Two issues "loom above all others" as Denver considers submitting a bid for the '30 Games -- how much it would cost and whether hosting duties could be "pulled off without taxpayer money," according to Jon Murray of the DENVER POST. Denver Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee Chair Rob Cohen said, “We’re looking at (whether we can) run the Games on an operating budget without building any permanent infrastructure and, therefore, do a privately financed games.” That would cover the estimated $1.5-2B cost of "hosting the Winter Games." However, officials said that outside that "narrowly defined host budget would be some security and other costs connected to pulling off any huge event." Those likely "would draw on federal or local resources." The USOC’s recent decision not to seek the '26 Games has "given Denver more breathing room." Cohen last week "announced the delay of a late-March deadline for a bid recommendation to Mayor Michael Hancock" and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper until "late April or early May." Cohen said that 'ballooning costs are unlikely in Denver, which would have most of the required venues and major transportation infrastructure." As for the 16 required Olympic venues, Cohen said that Denver "would be able to outfit 13 existing facilities" (DENVER POST, 2/27). Denver "already faces stiff competition" for the official U.S. bid from Salt Lake City and potentially Reno/Tahoe. Salt Lake City said that it could host "without losing money thanks to existing venues and its expertise in putting on" the '02 Games. While some worry the Olympics will "distract Denver from urgent problems like affordable housing and transportation," exploratory committee members stress that the Games "won't take money from those priorities and could potentially net" $100-200M in ticket sales, sponsorships and merchandise (AP, 2/26).
CALGARY CONTINUES TO EVALUATE: The CP's Lauren Krugel noted Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said that "hard evidence and not warm, fuzzy emotions should drive the debate over whether" to submit a bid for the '26 Games. Nenshi said, “People are very excited about the Olympics right now, particularly after the tremendous showing of Team Canada in Pyeongchang. It’s actually one of the reasons why I didn’t want to do a ton of public engagement during the Olympics, because I’d like cooler heads to prevail as we continue to have this discussion.” Nenshi said that city council has until late spring to "make a firm call on whether or not it’s serious about a bid." Alberta Premier Rachel Notely said that the province is "still chewing on the issue." The Calgary Bid Exploration Committee has "pegged the cost of holding the Games" at C$4.6B, with revenues "covering about half that" (CP, 2/26).
