2026 Bid; Calgary 2026 plebiscite results

Once again, a city withdraws from the race to host the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

 

Statements

“I truly believe this was the best opportunity to unite our community around a new vision of hope, confidence and realize an extended legacy, inspired by the world’s best winter athletes.”

Scott Hutcheson, Board Chair Calgary 2026
Source: Calgary 2026
Full news release: Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation Reflects on Valuable Lessons Learned for the Future; Recognizes and Thanks Supporters (PDF)

 

“We can collectively harness the energy invested in the discussion about the Games bid and channel it into a robust conversation about our city’s future, our economy, job creation and pursuing a new vision for success.”

Mary Moran, CEO Calgary 2026
Source: Calgary 2026
Full news release: Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation Reflects on Valuable Lessons Learned for the Future; Recognizes and Thanks Supporters (PDF)

 

“We thank the Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation, and the many leaders from the federal, provincial, local and Indigenous communities who have worked diligently in this effort. We applaud and thank the athletes, volunteers and our staff, whose passion has been clearly demonstrated through their countless hours of devotion to making the Games in Calgary a possibility. Most of all, we thank the people of Calgary and Canmore who stood behind this effort to make the 2026 Games a reality for their region and for their country.”

Tricia Smith, President, Canadian Olympic Committee
Source: Canadian Olympic Committee
Full statement: COC statement on the outcome of the Calgary 2026 plebiscite

2026 Bid; Promo video Calgary

Calgary 2026 Olympic Bid – The World is Ours from MEDIAPOP Films on Vimeo.

 

Calgary welcomed the world in 1988, hosting the Winter Olympic Games in true Calgary fashion. The Games created a standard for volunteerism, civic pride, opportunity, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines this city.

We have an opportunity to extend our legacy for another 30 years and beyond.

Calgary, It’s Your Decision.

Join the Conversation: calgary2026.ca

2026 Bid; Masterplan and Venues Calgary (October 2018)

Calgary and Saddledome. Alberta.

 

Calgary is one of the three candidate cities for the XXV Olympic Winter Games. You can read more about the 2026 bidding process here.

 

Summary venue master plan

  • 10 Competition venues
    • 4 Existing
    • 4 Existing – Permanent works required
    • 2 New
  • 80% of venues are extisting or temporary
  • Many venues from the 1988 Olympic Winter Games
  • 4-5 Olympic Villages
  • 20% of beds in existing facilities
  • 6-7 Clusters (2 in Calgary)
  • Distances between Calgary and other clusters:
    • Nakiska – 100km – 1h
    • Canmore – 105km – 1h10
    • Whistler – 900km – 85m flight + 2h drive
  • The venue for Curling is still to be confirmed

 

Continue reading “2026 Bid; Masterplan and Venues Calgary (October 2018)”

2026 Bid; Press Release: IOC announces composition of Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2026

IOC announces composition of Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2026

The Evaluation Commission that will assess the Candidate Cities for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026 – Calgary (Canada), Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden) – has been appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Commission is formed of IOC Members and Olympic Movement representatives. Some of these were already part of the Working Group that was responsible for reporting on the feasibility of the Interested Cities that joined the Dialogue Stage of the new, two-stage Candidature Process:

 

Chair

Octavian MORARIU (ROU)
IOC Member; President, Rugby Europe; Member of the Coordination Commission for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

 

IOC Members

Kristin KLOSTER AASEN (NOR)
1st Vice-President, Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports; Member of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission

Hong ZHANG (CHN)
IOC Athletes’ Commission representative; Olympic champion, Sochi 2014, Speed Skating; Olympian, PyeongChang 2018, Speed Skating; Executive Board member of the Chinese Olympic Committee

 

Stakeholder Representatives

Roman KUMPOST (CZE)
Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) representative; Vice-President, Czech Olympic Committee

Heike GROESSWANG (GER)
Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) representative; Secretary General, International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF)

Marianna DAVIS (USA)
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representative Governing Board member, IPC

LEE Hee-beom (KOR)
President, Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018

José Luis MARCO (ARG)
Member of the Coordination Commission for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and XXI Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010; Member of the Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games 2012 and the Olympic Winter Games 2002, 2010 and 2014

 

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Evaluation Commission members bring with them broad experience for assessing the candidates. They will guarantee that the projects are analysed based on their alignment with the existing long-term plans of their local communities, as outlined by Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm.”

Evaluation Commission Chair Octavian Morariu added: “Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm has already helped these three exciting candidatures achieve efficiencies in their planning. And the Commission is committed to working closely with the Cities to ensure that their projects continue to align with the principles of flexibility, legacy and sustainability.”

With a shortened Candidature Stage and only a single File to be submitted, the Cities can benefit from a simple and cost-efficient process. They arrive at this stage having taken advantage of several months of non-committal dialogue with the IOC, receiving greater support, technical advice, communications assistance and materials to develop their projects.

The Candidates need to submit their Files by 11 January 2019, before the Evaluation Commission travels to the Cities in March and April 2019, when its members will be given presentations and visit proposed venues. The Commission will then prepare a report summarising and assessing the essential elements for planning and delivering successful Games. This document will be published prior to the election of the host city at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Source: IOC
Full article: IOC announces composition of Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2026

2026 Bid; Venue Masterplans Compared

Calgary Milan / Cortina d’Ampezzo Stockholm
Competition venues 10 12 12
– Existing 4 8 6
– Temporary 0 1 1
– Existing, permanent works required 4 2 2
– New 2 1 3
– Existing or temporary 80% 92% 75%
Olympic Villages 5 4 4
– Beds in existing facilities 20% 22% 40% (TBC)

Source: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026 – IOC Working Group Report

2026 Bid; Public Support Compared

% Of population that agrees (strongly agrees + agrees) with the statement: “I am in favour of {host city} hosting the Olympic Winter Games in 2026″

Source: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2026 – IOC Working Group Report

 

Calgary

 

Milan / Cortina d’Ampezzo

 

Stockholm

2026 Bid; Calgary, Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo and Stockholm invited for Candidature Stage

Press release by the International Olympic Committee;

STRONG FIELD OF CANDIDATE CITIES FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 2026: CALGARY, MILAN/CORTINA D’AMPEZZO AND STOCKHOLM

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) SESSION TODAY INVITED CALGARY (CANADA), MILAN/CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (ITALY) AND STOCKHOLM (SWEDEN) TO BECOME CANDIDATE CITIES FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 2026, ON ITS FINAL DAY OF MEETINGS IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

The decision by the IOC Session marked the beginning of the shortened formal Candidature Stage, during which the Cities will continue to work closely with the IOC to develop their best possible Games plan, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm. The Candidates will submit a single Candidature File in January 2019, as part of a streamlined process which reduces the cost and complexity for the Cities.

The IOC Members approved the recommendation of the IOC Executive Board (EB), which was based on the report by the Olympic Winter Games Working Group 2026. This Group had assessed the feasibility of the Interested Cities in the Dialogue Stage.

 

You can read the full press release here

 

Continue reading “2026 Bid; Calgary, Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo and Stockholm invited for Candidature Stage”

2026 Bid; Calgary, Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo and Stockholm proposed for Candidature Stage

After receiving a report from the Olympic Winter Games Working Group 2026, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board recommends to invite Calgary, Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo and Stockholm to the Candidature Stage.

The final decision will be taken at the 133rd IOC Session (8-9 October 2018 in Buenos Aires).

 

Findings of the Working Group:

Calgary

The city breathes the legacy of the 1988 Games and can make optimal use of existing venues for 2026. Calgary boasts valuable experience and expertise in hosting winter sports competitions and other major events. The city, the province and its people have a deep love and affinity for winter sports. In dialogue and partnership with the IOC, Calgary has developed a Games concept and vision that fit the new era of Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm and meet the city’s long-term goals.

 

Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo

Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo combine the advantages of a big European city and those of a popular mountain resort region in the Italian Alps. The candidature benefits from the region’s strong winter sports history, tradition and experience, as well as the Italians’ love and passion for sport. The project can also leverage the economic strength and prosperity of the northern Italian region. While planning is still at an early stage, the project has the potential to achieve the long-term goals of the cities and the region in line with Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm.

 

Stockholm

A modern global capital with a historic city centre, Stockholm proposes venues in the heart of the city that would elevate and energise the Games experience. Sweden has the hosting experience, love for winter sports and established World Cup venues necessary for delivering the Games. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm, Stockholm has developed a Games concept that addresses the city’s future needs and aims to improve the lives of all its citizens.

 

Erzurum

The timing for 2026 is challenging. The concentration of investment in general infrastructure such as accommodation, transport, energy and telecoms would be extremely high. Significant investment would also be needed in sports venues. The region has limited experience in hosting major international winter sports events and would benefit from organising further World Cups, World Championships and the Youth Olympic Games.

Erzurum nevertheless presents great promise for the long-term future, having an ambitious vision of developing a young and vibrant university city into a winter sports centre. Erzurum can take advantage of national government plans and funding to develop the city into a major hub.

 

You can read the full press release here.

2026 Bid; Draft Hosting Plan and Masterplan Calgary 2026

Draft Hosting Plan

CALGARY, ALBERTA, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 – Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation today released details of the draft Hosting Plan Concept it intends to discuss with Calgarians leading up to a municipal plebiscite on November 13, 2018. Drawing on previous exploratory work, Calgary 2026 has conducted a rigorous analysis utilizing subject matter experts in Games operations and urban development to present the community with Calgary’s proposed bid framework for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

 

Masterplan Olympic Games

Source: Website Calgary 2026 – Click to enlarge

 

Masterplan Paralympic Games

Source: Website Calgary 2026 – Click to enlarge

 

Budget

Source: Website Calgary 2026