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

[getbak]

The Whistler Olympic Park cost $120 million to build a decade ago. This includes the ski jumps and the cross country and biathlon facilities. There's no specific cost breakdown for just the jumps, but it was likely the bulk of the total cost since it required the most construction.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

The amount of sweat we are wasting on ski jumping is ridiculous. I would tell the IOC they can have them back in South Korea, we are not building that infrastructure, completely useless for a sport that doesn't even get televised.

Aerial is a different story.

I heard one thing the IOC told the City and City Council was that if a particular sport was going to be too costly or too much a hassle they’d allow us to simply cut it from the games, which would be remarkable. But I could see it happening for something like ski jumping. More likely though is they’ll just do it at Whistler.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I heard one thing the IOC told the City and City Council was that if a particular sport was going to be too costly or too much a hassle they’d allow us to simply cut it from the games, which would be remarkable. But I could see it happening for something like ski jumping. More likely though is they’ll just do it at Whistler.

Last sentence first; not to get into too fine of details, but then you’d have to have some cross country events at Whistler too for Nordic combined events which have cc and jumps on the same day.

And in general, it’s well and good that the IOC is saying what it can to keep Calgary on the line, but you wonder by making vague promises of cutting costly particular sports to the cities themselves, if they’re going to win that battle with those particular federations when push comes to shove, and not suffer further repercussions.

[jayswin]

Perhaps it's nostalgia but I'd be a little disappointed if another Calgary Olympics didn't feature the ski jump as the Eddie the Eagle story was on my fondest memories. Hell there was even a Hollywood movie made about it a couple years ago.

I'd love to see Eddie be a big part our games should we get them and that would be a little awkward if ski jumping was eliminated.

[jayswin]

I love all the experts on what is a decent event and what isn't when 99% don't watch a single competition of literally any of the sports until the Olympics, lol.

Maybe I watch the Olympics more naively than most, but I just kind of flip through and tune in when they say a Canadian has a chance to medal and then I'm excited. I've never really cared too much about the prestige or skill or anything relating to any single event, otherwise I'd probably be following those events outside the Olympics, which I'm sure all you CP experts are.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Hell there was even a Hollywood movie made about it a couple years ago.

And Cool Runnings it ain't. Filmed in Europe, and no Calgary imagery. This was COP:

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Roughneck

And Cool Runnings it ain't. Filmed in Europe, and no Calgary imagery. This was COP:

That's Calgary's fault not the producers. They were fully ready to film the proper location at Winsport but the climate was too warm and there was no snow when they were set to film.

Even though I believe Calgary wasn't that snowy during the actual games, I don't think a Hollywood movie would want a dry, grassy Calgary look for a winter games movie. It's all about over the top, larger than life presentation in that industry.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by jayswin

That's Calgary's fault not the producers. They were fully ready to film the proper location at Winsport but the climate was too warm and there was no snow when they were set to film.

They were? It was a German and UK production, so that's why it was filmed there.

All they needed to film would be sending a B team to get some establishing shots of the jumps, get some angles, and that's really all that would be needed. It wasn't a 'big Hollywood Film,' it was a small budget production with a relatively small release, that didn't make a whole lot of money.

It was pretty much the perfect fit for an Eddie the Eagle movie.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by browna

Last sentence first; not to get into too fine of details, but then you’d have to have some cross country events at Whistler too for Nordic combined events which have cc and jumps on the same day.

Not necessarily. Easiest compromise is to make them separate days, but it isn't inconceivable to hop a plane from Pemberton to Springbank and then cruise up to Canmore. Less than 3 hours travel time.

[Muta]

Calgary remains last city standing for potential 2026 Games in North America

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-north-america

"Calgary remains the only North American city still considering whether to throw its hat into the five interlaced rings and bid on the 2026 Olympics, after a U.S. Olympic Committee official confirmed Friday that Denver and Salt Lake City are out.

And that’s just what the International Olympic Committee wants, says sports economist Moshe Lander.

“I think it’s been very clear since the beginning that the IOC wants Calgary, so the U.S. has quite rightly backed out of bidding,” said Lander, who teaches at Concordia University and spends two months a year instructing in Calgary. “The IOC just has so much attraction to Calgary, to Canada, that they’re almost stacking the odds in its favour.”"

[Enoch Root]

throw in anew arena and we'll be happy to host it for you

[stamps]

If these games are Calgary/Canmore then I'm OK with it as long as we get our new arena ... if it means including Whistler and Edmonton forget it ...

[Eric Vail]

the arena is inevitable...

a new or extensively renovated stadium and it is a go...

[JBR]

For those interested, there is a short documentary on Telus TV, channel 707 about Calgary's bid for the '88 games. With interviews of Frank King, Dick Pound and other key people involved in the bid.

Only 15 minutes, and I left wanting more.. and found a PDF copy of the 1988 Calgary Bid Book only.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Muta

Calgary remains last city standing for potential 2026 Games in North America

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-north-america

"Calgary remains the only North American city still considering whether to throw its hat into the five interlaced rings and bid on the 2026 Olympics, after a U.S. Olympic Committee official confirmed Friday that Denver and Salt Lake City are out.

And that’s just what the International Olympic Committee wants, says sports economist Moshe Lander.

“I think it’s been very clear since the beginning that the IOC wants Calgary, so the U.S. has quite rightly backed out of bidding,” said Lander, who teaches at Concordia University and spends two months a year instructing in Calgary. “The IOC just has so much attraction to Calgary, to Canada, that they’re almost stacking the odds in its favour.”"

So.....what you're saying is that we have the IOC over a barrel?

These Terms and Conditions are going to be well worth reading...

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Locke

So.....what you're saying is that we have the IOC over a barrel?

These Terms and Conditions are going to be well worth reading...

As long as we understand that a successful bid and build cost shouldn't just be based on what the IOC is willing to allow us to cut/use, it should also be heavily based on what we perceive to be a hugely successful games that leaves a legacy behind.

In an environment where cities don't want the games and the IOC is cutting expectations, you don't want to be the city that laughs at how easy it was to get them and then goes and puts on a low budget, world wide event with cost cutting apparent at every turn with tons of athletes being bussed to other cities and provinces.

If we can make it work by IOC standards but can't make it work on our own goals/standards than don't take them, imo.

[_Q_]

Yeah I think at minimum, this bid should include the following:
-New arena
-upgraded McMahon stadium
-C-train link to the airport
-upgraded Olympic plaza
-New ski jumps and sliding center at COP or Canmore

A nice to have would be a high speed rail link to Canmore.

Anything less than that and it starts to look like a budget games, which I wouldn't be interested in.

[JBR]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Yeah I think at minimum, this bid should include the following:
-New arena
-upgraded McMahon stadium
-C-train link to the airport
-upgraded Olympic plaza
-New ski jumps and sliding center at COP or Canmore

A nice to have would be a high speed rail link to Canmore.

Anything less than that and it starts to look like a budget games, which I wouldn't be interested in.

So re-using old Sun-Ice apparel is out?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by JBR

So re-using old Sun-Ice apparel is out?

Actually, its going to be absolutely mandatory!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by JBR

So re-using old Sun-Ice apparel is out?

I will have to dig out my old mini-torch candle holder.