Alberta's government says it could bid on the Olympics to bring the Games back to Alberta, but UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith says she will not support another Calgary Olympic bid..On Tuesday, Minister of Culture Ron Orr confirmed at WinSport a Calgary group was exploring a potential bid to bring the Olympics back to Alberta..But in an exclusive interview on the Cory Morgan Show to air Wednesday, Smith said, "I think the people have spoken. It went to a referendum and Calgarians said no.". Cory Morgan interview with Danielle SmithCory Morgan interview with Danielle Smith .In November of 2018, 56.4% of Calgarians voted to stop the exploration of a 2026 Olympics bid..During the Tuesday press conference, Orr announced the province will put up $17.5 million toward upgrades at the facility's Frank King Day Lodge..The lodge was first built in 1987. During Calgary's 1988 Winter Olympic Games, it was used as the media centre.."There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for a future opportunity and we will certainly be looking at those as they come and as it becomes appropriate to talk about details," Orr said.."Yes, it's possible..It is unclear who these "small group of individuals" are or what year they are planning on bidding on to bring the Olympics back to Alberta..Orr said the province has been involved in the "initial process of exploring a bid," but wouldn't discuss anything further.."The City of Calgary has almost all of the amenities it would need for Games at this stage," said Orr.."And, of course, this kind of redevelopment would obviously add to that.".Smith said the Alberta government needs to be "realistic" about pursuing an Olympic bid.."Look what happened to Japan for heaven's sake with the disruption that occurred because of COVID. I think that they ended up spending over $10 billion on that (Tokyo Games), I think we have to be realistic about it," Smith told Morgan.."I've been supportive of taking an approach to the Olympics where you identify a couple of cities that are rotational cities for winter and for summer so that you can continue to leverage and use your existing facilities, but these one-offs that are massively expensive. I don't think there's any appetite for any government to take that on.".Smith said she believes in the power of people despite Orr confirming the government is still considering a bid.."I think that people have spoken. So I think it's a bit of a non-starter unless there's a new way of approaching it," Smith said..To view the entire interview with Smith, tune into the Cory Morgan Show at noon on Wednesday.
Alberta's government says it could bid on the Olympics to bring the Games back to Alberta, but UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith says she will not support another Calgary Olympic bid..On Tuesday, Minister of Culture Ron Orr confirmed at WinSport a Calgary group was exploring a potential bid to bring the Olympics back to Alberta..But in an exclusive interview on the Cory Morgan Show to air Wednesday, Smith said, "I think the people have spoken. It went to a referendum and Calgarians said no.". Cory Morgan interview with Danielle SmithCory Morgan interview with Danielle Smith .In November of 2018, 56.4% of Calgarians voted to stop the exploration of a 2026 Olympics bid..During the Tuesday press conference, Orr announced the province will put up $17.5 million toward upgrades at the facility's Frank King Day Lodge..The lodge was first built in 1987. During Calgary's 1988 Winter Olympic Games, it was used as the media centre.."There is a small group of individuals who have put together some proposals for a future opportunity and we will certainly be looking at those as they come and as it becomes appropriate to talk about details," Orr said.."Yes, it's possible..It is unclear who these "small group of individuals" are or what year they are planning on bidding on to bring the Olympics back to Alberta..Orr said the province has been involved in the "initial process of exploring a bid," but wouldn't discuss anything further.."The City of Calgary has almost all of the amenities it would need for Games at this stage," said Orr.."And, of course, this kind of redevelopment would obviously add to that.".Smith said the Alberta government needs to be "realistic" about pursuing an Olympic bid.."Look what happened to Japan for heaven's sake with the disruption that occurred because of COVID. I think that they ended up spending over $10 billion on that (Tokyo Games), I think we have to be realistic about it," Smith told Morgan.."I've been supportive of taking an approach to the Olympics where you identify a couple of cities that are rotational cities for winter and for summer so that you can continue to leverage and use your existing facilities, but these one-offs that are massively expensive. I don't think there's any appetite for any government to take that on.".Smith said she believes in the power of people despite Orr confirming the government is still considering a bid.."I think that people have spoken. So I think it's a bit of a non-starter unless there's a new way of approaching it," Smith said..To view the entire interview with Smith, tune into the Cory Morgan Show at noon on Wednesday.
