RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee

At the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee meeting on November 6, a number of items were presented and discussed, including:

• The conclusion of the public engagement program
• The cost-benefit report by Ernst & Young
• The Calgary 2026 proposal on a Cultural Olympiad
• A Calgary 2026 update

Public engagement program
Our public engagement program closed on October 28. The What We Heard report is now available. The report is a summary of the public engagement process and what participants told us. Thank you to all the citizens who made time in their busy days to learn more about the proposed bid and talk with us about why Calgary should or should not host the Games.

Cost-benefit analysis
We hired Ernst & Young to complete a cost-benefit analysis of the Calgary 2026 Draft Hosting Plan Concept. The analysis weighs both the advantages (benefits) and disadvantages (costs) of hosting the Games. The analysis looked at five categories:

• Government financial
• Environmental
• Social
• Resident consumer
• Economic development

Results show both costs and benefits to hosting the Games in Calgary. You can read and review the report and Ernst & Young’s presentation for more information.

Culture and education - Calgary 2026
Calgary 2026’s approach to culture and education realizes one of the three pillars of the Olympic movement (Sport, Culture and Sustainability). Its objectives include:

• increasing cultural understanding through creativity; and
• building better relationships with Indigenous peoples.

Traditionally, the cultural programming kicks off with the Flag Handover Ceremony at the closing ceremonies of the previous Games. It’s followed by a Cultural Olympiad, educational events, and youth programs, which can take place over the next four years, leading up to and during the proposed 50 days of celebration during the next Games. Calgary 2026’s draft hosting plan includes $30 million to fund these programs.

Calgary 2026 update - risk management and cost overrun insurance
Calgary 2026 presented an update on its approach to risk management, including a discussion about insurance to mitigate the risk of cost overruns. An example of construction cost overrun was provided.

Your chance to help Council decide - Vote 2018
Your chance to vote on whether Calgary should host or not host the Games is on Tuesday, November 13. To find out when and where to vote and voter eligibility requirements, visit calgary.ca/Vote2018.

City Secretariat report to Committee
We will continue to work diligently to ensure you have balanced information. Please check our blog series and visit calgary.ca/2026Games for more information.

Public engagement begins on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games potential bid

In this post, you’ll learn about The City of Calgary’s public engagement program and a summary of what was presented and decided at the September 11 combined Council meeting.

Public engagement opportunities begin October 1

The Engagement Advisory Sub-Committee hired an external vendor to carry out a public engagement program before the November 13 vote of the electors. Starting October 1, the program will include in-person opportunities such as open houses, intercept surveys and pop-up events as well as online engagement. This program will provide opportunities for Calgarians to hear about and provide feedback on Calgary 2026 bid corporation’s draft hosting plan concept. This public engagement program has three goals:

1. Inform and educate the public about the bid process.
2. Seek public input into whether Calgary should submit a bid.
3. Identify issues, concerns and opportunities of a potential bid, and respond to questions.

Visit calgary.ca/gamesbid for information about events you can attend and participate in. 

Council update

On September 11, Council heard a presentation from Calgary 2026 and an update from the City Secretariat. They confirmed November 13, 2018 as the date for the vote of the electors, and voted in favour of continuing to explore a bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Calgary 2026

CEO Mary Moran and her team from Calgary 2026 presented their draft hosting plan concept, which included a proposed budget and games information, such as where events might be hosted.

Secretariat update

The City Secretariat then provided Council with a report that included analysis of Calgary 2026’s Draft Hosting Plan Concept. The analysis included information about:

• Opportunities, benefits and legacies for Calgary and Calgarians.
• Affordable housing and recreation benefits and legacies for Calgarians.
• Comparison to the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) report.
• Programming of event sites during the Games. 
• Calgary 2026 alignment to citizen priorities, Council directives and elements of value.
• Review of the Calgary 2026 draft hosting plan: alignment with Council policies, strategies and plans.
• Law’s response to Olympic BidCo transparency and accountability exploration notion of motion.

Council approved the City Secretariat’s recommendations to:

• Confirm the vote of the electors be held on November 13, 2018.
• Continue the due diligence review of Calgary 2026’s Draft Hosting Plan Concept.
• Continue to negotiate agreements with the other orders of government on funding the potential 2026 Games.

Moving forward, we will continue to make sure Calgarians have accurate, balanced and timely information. Please check our blog series and visit calgary.ca/gamesbid for more information.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting - August 21

The Assessment Committee met on August 21 to discuss the latest City Secretariat update on:

• Multi-party negotiations
• Sport and venue information
• Citizen perspective survey
• Public engagement

Multi-party negotiations

The City Secretariat, on behalf of The City of Calgary, is continuing to work with the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta and the Town of Canmore on a multi-party cost-sharing arrangement for hosting the 2026 Games, should a bid proceed. Significant progress has been made to understand the opportunities and implications of a potential Games with the partners working to finalize an agreement by early October.

  

Sport and venue information

The Secretariat is continuing to evaluate Calgary 2026’s draft Hosting Plan costs, opportunities, issues, benefits, risks and the overall projected return on investment for Calgarians. The Hosting Plan contains details on sport and venue facilities, capital investment plans, operating budgets and a legacy plan. Calgary 2026 CEO Mary Moran will present the overall plan to Council in a closed session September 4 and then share it with the public September 10.

 

Citizen perspective survey

The Committee received results of The City’s latest Citizen Perspectives survey that included questions related to a potential 2026 Games bid. The survey establishes a baseline about Calgarians’ attitudes and perceptions on the topic, with the results showing 53 per cent of respondents supporting a bid, 33 per cent opposing and 13 per cent undecided.  The results will be used by the Council-appointed Engagement Advisory Sub-Committee to inform City public engagement plans.   

 

Public engagement

The Engagement Advisory Sub-Committee, comprised of four volunteer professionals, provides oversight, advice, assistance and guidance to The City’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bid public engagement program. This committee is in the process of hiring an external vendor to deliver a comprehensive public engagement program leading up to VOTE 2018 on November 13.

 

The Secretariat is continuing to work diligently to ensure Calgarians have accurate, balanced, neutral and timely information.
Please check our blog series and visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid for more information.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting - July 24

On July 24, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met to discuss: 

• City Secretariat update
• Public engagement update
• Multi-party Agreement 

City Secretariat update
The City Secretariat is a due diligence team, accountable to Council. We are analyzing the costs, opportunities and risks that come with potentially bidding and hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We’re also working diligently ensure you have access to balanced, accurate and timely information and to make sure that Council’s priorities are reflected in the potential bid process.

• Mandate: The City Secretariat Mandate  lays out our roles and responsibilities. 
• Schedule: We have an up to date timeline highlighting milestones for the bid exploration.
• Budget: Following discussion at the Assessment Committee and Council, the City Secretariat’s 2018 operating budget of $3.3 million was approved. The remaining $1.8 million of the project budget will be released in 2019, if Council votes to move forward with a bid.

Public engagement update
Loren Falkenberg, chair of the Public Engagement Advisory Sub-Committee, provided an update on that group’s efforts. The group brought forward recommendations for amendments to the committee’s terms of reference, which clarifies the role and scope of their work.
A new Request for Proposal (RFP), to develop and manage City-led public engagement, is being issued. The new RFP is open to all proponents. This public engagement approach means you will receive more information about the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games including cost, funding sources, and the return on investment in the fall, before the vote.


Multi-party Agreement
The multi-party agreement describes the rights, obligations and liabilities of each party involved in potentially hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The parties in the agreement are expected to be: 

• The City of Calgary
• Government of Canada
• Government of Alberta
• Canadian Olympic Committee
• Canadian Paralympic Committee
• Town of Canmore
• Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation

Entering negotiations with the other parties around the agreement is important to determine the level of investment required from The City of Calgary, the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada. However, the agreement does not guarantee we are going to bid on the Olympics. Council will make the final decision, and it will be influenced by the outcome of the agreement negotiations, costs, opportunities and risks associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the outcome of the vote of the electors (plebiscite): Vote2018.


Committee meeting recaps
Please check out our blog series. For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting – June 26

On June 26, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met to discuss:

• Potential cultural and educational components to advance Calgary’s cultural plan
• Public engagement

Here’s our full presentation to the committee.

Culture and the Olympics

Culture is one of three pillars of the Olympic Movement, along with Sport and Sustainability. It is central to the Olympic mandate:

• Showcases the culture of the host city and nation.
• Captures the opportunity of a global Olympic gathering to create intercultural exchanges, further intercultural understanding and promote the prospects for world peace.

If Calgary were to host another Olympics and Paralympics, there would be a culture component to hosting the Games. It would include events, programs and celebrations that showcase Calgary, Alberta and Canada’s culture to the world, including a focus on Indigenous people. These cultural experiences are one way a host city can help achieve its cultural plan goals and build excitement for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


The culture component to the Olympics and Paralympics is generally a four-year program that begins with the flag handover ceremony at the previous Games’ closing ceremony. For the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the ceremony will take place at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games in 2022. Cultural programs during the Games are organized by the Organizing Committee, as well as by government partners and sponsors.

Starting in 2022, the following four years would see cultural events and programming underway, typically beginning with regional events. These events and programming gain momentum, concluding in an international Cultural Olympiad for 60 days, which takes place before and during the Games. It concludes at the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Winter Games.

Culture events and programming could include many options:

• School and youth programming
• Ticketed events
• Commissioning local artists for art or exhibits
• Torch relay, events in the streets
• Medal ceremonies
• Concerts or shows
• Community-based and initiated celebrations at the neighbourhood level

Culture events and programming would provide experiences for citizens and visitors outside the sporting events. They would also provide an opportunity to engage all Calgary communities.

Part of determining whether we should bid on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is making sure a bid advances all five strategic priorities of Calgary's cultural plan:

1. Maximize Calgary’s diversity advantage
2. Grow Calgary’s cultural sector and creative industries
3. Activate culturally vibrant neighbourhoods and districts
4. Reinvigorate centre city as a culture heart of the city
5. Conserve and celebrate Calgary’s built, natural and indigenous heritage

Funding sources and investing in the host city’s arts and culture

The culture feature of an Olympic bid rests within the operational cost to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The operational costs are typically covered through a combination of funding sources: ticket sales, private sponsorships and government. They are supported through partners and sponsors, in addition to the events provided by the host committee.

Looking back at the ’88 Calgary Games, there were both sporting legacies, such as the Winsport facilities, Olympic Oval, Nakiska ski hill, and Canmore Nordic Centre, as well as culture legacies. Examples include construction of the Olympic Plaza, and major funding towards Arts Commons and many Calgary arts organizations, such as the Calgary Philharmonic, Calgary Opera, Alberta Theatre Projects and One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre.

As part of The City’s public engagement events, there will be opportunities for you to talk with us about Calgary’s culture scene and whether hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games could fit with our city.

Public engagement

It is important citizens have the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the bid process and the components of Calgary’s bid through the engagement process.

We are planning our public engagement to begin in September. Engagement opportunities will continue leading up to the vote of the electors, taking place in the fall.

Committee meeting recaps

June 19 meeting recap
June 12 meeting recap
June 5 meeting recap
May 29 meeting recap
May 15 meeting recap



For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting – June 19

On June 19, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met for the sixth time to discuss:

• Sustainability
• Public engagement update

Here’s our full presentation to the committee.

Sustainability

Sustainability is part of Calgary’s potential bid, by both minimizing effects on our physical environment and making sure citizens and visitors can enjoy 2026 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Game venues for decades after the Games end. 



If Calgary chooses to bid on the 2026 Games, the event

needs to fit with Calgary’s vision: a great place to make

a living and a great place to make a life.


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) added sustainability to their Agenda 2020 strategic direction, which includes 40 recommendations on reducing the complexity and cost for a candidate city to host the games.

We strive to reach Calgary's vision everyday, with Council-approved strategies that map out Calgary’s future, how we build and shape our city and grow our economy:

• imagineCALGARY
• Municipal Development Plan
• Calgary Transportation Plan
• Calgary Economic Development Strategy

Draft Sustainability Framework

To align with Calgary’s vision, plans, and strategies, Calgary 2026 created a draft sustainability framework, consisting of eight components. The draft framework is intended to be the foundation on which the potential 2026 OPWG bid will be developed. Some components of the draft framework support the development of the potential bid. Other components will be developed if we choose to bid and are chosen to host the 2026 OPWG. Collectively, the components represent a comprehensive approach to sustainability that is expected by the IOC.

If we can achieve a sustainable 2026 Games, the return on investment to Calgary could last for decades, including, but not limited to:

• Increasing affordable housing
• Improving recreation and community facilities
• Lowering carbon footprints (both the 2026 Games and Calgary as a city)
• Exposing Calgary to larger markets, including economic investment, job creation and increased tourism.

As Paris continues to plan for their 2024 Olympic/Paralympic Summer Games, we’re in a unique position to include their learnings and plans on sustainability into planning the 2026 OPWG, if we choose to bid and are chosen to host.

Public engagement update

We want to hear from Calgarians and talk with you about your perspective on Calgary’s future, the 2026 Games, and whether or not there is a fit between the two. A procurement process is underway to hire an external consultant, who will lead and implement the public engagement program.

We are scheduled to have a more in-depth update at the June 26 assessment committee meeting.

Committee meeting recaps

• June 12 meeting recap
• June 5 meeting recap
• May 29 meeting recap
• May 15 meeting recap

For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting – June 12

On June 12, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met for the fifth time to discuss the:

• City Secretariat update
• Bid Book overview

The assessment committee was introduced to Calgary 2026 (formerly Bid Corporation) Chair Scott Hutcheson. Serving the needs of citizens, Alberta and the Canada, Scott wants to establish a proper return on both a community (public good, value to Calgary and region) and financial (revenues) investment. Calgary 2026 is electing its board members this week, followed by hiring a CEO. 

Here’s a summary of the items discussed between Scott and committee members:

• Scott is resigning from the boards he currently serves to prevent conflicts of interest. He will remain on Aspen Properties Board, as it is his day job. 
• Recognizing Calgary 2026 is a separate organization, of which The City is one of six partners, the organization will ensure there is transparency. 
• Transparency is most important to building trust with Calgarians. 
• The bid needs to reflect Calgarians’ spirit; Calgary’s story, and the city’s and region’s aspirations. 
• Calgary 2026’s working toward a diverse work team reflecting a mix of genders and generations, cultural backgrounds, indigenous peoples, and others.
• Calgary 2026 is considering adopting Calgary City Council’s Code of Conduct, as its own. 
• Under the current president (Thomas Bach) and new Deputy Olympic Games Executive Director (Christophe Dubi), the International Olympic Committee is forming a picture that shows the IOC safeguarding the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthening sport in society, but implementing Agenda 2020, underway since 2015.
• Calgary 2026 is planning a session between the Assessment Committee and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the IOC. 

City Secretariat update

Now that Calgary 2026 is operational, The City of Calgary and other orders of governments are establishing Secretariats. The City of Calgary’s City Secretariat will have eight dedicated work streams to keep Council and Calgarians informed: City building/programming, essential services, planning, reporting and risk management, communications, legal, finance, issue management, and research.

The City Secretariat will require funding, but the cost of this group is covered through The City’s already-approved Operating Budget. There is no extra cost to tax payers; the cost will be reported to Council for approval.

The City Secretariat acknowledges the local and global risk to Calgary. It is working to mitigate these and other identified risks, including working with other orders of government to review their respective lessons learned.

Bid Book Overview

The Bid Book is the document that Calgary 2026 submits to the IOC, if Calgary chooses to bid on the 2026 OPWG. It is the document that the IOC reviews when deciding on the host city. The book is made up of 132 questions; the answers making up the book.

The Bid Book is due to the IOC, Jan. 11, 2019.

Areas covered within the Bid Book:

• Vision and Games Concept: Vision, Mission and Values of the Calgary 2026 OPWG; venues and locations, etc. 
• Games Experience: Spectator/Local Community, Athlete, Media
• Paralympic Winter Games: competition schedule, planning and Games delivery 
• Sustainability & Legacy: aligning Games with City policies, Games benefit to current challenges, cultural concept, community development 
• Games Delivery: operating budget including a Host Corporation, third party-review of operating budget, security, revenue streams, transportation, accommodation (including understanding role of short term rentals), food and beverage, medical and anti-doping (chartering samples to Montreal’s drug testing lab is estimated to be less costly than building a temporary lab in Calgary which could cost $20 million dollars) 
• Guarantees: contracts with hotels; affordable housing sites, financial agreements for housing, Federal Government and Canada Olympic Committee endorsement, human rights and safety, anti-doping complying with World Anti-Doping Agency, etc. 

Benefits to the bid, without the 2026 OPWG

The Assessment Committee discussed the benefits to Calgarians of the work underway regardless whether or not the bid move forward. Some of these benefits include:

• Information can be transitioned to the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) board for their economic development, job creation and marketing plans to help boost Calgary’s economy; including, bidding on other large-scale events, from trade shows to sport competitions. 
• Venue assessment: current status, required upgrades, new facilities
• Accommodation
• Processes for large bookings for events and conferences
• Transportation network planning
• Concepts for culture programming
• International exposure through the bid process

Committee meeting recaps

• June 5 recap
• May 29 meeting recap
• May 15 meeting recap

For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting – June 5

On June 5, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met for the fourth time to discuss milestone dates and the Games concept.

In addition to this week’s committee update, the Chair of the Bid Corporation (BidCo) was announced on Thursday, June 7, at the Olympic Oval, with Scott Hutcheson as BidCo Chair. BidCo will clarify the vision and details of a potential Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and will develop a more accurate hosting cost estimate. BidCo will also produce a Bid Book, which would be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January 2019, if all parties decide to move forward with the bid and the IOC selects Calgary to become a 2026 Candidate City.

City Team presentation and discussion

Milestones

June is an important month for Calgary’s potential bid on the 2026 Games. Here are some project milestones:

• June 8-10: Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Board meeting in Banff: Calgary Mayor and BidCo Chair attending.
• June 19: IOC-Calgary bid team meeting in Switzerland. One City employees are expected to attend; the IOC is funding the trip.June 23: COC decides whether to endorse Calgary’s bid.
• June 25: Regular Meeting of Council: government submission review.
• June 30: Deadline to submit government submission: details the operating and capital costs of the 2026 Games; mission, vision and value of the 2026 Games; Games concept: venues and locations; governance; communications; Bid Corporation; risks and mitigation; and milestone schedule.
• July-August 2018: Committee meetings continue, as required.
• July-August 2018: Government submission analysis and multi-party agreement negotiations for 2026 Games cost to The City and the governments of Canada and Alberta.
• September 2018: Multi-party agreement results, including cost of the Games and who is paying what amount.
• October 2018: IOC formally invites cities to bid on the 2026 Games (candidature stage)
• November 2018: Calgary plebiscite: citizens vote on whether or not Calgary should bid on the 2026 Games.
• January 11, 2019: IOC deadline to submit Bid Book.

Draft Games concept

A Games concept is a preliminary proposal that:

• Identifies venues for the majority of Olympic and Paralympic sports.
• Identifies locations for these venues.
• Confirms if and where these venues require upgrades, or if a new venue is required.

The IOC’s Agenda 2020 program sets out new expectations for how cities use existing and new venues:

• Reducing cost of bidding on and hosting the Games.
• Using existing facilities, regardless of location and seating capacity.
• Ensuring new facilities are part of the city’s current plans and future needs (with or without the Games).

The closed portion of this meeting covered details of the current draft Games concept:

• Detailed list of venues and operation status in Calgary and surrounding areas
• Competition and training venues
• Athletes village
• Venues for ceremonies and celebrations

Committee meeting recaps
• May 29 meeting recap
• May 15 meeting recap

For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting - May 29

On May 29, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met for the
third time to discuss the:

• Plebiscite (vote of electors)
• Public hearing
• Vision update
• Financial and value proposition update

Plebiscite: vote of the electorate
We are now working on the plebiscite questions and date. We discussed Vancouver’s question from the 2010 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games and we’re considering more information within the plebiscite questions, to give more context. The Government of Alberta will also review the question(s).

In September 2018, we will provide a recommendation on the plebiscite question(s) and date. The timing of this announcement aligns with when we expect citizens will know the cost of the 2026 Games and who is committed to paying what amount.

This schedule allows citizens time to know and consider the information, so they can make an informed vote. We expect a high turnout at the plebiscite, based on statistics from past Calgary elections (58 per cent in the last municipal election).

Through summer and fall 2018, our responsibility is to communicate and promote the opportunities for citizens to participate in the public engagement events, including the plebiscite.

Public hearing
The committee voted against holding a formal public hearing and directed Administration to review what other options are available for committee members and Council to hear directly from citizens.

A public hearing is non-statutory; the committee would hear and consider all information, regardless if a majority of citizens presents a certain view on the 2026 Olympic/Paralympic bid. Council would then consider this information, when deciding on whether to bid on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Ideas and considerations that surfaced between the committee and Administration:

• Align all public engagement efforts.
• Ensure citizens have the right information about the bid and the 2026 Games process, for an appropriate amount of time, before participating in the plebiscite.
• Include the cost and funding resources in this information.
• Confirm a specific topic for public input (e.g. bidding on the 2026 Games, hosting the 2026 Games, etc.) for a hearing of the public.
• Allow Council to hear from citizens, which can unveil what other goals and aspirations can be, or not be, realized through a bid.
• Hosting just a plebiscite doesn’t explain the “why”.
• Ensure Calgarians and Council have the right amount of information, before they decide whether Calgary bids.

Producing content will be one of our biggest challenges, as most of the information will be confirmed through early fall.

Vision
A visioning exercise is underway to establish a vision, mission and values, which will be the foundation for the Bid Corporation’s potential bid. As one of the Bid Corporation’s (BidCo) members, we will ensure the vision reflects Calgary’s own vision and values, as they define what the 2026 Games could do for Calgary (and region), beyond just hosting the sporting event.

After two visioning sessions attended by all members of BidCo and a number of stakeholders, including representation from youth, business, sport, municipal government and indigenous people; a draft vision, mission and values was created. The committee identified a stronger involvement was required from the arts community, which will be included moving forward. The vision, mission and values will be released after the BidCo, Sport Canada and the Province of Alberta review them.

Financial and value proposition overview
Knowing the value and cost of the Games to Calgary helps Council and citizens determine if we should bid, which is based on five principles for pursuing the 2026 Games. We will do a cost-benefit analysis, which considers a number of items, based on if we choose to or not to host the 2026 Games:

• Capital (construction, upgrades and maintenance of facilitates)
• Operating costs
• Risk, including mitigation strategies
• Affordable housing
• Economic activity and job creation
• Tourism
• Community involvement
• Reputation

Most importantly, all Olympic infrastructure and facilities will be considered with Calgary’s existing infrastructure priorities and needs.

If Calgary chooses to submit a bid, it requires financial commitments from all levels of government. We expect Council to know the capital and operating cost estimate for hosting the 2026 Games in July 2018.

View the May 29 presentation.

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There are lots of moving pieces on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bid project. We'll be publishing blog posts about the regular 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee meetings, to give you more insight into the work being done on the project.

The committee's purpose is to provide guidance to Administration, as we explore a potential 2026 Games bid. 

Committee Meeting Recaps
• May 15 meeting recap

For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.

RECAP: 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Meeting - May 15

There are lots of moving pieces on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bid project. We'll be publishing blog posts about the regular 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee meetings, to give you more insight into the work being done on the project.

The committee's purpose is to provide guidance to Administration, as we explore a potential 2026 Games bid. Administration has met with the committee bi-weekly through May and will meet weekly through June. 

The May 15 meeting discussed:

• Information flow and updates
• Transparency
• Value of reputation
• Budget
• Personnel
• Engagement and Advisory Sub-Committee membership (in-camera)
• Bid Corporation (BidCo) Chair Recruitment verbal update (in-camera)

Here’s a summary of the discussion:

Information flow and updates

Our goal is to get accurate information to Councillors and Calgarians as quickly as possible. Administration will meet with Councillors who are unable to attend the committee meetings as required, and will work with ward offices to address constituent questions.

Transparency

Because information on this project moves quickly, Administration meets with the committee frequently to ensure Councillors have the most up-to-date information. At every committee meeting, Administration will provide a progress update, including what we know and what we don’t know at the time.

Value of reputation and reputational risk

We’re proud of Calgary’s and Canada’s values and international reputation, and it’s important to us that we maintain that reputation. We want to make sure these values are represented in the relationship we’re building with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

It’s also important to the committee, Administration and citizens that we remain objective and balanced through this process. A report by the Ipsos Global Reputation Centre about unlocking the value of reputation was discussed, as a perspective to keep in mind as we move through this process.

Budget

From summer 2016 to end of April 2018, we've spent $5.2 million of the total $30 million BidCo budget. The work done to-date includes:

1.       Bid Development Work Streams:

a.       Venue Use & Infrastructure:

b.       Operational Themes & Bid Book Development

c.        Finance

d.       Security

e.       Vision, Legacy, Sustainability, Governments Submissions & Guarantees

f.        Coordination with Canadian Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee

g.       BidCo Development

2.       City Administration Work Streams:

a.       Planning and Reporting

b.       Communications/Issues Management

c.        Legal

d.       Financial

A cost estimate of hosting the games is being developed, including operating budgets, capital budgets and impact to Calgary’s debt. We're preparing a government submission for the end of June, which will be circulated to all members for their review. The numbers will be made public in early July.

Personnel

We need the right people with the right skills overseeing the work. There’s been a mix of City staff and consultants working on the project. Consultants have provided as little as a few hours of support to as much as full-time support on the project. There are several report attachments that include more information about project personnel:

• Project Team Organizational Structure
• 2026 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Assessment Committee
• Executive Team and Advisory Panel
• City staff support 
• Consultant support 
• Bid Corporation Members Committee

We’re now focusing on staffing a permanent City team, called a City Secretariat. The members are also working together to recruit the BidCo Chair, CEO and Board of Directors.

Moving forward, The City and the BidCo will work together with citizens on the potential bid. While we are ultimately accountable to Council and our citizens, BidCo is the expert team developing and submitting a bid, if Calgary and its partners decide, and are invited by the IOC, to bid.

Closed session agenda items

Some items need to be discussed in a closed session, because they relate to specific personnel or other confidential information. At this meeting, the closed session items included:

• Engagement and Advisory Sub-Committee membership
• BidCo Chair Recruitment (verbal update)

Since this meeting, committee met on May 29 and will meet next on June 5. Stay tuned for the May 29 recap.

For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.