November 14, 2018 (Calgary, AB) – A majority of Calgarians, 56%, voted against the city’s bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics in the non-binding plebiscite held Nov. 13, despite support from Mayor Naheed Nenshi and other levels of government.

According to the City of Calgary, 304, 774 people voted with 171,150 against. Mayor Nenshi said the vote scuttles the bid, which is still subject to a last official vote by city council likely on Monday, Nov. 19. The official results will be posted by Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. Nenshi added that he will move to suspend bid operations, echoed by Mary Moran, CEO of the Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation.

“In the coming weeks, Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation will wrap up its operations, including the preparation of final accounting and reporting to its funding partners the City of Calgary, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada,” she said, in the statement. “The BidCo will work with its partners to archive such materials that may assist with learnings and the possibility of a future bid for a major global sporting event.”

With Calgary’s bid not going forward, only Stockholm, Sweden and a joint Italian bid from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo remain in the running for the 2026 Winter Games.

CBC here.
Calgary Herald here.
National Post here.
CTV News here.