Our Speaker, Scott Hutcheson Rollie Cyr and Tim Heaton Thank Our Speaker | | Gene Edworthy introduced Scott Hutcheson, who provided an update on Calgary's bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics bid. His presentation addressed the following topics. - Overview of the process, the key players, the role of the IOC, potential venues, and some guiding principles.
- The funding needed to operate the games and where this funding would come from.
- The importance of these games to the city, and their potential legacy.
- The expected economic return to the city.
The Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation emerged from a City of Calgary initiative, based on a recommendation from the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC), with the mandate to put together a responsible bid. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), a Swiss-based non-profit organization, has been modernizing the processes for bidding on and hosting the games. Calgary can expect to host games that are: - More modest and modern, with increased numbers of countries competing in the Paralympic games, and more gender equality.
- Continued efforts against doping, and with an increased awareness of environmental sustainability.
- Implementation of Agenda 2020, a set of 40 recommendations designed to make the games work for the host city by being more sustainable, cost-effective, and athlete-centered.
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The Calgary 2026 bid has the advantage that many of the venues from the 1988 Olympics can be repurposed, with varying degrees of updating required. As in 1988, the mountain Olympic events would be held at Nakiska (downhill ski events) and the Canmore Nordic Centre (cross-country skiing and biathlon). Ski jumping and the sledding events would reuse the 2010 venues at Whistler Olympic Park. The remaining events would be held in the city, with event clusters at Winsport Canada, Stampede Park and the University of Calgary. In addition to the sporting events, a Calgary Olympics would include extensive arts, cultural and educational events. The 1988 Olympic Arts Festival attracted 1.25 million patrons, while Vancouver 2010 included a four-year cultural Olympiad that drew 5.8 million visitors. Calgary 2026 could be expected to build on these successes. |
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