Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by getbak

What is going on?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057484572139565056

What's crazy is that this is exactly what Sean Chu said would happen:

[getbak]

The letter...

Spoiler!

So, $570 million from the city for costs and insurance, plus another $150 for Stampede Park and Victoria Park access improvements (which will need to be spent either way).

[Jacks]

Something seems off about that letter.

Edit: Maybe not
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ched-1.4885230

The federal and provincial governments have reached a funding proposal agreement that would mean the public dollars are in place to fund the 2026 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

The Calgary 2026 bid corporation sent out an announcement at 10 p.m. Monday night including a letter saying the required total of $2.875 billion of public funds, in 2018 dollars, would be met.

It was signed by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, federal Minister of Sport Kirsty Duncan and included a space for Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi's signature.

The announcement comes late on the same day the chair of the City of Calgary's Olympic assessment committee recommended to council that it end its pursuit of the 2026 Winter Games and cancel a scheduled plebiscite.

[Roughneck]

It talks about any future savings but isn't clear on overruns. Is 'sharing in the delivery of the Games' count the overall cost of hosting beyond the amount?


Without clarification on that, does this agreement even address any of the concerns of the committee today?

Originally Posted by Jacks

Something seems off about that letter.

Yeah I was going to say. The first page looks photoshopped.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by getbak

The letter...

Spoiler!

So, $570 million from the city for costs and insurance, plus another $150 for Stampede Park and Victoria Park access improvements (which will need to be spent either way).

So the letter is dated today, and mentions that all of those details are summary of discussions late in the evening yesterday October 29th. So it's not that there's new details being agreed on late tonight.

[Yoho]

Incredible twists and turns in this story.

[Table 5]

nm

[Joborule]

This is now crazy. I have no idea what to believe. Is it still alive? Is there, or is there not a gonna be a vote?

Last minute, last second.

[getbak]

Council will vote tomorrow morning on whether or not to go ahead with the plebiscite. With this agreement on the table and seemingly meeting the conditions of all sides, I think we'll see the plebiscite go ahead.

Councillors Jones, Carra, and Chahal have all tweeted today that they're in favour of going ahead with the plebiscite. If three more members of Council join them, it will continue.

[getbak]

Oh, and to tug on your heartstrings...

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Damn you Phoenix why can’t you see the light!!!!!

Is this what the No arguement boils down to? Cause it isn’t super popular it must be a bad idea?

Calgary has its reasons to host. Mainly economic. It has been studied by BidCo to be viable provided proper funding.

That funds doesn’t exsist due to a country that is a disfunctional mess. To say other cities aren’t bidding so we shouldn’t is way too cynical and simplistic view.

and yet no other city, with the expect of a maybe italian bid and a maybe stockholm bid, neither of which have received federal support from their own government, is bidding

The Yes side has their own 'simplistic view' too; part of it based on economic benefits to the local economy. Or worse, that notion that Calgary somehow isn't a 'world class' city if they don't host the olympics.

the fact of the matter is that the IOC is having problems attracting bids: that's not my view, that's a fact as demonstrated by the cities have dropped out of the running...

[Dion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057500418140524544

[Weitz]

What exactly is the point of a non-binding plebiscite anyway?

I still stand by my feeling it’s going to be overwhelming no.. yet now I feel it’s still going to happen for some stupid reason.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Weitz

What exactly is the point of a non-binding plebiscite anyway?.

Political cover.

This whole last minute deal smells rotten. "Creative accounting" so the Feds don't have to break policy doesn't actually create funding... there is now a hole in the funding per the draft hosting proposal.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Political cover.

This whole last minute deal smells rotten. "Creative accounting" so the Feds don't have to break policy doesn't actually create funding... there is now a hole in the funding per the draft hosting proposal.

They reduced cost of village based on not having it at bus barns site. Also some saving in cost on security based on recommendation with respect to accommodations or something. There’s also something of an insurance policy in contingencies of some sort. Cost/funding does appear to square. There is also about $1b in total cost contingency built in.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The funny thing about the last few days, even with a "deal" now in place, is that is has almost certainly cost the Yes side a lot of votes by showcasing to people that this is who you're going to trust to run this thing. Given that this process can be as best describe as poorly run and at worst a total humiliation that is not even close to on time (and probably not on budget either), I suspect this "deal" isn't going to save much. I think the desperation of the Yes side in the past little bit has also turned people off, acting like the Olympics is legitimately the financial salvation of Calgary is rather sad.

But speaking of this "deal", is there really any reason the plebiscite needs to be held now, other than the Feds and NDP don't want it carrying over into the 2019 election year? Because what is the rush when Calgary is bidding against....Calgary. The IOC can #### off and wait if they want us to host. There still isn't actually a signed, agreed deal (just a proposal to consider....considering a deal) with less than two weeks to go. Nenshi promised a lot of time to review this, but I guess since he's desperate for it to happen he won't care that this mess has no real time to review. Should be pushed back to February so a real, complete, heavily reviewed proposal can be examined by the public.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Bunk

They reduced cost of village based on not having it at bus barns site. Also some saving in cost on security based on recommendation with respect to accommodations or something. There’s also something of an insurance policy in contingencies of some sort. Cost/funding does appear to square. There is also about $1b in total cost contingency built in.

So... right when the bid was about to die they somehow managed to make the games $400'000'000.00 less expensive (without shelving any capital projects). Uh huh. You'll pardon me if I doubt the honesty here.

[Calgary14]

So the latest proposal has the feds paying less money than before and the city paying more......how exactly is this a good idea for Calgarians?

Also, what happens if all cities safely avoid having to host the winter games? Does the IOC disclose how much cash/bribe money they keep on hand each year?

[dieHARDflameZ]

I’m not the most well educated on the proposal but unless the deal includes a new arena as well as other venues and infrastructure upgrades that will benefit the city for the next 30-40 years, I’m voting hell NO.

[OMG!WTF!]

We found "efficiencies" in the budget! We're saved!