Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'd vote no to counter your vote

Don’t you live outside Calgary? Or did you move back in?

[OMG!WTF!]

The whole Whistler thing really bothers me. They've already suggested making us pay for their new housing project and calling it athlete housing instead of affordable staff housing. They're under no obligation what so ever to help us save money. They haven't decided if they even want to participate nor have they committed to anything other than being willing to spend bid money. I would expect them to ask for a lot more than new light bulbs for their ski jumps.

[soulchoice]

As of right now, I'll still be voting no, as is most of my immediate family. Unless someone can pinpoint definitive tangible infrastructure and amenities which will be left due to the games.

As far as a rink, sure cause many in the city can use it. The McMahon situation, only of the upgrades ensure it can be used by more than the Stamps and uofc football. Reason being is the CFL doesn't bring enough to the economy for the city vs the initial cost to upgrade. In my opinion. Any stamps stadium needs to be multi purpose, other events/concerts. If just for CFL football, not needed.

I couldn't care less if a Canadian wins a gold medal. If you want to be an athlete and compete in the Olympics or represent Canada, it should be on the athletes dime or corporate sponsorship. Tax dollars should never go to Olympic athletes(to live and train) for a sport they've chosen to be involved in.

If we want money for facilities, then use that money to build/upgrade sporting venues for the public to use on a regular basis. Not prioritized for Olympic athletes.

[CaptainYooh]

I will be voting "yes" and I have zero doubts about it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Calgarians to experience the Olympic Games. We are getting roughly $2B of federal and provincial money invested in our city, possibly more if the Province ups its commitment. Good for the economy in hard times. Good for people's spirits in hard times. Good for sports development. Good for entertainment. Indirectly, I believe, it will also be getting us a new arena, which is good too.

[Weitz]

Will it even get to a vote at this point? With the announcement from the feds?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Will it even get to a vote at this point? With the announcement from the feds?

I imagine there is a LOT of phone calls etc. going on today as Nenshi stated that if there isn't more money from the Feds he was going to pull the plug on it all at some point tomorrow.

Nenshi has actually requested that the Liberals break their funding rules as set out, to make a go of this thing....and even to go ahead with no real understanding of where some of the funding will come from

In his letter to Trudeau, Nenshi insists the point about the inability to match funding has been made many times to federal officials over two years.

Nenshi said options could include Ottawa simply bypassing its matching funding formula, finding other avenues of funding for categories such as security, and using some Green Line costs as matching investment.

The mayor even suggests announcing the funding amounts now and working on the matching issue later.

I think it's on life support now with the power about to be cut off.

In fairness is sounds as if the Liberals changed their minds on some things at the last minute, so not all of this can be laid of the feet of any one level of government, but indeed the whole thing has been a clusterfata from day 1...all under the stewardship of one guy who must not be talked about poorly around these parts.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/polit...-funding-furor

[Dion]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Don’t you live outside Calgary? Or did you move back in?

I live outside Calgary and won't be moving back anytime soon

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Dion

I live outside Calgary and won't be moving back anytime soon

Just for trying to vote in the Calgary plebiscite as a High River resident, I’m going to break the rules and vote “yes” twice!

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Dion

I live outside Calgary and won't be moving back anytime soon

If you moved back to Calgary you wouldn't have to deal with semis passing you at 130kmph in the fast lane during blizzards.

[chedder]

I don't get all of this "once in a lifetime" rhetoric. The way the Olympics are trending, its more likely to be a 'once in whenever you want them' as no cities want the hassle and cost.

Calgary '88 is another world ago.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Just for trying to vote in the Calgary plebiscite as a High River resident, I’m going to break the rules and vote “yes” twice!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by chedder

I don't get all of this "once in a lifetime" rhetoric. The way the Olympics are trending, its more likely to be a 'once in whenever you want them' as no cities want the hassle and cost.

Calgary '88 is another world ago.

It's more likely to be a choice of who wants to go into debt to pay for it.

[stampsx2]

YES CALGARY!

$4.5 Billion. That’s how much free money Calgary will be missing out on if we don’t get the Olympics.

If we don’t have an Olympics our city will be missing out on:
$1.2 billion from the IOC
$1.8 billion from games revenues
$1.5 billion from the federal government

However organizers are counting on $2.23 billion from games revenues and sponsorships not $1.8 billion.

Sports Canada which is a jurisdiction of the federal government has money earmarked for events. Weather it’s the Olympics, Pan Am games, Commonwealth games or whatever, that money will get spent. If we don’t use it, some other province will. That money is already there.

People our taxes aren’t going to go down if we don’t have an Olympics.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Feds have only committed roughly $1.1 billion, $1.5 billion is only if the city ups it's contribution to $800 million, which is more than double what it's currently offering (allegedly $370 million). I know the Yes side is very desperate as this thing could be dead in hours, but no need for blatant lying.

[Red Slinger]

I find it interesting that so many people claim to be fiscally conservative are totally on board with what is essentially a blank cheque from the City.

I'm on the fence. I'd like to know who pays for the cost overruns? I'd also like confirmation of facilities will be built rather than assuming that there will be a new arena.

[puckedoff]

When is the plebiscite and how does it work (is it like an election with polling stations?).

I have never had a plebiscite before, at least nothing that couldn't be cured with a few pills from the doc.

[JBR]

Just listened to the Minister of Sport on the CBC Eyeopener. Not to derail the topic, but the Flames could use her on the PP.... she’s as shift as they come.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

When is the plebiscite and how does it work (is it like an election with polling stations?).

I have never had a plebiscite before, at least nothing that couldn't be cured with a few pills from the doc.

Yep, essentially just like any municipal election.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Feds have only committed roughly $1.1 billion, $1.5 billion is only if the city ups it's contribution to $800 million, which is more than double what it's currently offering (allegedly $370 million). I know the Yes side is very desperate as this thing could be dead in hours, but no need for blatant lying.

Haha “blatantly lying” - you always have to take an view that opposes yours to the extreme.

Ok let me see it your way. It’s only $1.1 billion from the federal government not $1.5 billion. Fine. In that case the actual expected games revenues and sponsorships organizers are expecting is $2.2 billion not $1.8 billion like I stated in my post.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.theg...timates-costs/

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

Haha “blatantly lying” - you always have to take an view that opposes yours to the extreme.

Ok let me see it your way. It’s only $1.1 billion from the federal government not $1.5 billion. Fine. In that case the actual expected games revenues and sponsorships organizers are expecting is $2.2 billion not $1.8 billion like I stated in my post.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.theg...timates-costs/

Awesome, hope you don't go too far off the deep end when the bid is cancelled later today. But hey you can at least blame Trudeau so there's that.