Members of Salt Lake City's Olympic Exploratory Committee yesterday "met formally for the first time" since being formed last month to "assess the possibility of bidding" on the '26 or '30 Winter Games. At the meeting, officials "touched on a few possibilities for reducing costs." The committee "plans to complete its evaluations by the end of February." The USOC has until March 31 to "submit a bid city," with the IOC scheduled to announce the '26 host in '19 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 11/21).
Meanwhile, Calgary city councillors yesterday voted to give municipal bureaucrats C$1M to "continue research into bidding" for the '26 Games. City administrators likely will receive another C$1M if they are "able to persuade Ottawa and Edmonton to fund the bidding process." The decision "immediately gives" Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley an "immense amount of control over Calgary's Olympic aspirations." It will cost C$25-30M for the bid, "including the money Calgary has already spent, according to city staff" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/21).
