(ATR) As soon as Toronto chose not to bid for the 2024 Games, Canada turned its attention towards a Winter Olympic bid.
"The Canadian Olympic Committee is determined to have the Olympics back in the country at the earliest opportunity, especially in the context of the new Olympic Agenda 2020," said Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut immediately following the announcement from Toronto.
The earliest opportunity would come with the next bidding cycle for the IOC when the committee chooses the host of the 2026 Winter Games. According to Postmedia, two Canadian cities are contemplating joining the bid race - Calgary and Quebec City.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi wasted no time throwing out the idea of a 2026 bid after Toronto Mayor John Tory decided to not pursue a bid for 2024.
"Maybe 2026 will be our moment, maybe not. As I say to many people … interesting idea, let's flesh it out," Nenshi said hours after Tory’s announcement.
Nenshi also confirmed he had met with a group of business and community leaders that have been privately working on plans for a Calgary bid over the last year and a half. Nenshi says he wants to hear input from community members before making a decision.
"It's certainly a conversation that I'm open to having with folks with the federal and provincial governments but more important, with people in the community," said Nenshi.
Athletes in Calgary were pleased to hear news of a potential bid. Local speedskater Gilmore Junio who gave up his spot at the London Olympics to a teammate says he has wanted an Olympics in Calgary for quite some time.
"I’ve been kind of spreading a rumor that Calgary would be a great place to host the 2026 Games. And to hear Nenshi say they’ve looked into and are going to get a group together to look into that potential is awesome," said Junio.
Calgary hosted the Games once before in 1988 and could make use of some of the facilities for a new bid, including the Olympic Oval that Junio says helped his career.
"It’s still a world-class facility with some of the best ice in the world … I don’t think my career would be where it is right now without the Olympic Oval," Junio said.
The other Canadian city that could enter a bid for the 2026 Games is Quebec City. COC president Marcel Aubut has been outspoken about bringing the Games to Quebec City in his home province.
"I’ve attended the last 12 Olympic Games. I have fond memories of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer. There was such an intimate, family-like atmosphere in this small Norwegian city, and we were so warmly received by the locals. Quebec City is the only other place where we could create a similar experience," Aubut told reporters in July.
During the Pan Am Games in July, Aubut welcomed leaders of the IOC including president Thomas Bach to a Canadian Olympic Excellence Day and the opening of their new headquarters in Montreal.
Quebec City bid for the Winter Games in 2002 but fell short to Salt Lake City. They made a pitch to be the COC’s candidate for the 2010 Games but lost out to Vancouver, the eventual host of the Games.
Cities interested in bidding for the 2026 Games must submit their letters of intent to the IOC by September 2017 and the IOC will choose the winner at the IOC Session in 2019.
Written by Kevin Nutley
Homepage photo: Getty Images
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