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.

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.

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.

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.

(CP).
(CP).