Canadian Olympians react to Calgary 2026 vote
The city of Calgary has made its decision clear: the municipality does not want to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. A plebiscite vote resulted in 56% of ballots being cast for “No”, and council will now look to officially put an end to the bidding process next week.
Some of Canada’s Olympic athletes of past and present voiced their disappointment at the result, with the first hand experiences as the games as motivation for hoping to see the event back on home soil.
So what now Calgary ? 🤦🏻♂️😢
— Sam Edney (@samueledney) November 14, 2018
😢
— Rosanna Crawford (@RosannaCrawford) November 14, 2018
[1] #Calgary2026 Déception au lendemain du référendum. Calgary aurait pu laisser une empreinte positive, un héritage matériel et spirituel. Le mouvement olympique est loin d’être parfait, je le reconnais. Dans le futur, j’imagine des Jeux pour les athlètes et pour le peuple…
— Philippe Marquis (@MarquisPhil) November 14, 2018
Beyond competing in front of a home crowd, many Olympians make their home in the Calgary area and had hoped to see the bid as a jumping off point for development in the city.
It was a pivotal night in #yyc. To the 56% that voted no, I’m all ears. What’s the plan to give Calgary a boost? For our next generation? Where do you see another opportunity so fruitful for our city? I wan to get behind your vision so please enlighten me.
— Brad Spence (@bradcspence) November 14, 2018
I’m sad. And bitter. But I had a feeling that was coming. I still can’t figure out what people who voted “No” do for entertainment. No Olympics. No Flames. If McMahon doesn’t get fixed up it’s only a matter of time before no Stamps.
— Alysia Rissling (@alysiarissling) November 14, 2018
I feel so heart broken in a city I love so much. What do we do now to save our aging sport infrastructure, to fill empty offices, to put Calgarians back to work, to showcase our community to the world and to show our kids what big audacious dreams look like. What now…
— Helen Upperton (@HelenUpperton) November 14, 2018
It’s easy to take the no decision personally given the fact that I have built my life around an Olympic sport. I’m holding on to some optimism that *about* half the voters had some vision and foresight for our city. Calgary will survive and it’s those people who will ensure that.
— Tristan Walker (@TristanLuge) November 14, 2018
POOF. That’s the sound of BILLIONS of dollars of investment disappearing from #yyc. Severely disappointed in tonight’s plebiscite results. Losing hurts, but we move on. The question now is: What are we saying YES to? What moves us forward as a City? #Calgary2026 @noyycolympics
— Kyle Shewfelt (@kyleshew) November 14, 2018
Aside from concerns on the local level about what a worldwide event can bring to the city, Olympic silver medallist Sam Edney wondered what the seemingly unwanted 2026 Games says about the IOC as a whole.
I ❤️ YYC and wish only the best for the city. Side thought – Just looking within the sport bubble -this must be a serious, further, wake up call to the #IOC, time to get their shit together -the public doesn’t want you, you’ve done something wrong, change or be forgotten.
— Sam Edney (@samueledney) November 14, 2018
Surely, the IOC will continue moving forward in hopes to secure a home for the event.
Stockholm, Sweden and a joint bid from Italian cities remain in the running as potential hosts, while Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States lingers in the background as a reported backup plan.