Olympics could be gold medal fix for Calgary's economy, says head of bid committee

Hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics in Calgary would create 40,000 jobs and be a $6.5 billion boon for the province, the head of the group behind a possible bid said Tuesday.

Speaking on Alberta@Noon, Calgary Sport Tourism Authority chair Doug Mitchell said a successful bid would translate into a $4 billion increase to the province's GDP — along with a $2.5 billion increase in labour income in Alberta and the creation of 40,000 jobs.

"The situation in Alberta is pretty grim now from an economic standpoint, there's no question about it," he said.

"If you go back to the late '70s, early '80s, it was very much like the situation now, and that's when the bid was started with regard to the 1988 Games.

"When I look at this proposal, the thing I glom on to is 40,000 jobs created."

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The numbers come from a detailed economic study done by an internationally respected firm, said Mitchell. However, they've asked not to be named since the report is still in draft form.

The report will be released once complete, said Mitchell, noting the projected numbers don't include increased tourism and investment that would be expected to follow the Games.

$5-million feasibility study

City council voted Monday in favour of doing a $5 million feasibility study over the next 14 months, exploring the possibility of submitting an official bid.

But not all on council are on board with the idea.

Coun. Druh Farrell voted against, along with Coun. Sean Chu.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the province was very confused about what our priorities are," said Farrell.

"They have very limited funding to provide to the city of Calgary and we need to be very clear what projects we want done, if we want to look at CalgaryNEXT, or do we want to look at the Green Line, or do we want to look at the Olympics. And I would say very clearly, my priority is the Green Line."

Speaking on CBC News Calgary at 6, two-time Olympic skier and former Alpine Canada head Ken Read said the positive spin-offs will involve more than money.

Ken Read on possible bid for the 2026 Olympics

8 years ago

Duration 1:12

Former Alpine Canada head Ken Read speaks to CBC News Calgary at 6 about the possibility of Calgary bidding for the 2026 Olympic Games.

"A lot of people don't realize, actually, how big the Olympic sport business is in Calgary," he said.

"We have six, seven, eight national winter sport organizations. We run annual World Cup races, we have the Canadian Sport Institute, the High Performance Lab, all of these people from around the world who are calling Calgary home."

Hayley Wickenheiser supports bid

Legendary women's hockey captain Hayley Wickenheiser, who won four gold and one silver medals at the last five Games, said the $5-million price tag for a study may seem high in the current economic climate but is good value.

• Hayley Wickenheiser supports Calgary Olympic bid​

"I think this is a small expense to pay in the big picture," she said.

"The Games are so complicated and so elaborate. There's so much involved in a bid that you don't want to actually place a bid and go down that road unless you do your diligence."

The Canadian Olympic Committee wants to hear from Canadian cities interested in bidding for 2026 by the end of June. The International Olympic Committee wants to hear from potential candidates by September next year.

A final decision, should this all move forward, would come July 2019.

"We are a winter nation. We do winter sports very well. And we excel at it. This seems like a natural, " said Wickenheiser.