The organizer behind the '94 Lillehammer Games said that organizers and politicians "had too little time to work out details and financing" to host the '26 Games, but "called 2030 'more likely,'" according to Stephen Wade of the AP. IOC member Gerhard Heiberg said of Lillehammer, "2026 would have been best for us, but I have to acknowledge the timing is not there." Wade noted Lillehammer might have been the "instant favorite" for '26, and its "absence opens the race." Bidders have until Saturday to let the IOC "know of their interest." In October, the IOC will "trim the field to serious contenders and pick the host next year." At least "four serious bids are likely to be on the table: Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Sapporo, Japan; Sion, Switzerland." Stockholm Explanatory Committee CEO Richard Brisius said that he "does not expect a public referendum in Sweden -- a death knell for many bids." Sion "must get approval in a regional referendum in June to move forward." It could also "face a national referendum, two large hurdles." Calgary's city council will have to "approve any bid to move forward." That decision is "expected in late June." Sapporo's "problem is geography, with the IOC likely to shift back to Europe or North America after three straight Olympics in East Asia" (AP, 3/30). Meanwhile, the AP's Andrew Dampf noted Milan and Turin are "combining to bid" for the '26 Games. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) "sent a letter of intent" to the IOC on Thursday, "stating its plans." While there is usually "one host city, the IOC’s new bidding process allows for the Games to be spread over bigger areas, although the competition can only be named after one city." CONI said that it would let the IOC "decide which city received naming rights" (AP, 3/29).
OH, CANADA: In Calgary, Sammy Hudes notes the city will have to "hold a public vote to qualify for provincial funding in the next step toward a possible bid" for the '26 Games. The federal and provincial governments are promising Calgary $20.5M (all figures C) for the "creation of a bid corporation." Ottawa will kick in $10.5M, with the province adding $10M. The province’s share of the funding is "conditional upon the city engaging with residents of Calgary, including a plebiscite, on the Olympic process." Calgary Minister of Culture & Tourism Ricardo Miranda said that it also depends on "engaging with Indigenous communities" (CALGARY HERALD, 3/30).
SITTING PRETTY: The KYODO NEWS wrote the "odds have tilted" toward Sapporo landing the '26 Games in part due to "flagging public support for the games in the West." Sapporo is said to "enjoy strong support from its citizens for a potential Winter Games bid." The increased flexibility now "afforded host cities under the reforms, for example, means that Sapporo is free to explore temporary facilities and venue-sharing options with other cities," including '98 Winter Olympics host Nagano (KYODONEWS.net, 3/29).
