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Calgary to Explore Bid for 2026 Winter Olympics

The memories of the 1988 Winter Olympics live on in the minds of Calgarians nearly three decades after the games. The sports spectacle increased the Albertan city's presence on the world stage while fostering a lasting sense of community. Even the built facilities of the Games, which many recent Olympic hosts have struggled to find uses for, have continued to serve important functions today. Now, Calgary has the opportunity to rekindle those experiences, as councillors vote to explore a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The City of Calgary approved a recommendation by the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority on June 20 to establish a bid exploration committee that will examine the costs, benefits, and feasibility of hosting the event. Doing so will cost $5 million CAD, but given Calgary's last go at the Olympics — it was widely considered to be one of the most successful ever — it's a temptation that's hard to resist. A study commissioned for the Sport Tourism Authority shows the Games could produce 40,000 jobs and generate $3.7 billion for Alberta's economy.