2026 Winter Olympics - 7 expressions of interest

[overedge]

This could have very well been the last gasp as far as Calgary is concerned in being a continual mainstay on the international Winter World Cup/World Championship calendar. Calgary (and area) will be pretty busy in 2018-19 with sliding sports, biathlon, long track speed skating, freestyle ski, and snowboard all having World Cup (or World Championship) events (short track took place last week). Sliding sports and long track infrastructure appear to be the most immediate at risk, imo.

I don't understand why. The speed skating oval in Calgary is supposed to be one of the best in the world, so I'm not sure why events in that sport, at least, would go elsewhere. And Calgary and the surrounding region have shown many times that they can successfully host other winter sport events. Saying no to the Olympics, which run for an extended period of time and are hugely expensive, AFAIK is not saying no to any sports event ever again.

 

[WildRose]

I don't understand why. The speed skating oval in Calgary is supposed to be one of the best in the world, so I'm not sure why events in that sport, at least, would go elsewhere. And Calgary and the surrounding region have shown many times that they can successfully host other winter sport events. Saying no to the Olympics, which run for an extended period of time and are hugely expensive, AFAIK is not saying no to any sports event ever again.

Times have changed. Alberta’s economy has been destroyed in the last few years. Company’s who used to do business here have gone elsewhere. Calgary’s office towers sit empty and the city has the second highest unemployment in Canada. Much of their winter sport infrastructure needs upgrading and there isnt any money to do it.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/calgary-2026-plebiscite-jamie-strashin-1.4904585

I just read about the oly bid in Calgary and this line stood out:

"I really think that the IOC is hoping that Stockholm and Italy just go away and then they can work with Salt Lake City."

I didn't realize that SLC wanted to host another olys.

When I did a tour of the state capitol in SLC last year, our guide said the city had a lot of interest in hosting another Winter Games. I would be over the moon because I missed out on attending the 2002 Olys due to my work schedule at my old job.

 

[Karen-W]

Honestly, I think the IOC is praying that Stockholm or Milan/Cortina stick it out through the 2026 bidding process. They desperately want to get the Winter Olympics back to western Europe, just like they wanted Paris or any other credible western European city to make it to the finish line of the 2024 bidding process.

The biggest problem with SLC or any other US city for 2026 is that LA has exclusive marketing rights through 2028. That loss of revenues is why Reno-Tahoe dropped out of the running for a "future Winter Olympics bid" last week and why it makes it almost prohibitive to any US city stepping in to save the IOC's skin for 2026, even SLC where most of the necessary infrastructure and venues are already in place.

I'd guess what the IOC would really like is western Europe for 2026 and then back to SLC for 2030. Sapporo withdrew their 2026 bid and said they wanted to focus on a 2030 bid instead but I don't see the IOC wanting to fall back to Asia again until the 2032 Summer Games/2034 Winter Games at the earliest if they can at all avoid it. The IOC would gladly take an eager/willing/ready SLC for 2030 now than wait to see what happens with a potential Sapporo 2030 bid.

 

[overedge]

Honestly, I think the IOC is praying that Stockholm or Milan/Cortina stick it out through the 2026 bidding process. They desperately want to get the Winter Olympics back to western Europe, just like they wanted Paris or any other credible western European city to make it to the finish line of the 2024 bidding process.

If that's so, then I think the IOC has to start being a lot more realistic about what it demands from host cities, regions, and governments. Admittedly the winter Olympics have some pretty specific needs in terms of e.g. ski hills that have to be of a certain size. That limits the number of potential choices. But since it's pretty clear by now that the Olympics don't make money, and usually don't bring the benefits that the IOC claims they will (as in increased long-term tourism) - the current bidding process is outdated. The IOC should be working more cooperatively with potential sites, and maybe even identify sites and approach those themselves, rather than the other way around.

 

[A.H.Black]

I wonder what happens, if no one wants it.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/calgary-2026-plebiscite-jamie-strashin-1.4904585

I just read about the oly bid in Calgary and this line stood out:

"I really think that the IOC is hoping that Stockholm and Italy just go away and then they can work with Salt Lake City."

I didn't realize that SLC wanted to host another olys.

Salt Lake has been actively pursuing another Olympics for several years. The only problem is the US Oympic Committee has not put forth a US city for the Winter Olympics - presumably because of Los Angeles and the Summer Games.

The US Olympic Committee is actually in Salt Lake City today, checking out the existing venues and such. All of the 2002 venues are still in use and even busier now than they were then. Some of them would need to be updated and remodeled. Some of them are already in the process of being updated - The University of Utah announced just yesterday that they are adding seats to the stadium in a new remodeling project.

As of now the US cities actively interested in a Winter bid are Denver and Salt Lake City. Reno/Tahoe pulled out within the last week. There are reports that Denver wants to put the interest to a vote. In 1972, Denver voted down a bid for the Winter Olympics and that rejection has been hanging over their heads ever since. Public opinion in Salt Lake is very much in favor of another Olympic Games.

If no one wants the Games - Salt Lake City will do it in a heart beat.

 

[WildRose]

Salt Lake has been actively pursuing another Olympics for several years. The only problem is the US Oympic Committee has not put forth a US city for the Winter Olympics - presumably because of the Los Angeles and the Summer Games.

The US Olympic Committee is actually in Salt Lake City today, checking out the existing venues and such. All of the 2002 venues are still in use and even busier now than they were then. Some of them would need to be updated and remodeled. Some of them are already in the process of being updated - The University of Utah announced just yesterday that they are adding seats to the stadium in a new remodeling project.

As of now the US cities actively interested in a Winter bid are Denver and Salt Lake City. Reno/Tahoe pulled out within the last week. There are reports that Denver wants to put the interest to a vote. In 1972, Denver voted down a bid for the Winter Olympics and that rejection has been hanging over their heads ever since. Public opinion in Salt Lake is very much in favor of another Olympic Games.

If no one wants the Games - Salt Lake City will do it in a heart beat.

 

[Karen-W]

Salt Lake has been actively pursuing another Olympics for several years. The only problem is the US Oympic Committee has not put forth a US city for the Winter Olympics - presumably because of Los Angeles and the Summer Games.

The US Olympic Committee is actually in Salt Lake City today, checking out the existing venues and such. All of the 2002 venues are still in use and even busier now than they were then. Some of them would need to be updated and remodeled. Some of them are already in the process of being updated - The University of Utah announced just yesterday that they are adding seats to the stadium in a new remodeling project.

As of now the US cities actively interested in a Winter bid are Denver and Salt Lake City. Reno/Tahoe pulled out within the last week. There are reports that Denver wants to put the interest to a vote. In 1972, Denver voted down a bid for the Winter Olympics and that rejection has been hanging over their heads ever since. Public opinion in Salt Lake is very much in favor of another Olympic Games.

If no one wants the Games - Salt Lake City will do it in a heart beat.

Well, Rice-Eccles Stadium needed to be expanded once Utah joined the Pac-12, so that was going to happen regardless of the Olympics.

I can't see Denver going ahead with a bid. It's either SLC or nothing from the USOC for 2026 or 2030.

 

[A.H.Black]

Well, Rice-Eccles Stadium needed to be expanded once Utah joined the Pac-12, so that was going to happen regardless of the Olympics.

I can't see Denver going ahead with a bid. It's either SLC or nothing from the USOC for 2026 or 2030.

True. That's the reason why they are doing it. The timing, though, with the US Olympic people in town, is quite nice.

 

[A.H.Black]

http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/25536056/usoc-selects-salt-lake-city-winter-olympics-bid

Salt Lake City is the choice of the USOC for a future Winter Olympics. It is most probably for 2030, but with only 2 cities bidding for 2026, who knows.

 

[Vash01]

I would love to see SLC host the Winter Olympics again. I enjoyed attending the 2002 games. They were very well organized, and SLC is not too far.