Should Calgary Bid on the 2026 Olympics

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

It's also their job to make informed choices that are good for the city.

Honestly I really don't believe we needed a plebiscite on this, council was capable of looking at the numbers and making a choice. I think this just shows how difficult it is to quantify the benefits of hosting the Olympics, and this is pretty much council not wanting to be on the hook for the decision.

Makes me wonder how much they actually trust when it comes to this bid and the numbers generated.


So much of this just seems like things are being pulled out of their arses and thrown against the wall.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by nik-

I think the cost structure of Olympics is consistent enough to allow people to be no right from the bat.

There's a reason less and less cities are stepping up for Winter Olympics.

I know, but I'd rather listen to quotes that are useful for discussion and not unproductive comments designed to misdirect peoples attention. She complains about the tight timelines and then employs stall tactics at every opportunity.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Did they not represent people of the city last night when they voted to kill the whole process but didnt have enough for a "super majority"?

They represented their own views, somewhat based on the interactions they've had with some constituents - the plebiscite theoretically gives every adult Calgarian the ability to voice their opinion, without having to tweet, call or email their Councillor. Hopefully it captures the opinion of more than just the vocal ones that take the time to seek out their Councillor.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by RM14

I know, but I'd rather listen to quotes that are useful for discussion and not unproductive comments designed to misdirect peoples attention. She complains about the tight timelines and then employs stall tactics at every opportunity.

The timelines are tight though. They've been working on this for two years and look at the mediocre information they provided pretty much right at the deadline. And now two weeks more to refine and expand on the budgetary details is unworkable as a result.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by RM14

I know, but I'd rather listen to quotes that are useful for discussion and not unproductive comments designed to misdirect peoples attention. She complains about the tight timelines and then employs stall tactics at every opportunity.

Then you must be aghast at the Yes side claiming that for every dollar the city spends, 10 more will be coming back....right?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by RM14

I know, but I'd rather listen to quotes that are useful for discussion and not unproductive comments designed to misdirect peoples attention. She complains about the tight timelines and then employs stall tactics at every opportunity.

The burden here is 100% on the Yes side. The Yes side was literally changing their budget hours before yesterday's vote. So don't be blaming the No side for stall tactics, the Yes side has done an exceptionally poor job in the build up to this. We were promised a lot more time to review this, but the process has been so poorly run and organized. Like, you know, we STILL don't have Whistler as having been contacted by the BidCo. This has been run as a second rate operation, which should be a rather damning thing considering these are the people who will be intimately involved in implement the plan. Trusting them to get actual execution right when their planning has been as embarrassing as it has been seems rather foolish.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

They represented their own views, somewhat based on the interactions they've had with some constituents - the plebiscite theoretically gives every adult Calgarian the ability to voice their opinion, without having to tweet, call or email their Councillor. Hopefully it captures the opinion of more than just the vocal ones that take the time to seek out their Councillor.

Well then i can expect a plebiscite on every major decision moving forward then? I mean afterall....everytime they vote it's just their own views apparently.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

It's also their job to make informed choices that are good for the city.

Honestly I really don't believe we needed a plebiscite on this, council was capable of looking at the numbers and making a choice. I think this just shows how difficult it is to quantify the benefits of hosting the Olympics, and this is pretty much council not wanting to be on the hook for the decision.

If it was up to City Council only to decide, I think the Bid would be going ahead already a while ago. Until yesterday, every Council vote for the Olympics was passed by a simple majority. It was the Province that put a stipulation of the plebiscite on this thing.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Then you must be aghast at the Yes side claiming that for every dollar the city spends, 10 more will be coming back....right?

Yah, that slide is ridiculous.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

If it was up to City Council only to decide, I think the Bid would be going ahead already a while ago. Until yesterday, every Council vote for the Olympics was passed by a simple majority. It was the Province that put a stipulation of the plebiscite on this thing.

Nah you can't say that, the funding wasn't even tabled until the 11th hour.

If they approved hosting without the funding in place they should all be fired into space, as that would be a horrible idea.

The majority voted to kill it once the funding agreement was tabled.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by RM14

Yah, that slide is ridiculous.

Except it's going to be one of the Yes sides biggest lies selling points

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057633990658519041

I expect the full PR push from the Yes to be unbearable, possibly to the point of costing them votes. If recent elections haven't made it clear, people don't like perceived elites telling voters what to do.

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Like, you know, we STILL don't have Whistler as having been contacted by the BidCo.

Not true.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And is there not a group that would vote Yes....no matter what?

Ray Jones.

But also as pointed out before - the Provincial condition is 50 + 1. So I can't see anyone voting for it no matter what with all the funding gone (fed matching would disappear too).

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Then you must be aghast at the Yes side claiming that for every dollar the city spends, 10 more will be coming back....right?

I just don't get where they believe that people will believe that line.


I mean just looking at winter Olympic history.


In 1988 Calgary spent 899,000,000 made a profit of 32 million, but you can't tell me that Calgary saw 9 billion in 1988 dollars back. I'd like to see them prove it.


In Vancouver they spent 1.7 billion, made a 2 million dollar profit, but can they prove that Vancouver bought in 17 billion.



I think if you're going to say stuff like this you have to be able to prove it.


I mean the whole Olympic process so far feels like a Sales pitch by Herb Tarlek.


"Insurance for Cost over runs? Don't worry about it Big Guy, we'll find someone that will cover us"

[RM14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Except it's going to be one of the Yes sides biggest lies selling points

https://twitter.com/user/status/1057633990658519041

I expect the full PR push from the Yes to be unbearable, possibly to the point of costing them votes. If recent elections haven't made it clear, people don't like perceived elites telling voters what to do.

Out of the 8hrs of yesterdays council session, Sutherland had the most valuable statement. He called for each and every Calgarian to look at the facts themselves, question the messenger, and don't believe every tweet.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by RM14

Out of the 8hrs of yesterdays council session, Sutherland had the most valuable statement. He called for each and every Calgarian to look at the facts themselves, question the messenger, and don't believe every tweet.

Correct, the problem is the Yes side has literally every high profile Olympic athlete (plus other high profile Canadian athletes) who will be pushing their "side". The notion that the No side has even the slightest chance of winning the information/disinformation war here is laughable.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Correct, the problem is the Yes side has literally every high profile Olympic athlete (plus other high profile Canadian athletes) who will be pushing their "side". The notion that the No side has even the slightest chance of winning the information/disinformation war here is laughable.

If you look at Hayley's tweet she is getting roasted, and not by Russian bots.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by sleepingmoose

Not true.

Cool. What did they say?

[CaptainCrunch]

That's actually a poorly thought out Tweet by Hayley.

[nik-]

It's not thought out at all. It's just regurgitated propaganda.