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Nenshi says NDP ministers going to PyeongChang “good signal” for potential 2026 bid

Two NDP ministers will travel to PyeongChang for the 2018 Olympics and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it’s a positive indication the province will help fund a potential bid for the 2026 Olympic Games.

“I would imagine that that’s a pretty strong signal that if they want to observe, then they’re willing to fund their cost of the bid committee,” Nenshi said Thursday.

Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman and Minister of Tourism and Culture Ricardo Miranda will be making the trip.

Last month, city council voted 9-4 to give administration $2-million from the Fiscal Stability Reserve to form a Bid Corporation, with the condition it gets firm commitments from both the provincial and federal governments on their funding.

The BidCo would be responsible for developing a formal bid book for the 2026 Games, which is estimated to cost a total of $25 to $30 million.

Council has given a deadline of end of January for both branches of government to determine whether they want to participate.

Nenshi said the city would get a report by the end of February if they wouldn’t.

“It’s a pretty good signal,” Nenshi said, adding he’s hoping to go to South Korea himself. “We have to finalize the council calendar first and make sure that the timing actually works.

“The City has been given a number of accreditation passes and in fact attending the Olympics as an observer, is I understand a requirement for bid cities.”

It isn’t clear what Hoffman and Miranda’s itineraries and costs will be and Hoffman told reporters she is looking forward to being part of the Canadian delegation.

“To spend some time with the folks from Calgary and see where that takes us, but no decisions have been made at this time,” she said regarding joining in on the bid.

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