November 10, 2018 (Canmore, AB) – The 2026 Calgary Olympic bid movement got some positive news this week as the town of Canmore, Alberta voted 6-1 in favour of moving ahead, as long as certain funding conditions were met by other levels of government.

According to a local media report, Canmore is interested in implementing a two per cent hotel tax to generate revenue. In addition, the town is requiring that all security and policing costs related to the Games be covered by other levels of government.

Canmore, about an hour outside Calgary, would host the biathlon and cross-country competitions. In addition, the town would be home to an athletes’ village that would be converted to below-market housing following completion of the Games.

The appeal of 240 units of affordable housing, for a town in dire need of such accommodation, is a major factor in the deal, according to Canmore mayor John Borrowman.

For the bid, in addition to other levels of government, Calgary is expected to contribute $370 million in cash in addition to other funds.

A plebiscite will be held in Calgary on Nov. 13 to determine whether or not the Calgary bid will go forward. There is, of course, no guarantee that Calgary would win the right to host the Games as there are two other cities are also in the running: Stockholm, Sweden and a combined Italian bid of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The final vote to award the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for September, 2019.

Around The Rings media report here.