Calgary will have to show patience

Photo: Jonathan Utz Agence France-Presse
The city of Calgary might be able to reuse a part of the facilities built for the 1988 Games.

The city of Calgary has been encouraged to wait to receive more information from the international olympic Committee before deciding if it will submit its application for obtaining of the winter Games of 2026.

The 17 members of a reflection group concluded that the city that hosted the olympic winter Games of 1988 may again do so. However, they have recommended that managers take a little time to determine if it is a good idea or not.

The bid committee wishes to obtain further details from the IOC about the support provided to reduce the operational costs and requirements for the host city.

When the committee was formed, it was expected that a decision will be taken at the latest in September. However, the IOC has extended the nomination period and the city has one more year to make his decision.

The chairman of the committee, Rick Hanson, has indicated to councillors that it would be prudent to take advantage of the extension of the application period to obtain a maximum of information.

Do not be in a hurry

“We do not believe that it is necessary to hurry to take a decision or make a recommendation without having all the facts in our possession,” said Hanson in a discussion on the application at city hall, Monday.

“And sometimes, there are points or facts that are mentioned very late in the process. “

Last month, the group of reflection on the application had indicated to the council that the invoice for the Games in 2026 would be approximately $ 4.6 billion. He added that the Games would generate nearly half the revenue and that it would be 2.4 billion to find elsewhere to balance the budget.

The olympic winter Games of 2010, presented in Vancouver and Whistler, are estimated to have cost $ 7.7 billion.

The bill is lowest for Calgary, since the city might be able to reuse a part of the facilities built for the 1988 Games.

Sion, Switzerland, and Innsbruck, in Austria, are part of the rival potential Calgary for obtaining Games of 2026.