Ice canoeing as Olympic demonstration sport? Quebec City mayor floats idea
Régis Labeaume met with IOC officials in Lausanne this week
If the Winter Games were held in Quebec City, the mayor would like to see several traditional Quebec activities become demonstration sports.
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"Ice canoeing would be a hit," Labeaume said.
He also suggested an extreme ice skating event like the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition and dog-sledding as potential Olympic demonstration events.
The mayor made the comments while in Switzerland attending a meeting on advancing a bid to host the 2026 Winter Games.
Labeaume has insisted that he is "not in Olympic mode" and still has many questions before he supports putting Quebec City forward as a candidate.
The mayor met with IOC president Thomas Bach earlier this week to find out more about what is required of cities who want to be candidates.
"I presented them my vision, my very Quebec vision of the games," he said.
Lebeaume said he'd like the Winter Games to coincide with Carnavale.
Mayor would want a smaller scale, more modest bid
Labeaume was particularly interested in knowing if the IOC was serious about holding a scaled back version of the Winter Games that are less expensive and smaller than previous events.
The IOC adopted a plan called the Olympic Agenda 2020 in late 2014 that said it would encourage more candidate cities by reducing the expected cost of hosting the Games. Labeaume said after his meeting that the IOC was committed to that plan.
"Our vision doesn't scare them. Our vision corresponds with the 2020 Agenda here," he said.
Premier Philippe Couillard also confirmed his conditional support for the games this week.
"I want them if they are feasible, if they don't put Quebec or Quebec City in a bad financial situation," Coullard said on Wednesday.
Labeaume will meet with other sports federations while he is in Switzerland. He said he will also seek meeting with officials in Lake Placid, N.Y. to discuss the possibility of sharing venues.
Quebec City made the shortlist for the 2002 Winter Olympics, but lost out to Salt Lake City.
with files from Guylaine Bussiere