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

[Southside]

I'm not interested in an Olympic bid if we're sharing with other cities. I'm not all that interested to begin with.

[getbak]

I don't know if things changed from the original report that was provided to council at the end of May, but at that time, the report suggested they looked into the feasibility of using venues in Edmonton, but it wasn't considered a viable option because the money saved would be offset by the increased accommodation, transportation and security costs. Plus, you lose the element of having all the athletes competing in one small geographic area, which is the main appeal of the Olympics.


Holding the ski-jumping events at Whistler was the recommendation in the report because the COP towers would require significant work to be brought up to current standards and would likely require other events to be moved from COP so that the facility isn't overwhelmed by the influx of spectators. Finding another location to build new towers in Alberta (likely near the Canmore Nordic Centre) would have both financial and environmental costs. Also, overall, ski-jumping is a relatively minor event in the modern Olympic program.

In Pyeongchang, there are 3 Nordic Combined and 4 Ski Jumping events that use the jump towers. Their towers will be used for 9 of the 18 days of competition, with only one event each of those days. It is by-far the least-used competition venue of the Games. In Calgary, it would also be poorly used after the Games (if the legacy of 88 is any indication).



Using Whistler for ski jumping makes sense. Using Edmonton for anything, doesn't make any sense (in general, but specifically for the Olympics).

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by getbak

I don't know if things changed from the original report that was provided to council at the end of May, but at that time, the report suggested they looked into the feasibility of using venues in Edmonton, but it wasn't considered a viable option because the money saved would be offset by the increased accommodation, transportation and security costs. Plus, you lose the element of having all the athletes competing in one small geographic area, which is the main appeal of the Olympics.


Holding the ski-jumping events at Whistler was the recommendation in the report because the COP towers would require significant work to be brought up to current standards and would likely require other events to be moved from COP so that the facility isn't overwhelmed by the influx of spectators. Finding another location to build new towers in Alberta (likely near the Canmore Nordic Centre) would have both financial and environmental costs. Also, overall, ski-jumping is a relatively minor event in the modern Olympic program.

In Pyeongchang, there are 3 Nordic Combined and 4 Ski Jumping events that use the jump towers. Their towers will be used for 9 of the 18 days of competition, with only one event each of those days. It is by-far the least-used competition venue of the Games. In Calgary, it would also be poorly used after the Games (if the legacy of 88 is any indication).



Using Whistler for ski jumping makes sense. Using Edmonton for anything, doesn't make any sense (in general, but specifically for the Olympics).

It seems so pointless to have one event hosted +600kms away from the city that's hosting all the other events. Plus, dealing with security in regards of travel and location isn't ideal.

I guess since it's not economically feasible to build a ski jump, this is something the IOC could assist in building in the Canmore/Kananaskis region. It won't get much use aside from athlete training so understable for us to not want to invest much money into it.

[Nacre]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

True in 1988; no longer true now. Security costs are ruinous, too.

A lot of that is the result of fear-mongering. Vancouver spent $1 billion CAD on security, but it was massive overkill; at the time of the 2010 games 20% of all law enforcement personnel in Canada were working on the Olympics.

[Northendzone]

I hope I misheard this, or,got he number wrong, but I am sure the newsies suggested that a full on bid is $30 million. If that number is correct, I am trying to wrap my head around what a $30 million dollar PowerPoint exhibit looks like.

Anyways, why do I get the feeling that when the olympicos go to check out of their five star suites, their wallets will creak and they will blow the dust off of them and as they reach for the corporate card only to say, oops, we forgot our credit cards, can you cover this and we will get you back

[4X4]

Have we figured out yet, where we're going to house all the athletes and trainers and journalists for this? Last I checked, the condo market in Calgary is pretty saturated. Sure, that's today, and not in 8 years, but it was also the case 8 years ago. Building a 1,000+ unit Olympic Village that hits the market the day after everyone leaves could affect a lot of local real estate owners.

I haven't read any reports, I just sort of hear things on the news and whatnot, so I'm sure someone has delved into this. If anyone has read up on the projected impact on our real estate market, I'd like to read what you've read.

[Mr.Coffee]

I’m not a huge advocate of public funds going to an arena but when it comes to wasting public dollars on this Olympics I gotta say I am not a fan of any of this, at all. This whole Olympics attempt is some of Nenshi’s worst legacy:

- $30MM on a bid, when we were oh so reluctant at the negotiating table for the Flames? One provides 30+ years of NHL hockey the other a CHANCE at a 2 week sports party????? And yes I understand that $30MM doesn’t necessarily bridge the gap with Flames ownership but if we are wasting the $30MM anyway why not offer it in the NHL deal

- we don’t even get the whole Olympics, we have to share with Edmonton (presumably for the hockey rink, which is the primary thing people care about) and Whistler, which is very expensive and 1,000km away?! So stupid

- the “polls” suggesting people in the city were in favour of a bid, I recall them being highly suspect

- still no clarity on total cost to taxpayers or the city

This whole thing just looks so bad on the city. Guarding city dollars tight when it comes to subsidizing NHL hockey but then not giving a fata when it comes to bribing IOC officials which I’m led to believe is the minimum when it comes to ensuring your city (or in this case I guess, 1,000km diameter region?) gets selected by a group that’s so corrupt they make Putin look like a Swiss bank.

When do we get to cancel this stupid charade? What a complete waste of time and money.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Have we figured out yet, where we're going to house all the athletes and trainers and journalists for this? Last I checked, the condo market in Calgary is pretty saturated. Sure, that's today, and not in 8 years, but it was also the case 8 years ago. Building a 1,000+ unit Olympic Village that hits the market the day after everyone leaves could affect a lot of local real estate owners.

I haven't read any reports, I just sort of hear things on the news and whatnot, so I'm sure someone has delved into this. If anyone has read up on the projected impact on our real estate market, I'd like to read what you've read.

Motel Village just off 16th and Crowchild.

Sorted.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Locke

Motel Village just off 16th and Crowchild.

Sorted.

Don't forget the field of the stadium. Athlete tent city.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Don't forget the field of the stadium. Athlete tent city.

They're Elite Athletes, they can survive in a tent!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Have we figured out yet, where we're going to house all the athletes and trainers and journalists for this? Last I checked, the condo market in Calgary is pretty saturated. Sure, that's today, and not in 8 years, but it was also the case 8 years ago. Building a 1,000+ unit Olympic Village that hits the market the day after everyone leaves could affect a lot of local real estate owners.

I haven't read any reports, I just sort of hear things on the news and whatnot, so I'm sure someone has delved into this. If anyone has read up on the projected impact on our real estate market, I'd like to read what you've read.

In the version of the report to council that was made public, the information about the location of the athlete's village was redacted. However, reading between the lines about some of the stuff written about the proposed athlete's village location, I believe the suggestion is to build it somewhere in Victoria Park. My guess is where the bus barn currently is.

There was also some speculation that the land west of Macleod Trail, between Lindsay Park and 25th Ave could be used to build athlete or media accommodations. I'm not sure what the plan is for that land now.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by getbak

In the version of the report to council that was made public, the information about the location of the athlete's village was redacted. However, reading between the lines about some of the stuff written about the proposed athlete's village location, I believe the suggestion is to build it somewhere in Victoria Park. My guess is where the bus barn currently is.

There was also some speculation that the land west of Macleod Trail, between Lindsay Park and 25th Ave could be used to build athlete or media accommodations. I'm not sure what the plan is for that land now.

Whether it's a high rise of condos, or it's the places that the pre-sale buyers vacate to move in to their new (slightly used) condos all hitting the market at the same time, or a mix, it will not be good for real estate values in the short - medium term.

Sort of seems like the 'buy a new car' dilemma. Your older vehicle needs repairs that cost more than you want to spend, so you start to think about buying a brand new car, with payments you can afford. But will you have any buyers remorse when the $350/mo. keeps coming out every single month, instead of that one time, two grand, that could have kept the old beast going awhile longer?

I don't want to blur the lines with the arena talk, but I do think that there's more to an Olympic bid than a new arena getting partially funded by higher levels of government.

Not sayin you're sayin, just sayin.

[browna]

As far as the ski jumps and Nordic combined...don't they do a CC race and jump in the same day? Unless you're going to use the Van2010 CC course as well for that event, that will be an issue (albeit for one event).

As for Athlete and media village, may be interesting. In 88 the U of C had various dorms built and basically the athletes took over the University facilities those weeks....Mac Hall food court etc. I assume classes were cancelled those two weeks? Could they do that again, possibly enhancing the dorms? But there are a lot more athletes 38 years later.

Some of the media housing was at Crowchild and 50th. Some of the townhomes stayed as MRC residences, I thought some also got moved somewhere else. For some reason I thought there were also some on Broadcast Hill, which of course then got sold as realty.

I wonder if there's some potential for either the media or athlete's village on the Tsuu T'ina land as part of the development plan there, near the casino and of course the ring road. There's also a development plan on the old Currie Barracks, as well as a lot of inner city land there. in both cases, depending on the development, it would provide nearby housing for MRU students, and if on First Nations land, a turn key development that they can sell right away after.

[soulchoice]

Dont care for the olympics being hosted in Calgary. Would rather use the money to go towards expanding all lanes on Deerfoot to a min 3 lanes. No more bottleneck at the Anderson/Bow Bottom and Glenmore sections. Its ridiculous the city doesnt figure out a way to get rid of the two lane sections in that part of Deerfoot.

Unless there is a profit from the games, and they use the money for this infrastructure.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by soulchoice

Dont care for the olympics being hosted in Calgary. Would rather use the money to go towards expanding all lanes on Deerfoot to a min 3 lanes. No more bottleneck at the Anderson/Bow Bottom and Glenmore sections. Its ridiculous the city doesnt figure out a way to get rid of the two lane sections in that part of Deerfoot.

Unless there is a profit from the games, and they use the money for this infrastructure.

Deerfoot is maintained by the province.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by soulchoice

Dont care for the olympics being hosted in Calgary. Would rather use the money to go towards expanding all lanes on Deerfoot to a min 3 lanes. No more bottleneck at the Anderson/Bow Bottom and Glenmore sections. Its ridiculous the city doesnt figure out a way to get rid of the two lane sections in that part of Deerfoot.

Unless there is a profit from the games, and they use the money for this infrastructure.

While you're not wrong because those sections of Deerfoot suck and suck hard, if it can be done intelligently events like the Olympics are an opportunity for the City to suck money out of other various levels of Government as well as other interested parties for exactly this.

[Muta]

Would rather host the Olympics than build an expansion on a part of Deerfoot. LOL.

Not sure why these would be mutually exclusive ideas, either.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Count me in as being against the Olympic bid. The Olympics themselves just don't have the magic anymore when IOC corruption has been so in-your-face in recent years, I don't want our tax money feeding into that

[Ozy_Flame]

I'm in support of a multi-city bid that can use existing infrastructure. And with an IOC subsidization (hopefully bumped up to $1.5-2 billion) it's not a bad stimulus for the local economy.

I'm more interested in the windfall that Calgary/Alberta would get from federal funding, increased tourism, and legacy facilities that it could leave. Even an Olympic Village would be a good legacy residential area, if done correctly.

Count me in!

[RM14]

I think the 16th avenue & Bowness road corridors in Montgomery would be a great location for a athletes or media village. Right between the U of C and COP, also easy access out of the city to the mountains. The area is already zoned for increased density. The bonus would be to replace the seedy motels still there (The Olympia, Red Carpet Inn, and the Travelers inn).

http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Documen...ery-Zoning.pdf