Members of the IOC asked Calgary to "embrace the Games once again" in a visit there to see about the possibility of the city hosting the '26 Winter Games, according to a front-page piece Meghan Potkins of the CALGARY HERALD. Speaking at Canada Olympic Park yesterday, IOC Olympic Games Exec Dir Christophe Dubi said that Calgary already has "all the expertise and nearly all the infrastructure it needs to host another Olympics." He also said that Calgary’s "'low-risk' bid fits well with the IOC’s goal to decrease the financial burden on potential host countries." But Potkin notes while IOC officials were "happy to heap praise on Calgary’s bid, they also made it clear the organization won’t be offering any more money to cover the cost of hosting" in '26. The IOC has pledged $1.2B (all figures C) to the host city of the '26 Games. Dubi said that the organization "isn’t in a position to sweeten the pot any further." Dubi: "As a non-profit, we don’t have the financial reserves that allow us to commit outside of what we can today." Potkins notes some members of the Calgary city council, as well as Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, have suggested that the city should "seek more financial support from the IOC" as the number of viable host city candidates for the '26 Games "continues to dwindle." But after yesterday's news conference, Calgary 2026 CEO Mary Moran "threw cold water on that idea." So far, the province has committed $700M "toward the cost of Calgary hosting." The city says that it "won’t declare what its contribution will be until the federal number is announced" (CALGARY HERALD, 10/25).
BACK TO REALITY: In Calgary, Don Braid asks, "Why on earth would Calgarians expect more than $1.2 billion from the IOC?" That is "money on top of the stated" $3B in public funds needed for the Games. The federal contribution will likely be around $1.2B, "about the same as the IOC." The stated public expense of $3B "must be pared down," because the three-government total could be only $2.5B. Braid: "It can be done." Calgary 2026 included almost $1B for “contingency” in the $3B estimate. Now, it has to "absolutely ensure that it won’t be spent" (CALGARY HERALD, 10/25).
