2026 Olympics- Calgary votes no- 56%

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Lol, how are you brushing aside concerns about "my taxes" or "IOC corruption" as hyperbolic? Those are completely legitimate concerns.

I am aware of what the No side was complaining about, including but not limited to "hockey in Edmonton!".

I am complaining that Calgary turned down billions in much need infrastructure money. We were literally offered a wad of cash by JT - who won't be delivering us a pipeline - and we said no.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

That said, I get a real sense that it doesn’t matter what was proposed that the “no” side would Be against it. It seems this country is against everything these days. It’s flat out depressing. People in this country no longer strive to be better, they strive to bring everyone down to their level. Honestly, I’ve had enough. I’ve always maintained until recently that I would Never move to the US. Like many in my field though there is no doubt in my mind anymore, I will be taking the opportunity to move South when the opportunitty next presents itself. This City is depressing as #### and when you combine that with being part of a country that seems willing to cut off the nose to save the face, the outlook of us ever returning to Prosperity in Calgary seems extremely doubtful to me.

You're worried about divisiveness and yet you want to move to America?

[browna]

Originally Posted by Kaine

I don't disagree.


Was any of that this posted in the quote I was responding to or was a more of a "taking my toys and going home" statement?

Your argument to the original post that Calgary's relevancy, gained by preparing for an Olympics, at a sport and civic facility level, and sure a civic pride level, vanishes by June 2026.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Leaving the IOC out of it, if the City is going
to have $7b (minus security costs) of infrastructure and sports venues work done, would it not be better to have a portion of that funding to come from outside the city. Even if it’s the provinces and feds agreed upon amounts, that’s still better than Calgary covering the costs of everything piecemeal later on.

That's where private money will come in locally. The Olympic bid was too dependent on the 3 levels of government.

If amateur sport is important enough, the private sector or indivudual donors will contribute.

[CaptainCrunch]

Lets bid on Wrestlemania


At the end of the day, the Olympic "dream" isn't dead if there's a desire to do it. This all came down to a process that created a huge amount of doubt, a dysfunctional bidco and city council.


We can act all argy bargy angry and do some kind of age split. But at the end of the day, this can either be a defeat or it can be a lesson learned and the city can decide if the want to do this again and use the lessons learned in this failed process.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

There's nothing stopping Calgary from putting in another bid for a future olympics...

Funding, facilities, timelines, etc.

There's plenty that's stopping it.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

You're worried about divisiveness and yet you want to move to America?

He doesn’t mention divisiveness once.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I am aware of what the No side was complaining about, including but not limited to "hockey in Edmonton!".

I am complaining that Calgary turned down billions in much need infrastructure money. We were literally offered a wad of cash by JT - who won't be delivering us a pipeline - and we said no.

I think it's a worthy discussion to have but framing it like an upset child won't help your argument.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

He doesn’t mention divisiveness once.

"People in this country no longer strive to be better, they strive to bring everyone down to their level. Honestly, I’ve had enough."

[nieuwy-89]

Originally Posted by Muta

I think what's unfortunate is that the design, construction, sport and tourism industries won't get that shot in the arm they realllllly could have used for the next decade. Would have created thousands of jobs in a time we need them most.

The infrastructure investment alone would generate enough economic activity to see Calgary through the current downturn. I truly worry about Calgarys economy rebounding without some sort of external stimulus. The Olympics would have been a perfect way to invest in a modern sustainable City.

To those questioning the value, I think Vancouver has done pretty well post-Olympics. Thing have changed a lot since ‘88. The exposure and world wide audience are much larger now.

Plus it would have been amazing to be involved as an organizer, builder, volunteer, or spectator.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Not even the plebiscite results will change some of the ridiculous "yes" opinions.

Free money. Hahah what fantasy is this

The tax contributions of the 34 million non-Calgarians that was earmarked for this, wasn’t what Calgary was being offered?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

You do realize that describing the Olympics as an 'investment' for Calgary infrastructure also entails the comparison of 'risk' that you would talk about for a typical investment, right?

Most of the 'no' side isn't against this idea. It's the idea that the risks involved would likely over run any benefit from investment. Or at least the levels of government and Bidco didn't dispel those fears with the information made public.

Lots of industries and thousands and thousands of citizens would have benefitted from that infrastructure getting built. Lots. This would have been the shot in the arm that this city needs. Oil and gas isn't the only industry in this city that matters. Not sure where those thousands of jobs will now be found elsewhere.

[White Out 403]

I've never heard of the hockey in Edmonton thing until reading it here.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

I think it's a worthy discussion to have but framing it like an upset child won't help your argument.

Honestly, go nuts. I am upset. And I will continue to deride this decision by Calgarians for a long time.

We are happy to slam the Libs and the ANDP all day long, yet when they offered to help fund our infrastructure we turn it down. It is as simple as that for me, and it's really aggravating to see happen especially when there is no clear Plan B for said funding. It's extremely hypocritical with our waxing about the pipeline.

We are cutting off the nose to spite our face.

[greyshep]

Pessimists win the day.

I can only assume that they will now put as much energy into finding solutions to energize this city as they did cutting this opportunity into pieces.

No?

[oldschoolcalgary]

there's definitely a weird disconnect amongst the yes and no voters...

people talking about how the city lacks vision, etc, etc... and yet, the last time i check only one city hosts every 4 years? Only 2-3 cities globally actually get to the point of being a bid city.

All those other cities that don't bid are depressing ####holes then? As mentioned 2026 had a number of cities drop out. The two cities left don't even have government support for the games, so who knows if they'll even end up bidding at all.

last i checked, Calgary was rated by the Economist this year as the 4th most livable city in the world... https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...018/index.html

While i don't necessarily agree with that ranking, there are far worse cities to live in than Calgary.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I've never heard of the hockey in Edmonton thing until reading it here.

It was in one of the earliest rumoured versions of a bid, as a means to save money.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by browna

Your argument to the original post that Calgary's relevancy, gained by preparing for an Olympics, at a sport and civic facility level, and sure a civic pride level, vanishes by June 2026.

As has proven to be the case far more often than not by several of the articles posted in the past handful of pages. Civic pride was not mentioned in that as far as I can see, such a subjective feeling cannot really be judged in a fact based manner can it? Relevance on a world stage however can, if we base if off of the Vancouver games, the most recent comparable event than yes, by June we would be about as relevant as we are now.


I see the benefits and pitfalls of both sides, I was on the fence early on with the bid. The complete and total lack of anything resembling proper planning by the council and hastily thrown together, misleading "plan" they put forth, my fear of what would follow far outweighed any desire for that civic pride. The numbers say the majority felt the same for one reason or another.

[H2SO4(aq)]

“Divisiveness” is the dumbest damn word ever. Stop using it in argument. It’s the ultimate scapegoat.

Argue with reason and facts please. Don’t resort to calling stuff divisive.

Not trying to pick on you scorp, I just hate the silly word and how it’s become a cop-out.

Having divisive/differing opinions is literally what our world is about. You vote no I vote yes. We are diverse in our opinions. That’s the whole damn point. Disagree with me, please. It makes me think and learn and grow.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

there's definitely a weird disconnect amongst the yes and no voters...

people talking about how the city lacks vision, etc, etc... and yet, the last time i check only one city hosts every 4 years? Only 2-3 cities globally actually get to the point of being a bid city.

All those other cities that don't bid are depressing ####holes then? As mentioned 2026 had a number of cities drop out. The two cities left don't even have government support for the games, so who knows if they'll even end up bidding at all.

last i checked, Calgary was rated by the Economist this year as the 4th most livable city in the world... https://edition.cnn.com/travel/artic...018/index.html

While i don't necessarily agree with that ranking, there are far worse cities to live in than Calgary.

That's what I find funny about this. Some Yes people here are lashing out now and No voters are all visionless plebs.

Rome, Boston, Stockholm, Munich ... but no Calgary are all just dumb voters, all those other cities choice correctly for other reasons.