Calgary Selected as Candidate City for 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

CALGARY, ALBERTA, October 9, 2018 – Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation (BidCo) has announced that Calgary has been selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a Candidate City for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The announcement was made today in Buenos Aires at a meeting of IOC Committee members during the Youth Olympic Games. This development now allows Calgary to officially enter the candidature to host the Games. 

“This announcement moves us one step forward in the bid process but there is still lots of work to be done,” said Scott Hutcheson, Calgary 2026 BidCo Chair. “Our focus remains on informing Calgarians about our plan to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to see how we might shape the Games, and the future of Calgary, together.” 

“We are both honoured and thrilled by the decision of the IOC in Buenos Aires today designating Calgary as a candidate city and finalist for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. This is a very encouraging, hopeful step forward to bringing the Games back to Canada,” said Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. 

We also congratulate fellow finalists Stockholm (Sweden) and Milan/Cortina/d’Ampezzo (Italy). This will be a year to remember for all three cities. “Memories of Calgary 1988 and Vancouver 2010 continue to fill us all with pride and I know Canadians everywhere are now cheering Calgary on with hopes for the next generation of young Canadians who dream big and aspire to be our next Olympians,” concluded Smith. 

“This is an important step of many in the process to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Calgary,” said Marc-André Fabien, Canadian Paralympic Committee President. “We believe Calgary is the perfect city to showcase sport on a global stage, and are very excited to continue our collaborative work with all parties involved to create an inclusive and accessible Games that will leave a lasting impact on sport development in Canada.” 

CEO Mary Moran and the team at Calgary 2026 hope to win the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic games again because it is a rare opportunity to help reach some important goals: Indigenous reconciliation, support economic prosperity, build a positive brand for Calgary, Canmore and Canada in an era of divisiveness globally, and construct badly needed affordable housing and community sports venues and renew others. 

“Hosting the Games is a rare opportunity to strengthen our communities by renewing facilities and building new ones that everyone can benefit from,” said Mary Moran, Calgary 2026 BidCo Chief 2 

Executive Officer. “We have a chance to create a legacy that will benefit our younger generation for decades to come.” 

Calgary 2026 continues to meet with stakeholders and members of the public daily, sharing the facts of the draft hosting plan that was released to the public in mid-September. Community engagement will continue to increase, giving Calgarians and members of the broader community in Banff and Canmore an opportunity to ask questions, share their concerns and learn more about the 2026 bid. 

Calgarians will vote November 13th, answering the question: are you for or are you against Calgary hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games? 

The final decision of the IOC members for the host of the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland at the IOC Session at the end of June 2019. 

For more information contact: 

James Millar, Director, Communications & Media Relations, Calgary 2026 BidCo 

403.891.2026 

jmillar@calgary2026.ca