“What’s in it for Whistler?” Sports economist doubts Calgary can piggyback on Olympic venues
Posted Jan 20, 2018 2:45 pm.
Last Updated Jan 20, 2018 3:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There are doubts Calgary’s neighbours to the west would want to pitch in to help host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sports economist Moshe Lander of Concordia University believes it’s not a good offer for the B.C. community, which helped host the Vancouver Games in 2010.
“I’m not exactly sure what’s in it for Whistler. Why would they want second billing when it’s going to be their infrastructure that saves Calgary. And I’m not sure that Calgary wants to lose out on some important events because their infrastructure is outdated,” he said.
A delegation from the International Olympic Committee toured the Calgary’s winter facilities this week, and the group’s sports director applauded the idea of Calgary teaming up with Whistler to trim down its operating budget. The IOC has been encouraging cities to find savings by using existing venues, and refraining from building facilities that will have little impact on communities after the Olympic torch is passed on.
The City of Calgary is still mulling over whether it should bid to bring the Games back, but Lander doesn’t think the $725 million the IOC is promising to host cities will make a difference.
“The fact that they’d be willing to dangle that as a sweetener shows you just how precarious hosting the Games can be. I don’t think that’s going to change, but in the end, you’re still going to have the taxpayers stuck with phenomenal costs,” said Lander.
He argued the IOC is showing just how much it needs Calgary and pointed to its attractive prime time TV spot, and its ability to demonstrate a city with citizens that hold government accountable can successfully run the Olympics.
“[It’s] an example that they can wave in front of all the potential bidders saying, ‘you see it’s not just non-democratic, autocratic countries that are left in the bidding process anymore,” said Lander.
Calgary city council is expected to speak about a possible Olympic bid at its next meeting on January 29.
