Former IOC VP Dick Pound argues for Calgary Olympic bid
Posted Sep 10, 2018 11:23 am.
Last Updated Sep 10, 2018 1:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Calgary City Council can vote tomorrow afternoon to put an end to the Olympic bidding process to host the Games in 2026. The debate will be likely be centered around a full cost report.
Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Dick Pound calls Calgary a great potential host.
“We’d have to upgrade some of the facilities and so on, but the expertise, the know-how, and the geography are all perfect for the Winter Games.”
Pound warns if Calgary decides to go forward with the bid, it needs to go all in.
“‘We either hang together or hang separately’ as Ben Franklin used to say.”
For those worried about the economic hurdles to get the games, he calls back to the ’88 experience.
“The oil business was in the tank and it gave Calgary some momentum building out of that and also the opportunity to broaden the economic spectrum.”
He notes some of the long-term benefits from increased tourism that can last years.
“These are harder to track and harder to assign cause and effect to the Olympics but you will get seventeen days of worldwide positive publicity.”
Pound argues that while Italy and Sweden have tested the waters for a bid, that situation can change quickly.
“Europe has a recent track record of coming off the rails as things get closer and closer to decision day.”
He says the potential election of a right-wing party in Sweden that wasn’t enthused by the idea of the Olympics further helps Calgary’s odds.
“That dynamic would I think mitigate against Europe and I don’t see any huge enthusiasm for Turkey.”
So he believes Calgary might have the inside track to host the games.
