interested in a Calgary bid in money.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

fyp

Make fun of them if you want, but it's true. And it's more about location than you think.

[Frequitude]

I can't believe the IOC commented directly on a bid and offered to help reduce it. That's unprecedented. They really do want it here.

Counter for an extra $2B and two straight Olympics!

[Scary Eloranta]

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/c...ount-olympics/

Not sure if the last part is accurate:

"The international body may also mercifully euthanize Calgary’s ambitions another way: deciding to simultaneously award the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics, with attractive bids from both Paris and Los Angeles. Giving consecutive Olympic events to North American cities seems quite unlikely."

[Tyler]

Next 3 Olympics are in Asia

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Next 3 Olympics are in Asia

Yeah I think that writer is on dope (or didn't do his homework).

[Ozy_Flame]

As much as the IOC may want it here, the federal government needs to inject many, many millions of dollars to make this happen.

For one thing, there is NO way you can have an Olympics in Calgary without a direct train connection to the Airport. Vancouver got this, and it would probably be bare minimum to even be considered by the IOC, which suggests that the LRT lines will be an important part of any bid.

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

As much as the IOC may want it here, the federal government needs to inject many, many millions of dollars to make this happen.

For one thing, there is NO way you can have an Olympics in Calgary without a direct train connection to the Airport. Vancouver got this, and it would probably be bare minimum to even be considered by the IOC, which suggests that the LRT lines will be an important part of any bid.

Why would this be necessary? Is this a new requirement for every host city? You know damn well that no IOC member would be caught dead on the C-Train and I doubt any tourists would be in an uproar if we didn't have it.

[getbak]

That's a silly argument.

If they go 2024 in Paris and 2028 in LA, the 2026 Games will be on the same continent as one of those either way because if it's not Calgary, it will likely be either Switzerland or Austria.

You could drive from Paris to Innsbruck to Sion, Switerland and back to Paris and you would have driven less than the distance from Calgary to LA.

[Hangman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

As much as the IOC may want it here, the federal government needs to inject many, many millions of dollars to make this happen.

For one thing, there is NO way you can have an Olympics in Calgary without a direct train connection to the Airport. Vancouver got this, and it would probably be bare minimum to even be considered by the IOC, which suggests that the LRT lines will be an important part of any bid.

You know this how?

If true, add this the the current $4.6 billion and this whole exercise is an absolute no go!!!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

As much as the IOC may want it here, the federal government needs to inject many, many millions of dollars to make this happen.

For one thing, there is NO way you can have an Olympics in Calgary without a direct train connection to the Airport. Vancouver got this, and it would probably be bare minimum to even be considered by the IOC, which suggests that the LRT lines will be an important part of any bid.

I dont know if that criteria makes it a 'hard no' but its kind of stupid that we dont already have that.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

Why would this be necessary? Is this a new requirement for every host city? You know damn well that no IOC member would be caught dead on the C-Train and I doubt any tourists would be in an uproar if we didn't have it.

There is no doubt train lines or something that can handle similar capacity are an expected part of any Olympic bid. Vancouver had it as a major platform for their bid, and so did Sochi. I am certain that the IOC views it as almost a standard that infrastructure must be upgraded.

Muta - Any thoughts on this? I am absolutely sure the IOC will be requiring infrastructure upgrades in urban locations to accommodate the people flow for logistics purposes, including for the high number of event planners, supporters, volunteers, and even the IOC itself to move around. Also, do you know any context from the Vancouver experience?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Muta - Any thoughts on this? I am absolutely sure the IOC will be requiring infrastructure upgrades in urban locations to accommodate the people flow for logistics purposes, including for the high number of event planners, supporters, volunteers, and even the IOC itself to move around. Also, do you know any context from the Vancouver experience?

I'm not sure it's an IOC requirement. It's more of a municipal planning decision with monies from all levels. There's probably IOC recommendations, but something like a airport-LRT connection would be a government-level decision, since it's infrastructure that needs to serve the local population past the games as well accommodate traffic flows in the short term.

So, I would say it's a necessary component, but not likely to be an IOC requirement.

[Bunk]

It looks very much like they'll award 24 and 28 to Paris and LA at the same time. I wonder if they'd possibly award 26 and 30 at the same time.

That would be advantageous to us - give 26 to Austria or Switzerland and 30 to Calgary. It would give us more time (to do things like expand green line and build an airport link), plus I think would be easier to get the Province on board.

[Tyler]

^^^

Interesting angle. Hadn't considered 2030

[powderjunkie]

My favourite thing about Olympic discussions is people putting words/policies in the IOC's mouth without any actual source.

If airport LRT is only a spur line (requiring change trains at Saddletowne) then it's totally pointless IMO. I suppose ridership numbers would tell the story between future stop(s) beyond Saddletowne vs. airport, but if a train change is involved, then it would only shave a few minutes off the current 40-50 min bus ride...and it's hardly any different than the current bus shuttle to Saddletowne.

I'd rather just add an express bus service from airport to City Hall station. Use the money to add HOV lanes for the entire north half of Deerfoot (should be relatively straightforward compared to all of the bridges in the south.