Jul 20, 2016
Canada’s Olympics czar says bid by Calgary could jumpstart Alberta economy
Former Vancouver Olympics boss John Furlong says a bid by Calgary to host the Winter Olympics in 2026 could help jumpstart Alberta’s hard hit economy.
“They’ve been through a lot. They’ve had some very difficult times. So I would say for them, they have a tremendous opportunity,” Furlong told BNN in an interview.
Furlong was recruited by the Canadian Olympic Committee to help work with cities seeking to host future Summer or Winter Olympic games in Canada. While a number of cities have been cited as possible homes for 2026, Furlong says he’s been particularly impressed by the level of excitement among organizers in Calgary and its mayor, Naheed Nenshi.
“They see the potential in this to completely change the future…to look at the Olympic games as a catalyst for the future for Calgary and maybe even Alberta,” said Furlong.
The sharp drop in oil prices coupled with the recent wildfire in Fort McMurray have weakened Alberta’s economic outlook. According to a recent report by TD Economics, Alberta’s economy will contract 6.5 per cent over 2015 and 2016, setting the stage for the province’s longest downturn since the 1980s. Attendance at this year’s Calgary Stampede also fell to a 22-year low, in part because of the economic slump.
The 1988 Winter Olympics helped boost Calgary’s global profile. “The last time that Calgary bid for the games, they had plenty of adversity to deal with,” Furlong told BNN. “ They did a great job on the games. They have a terrific track record and a fierce determination.”
