Calgary 2026 Winter Olympics bid dead after 'no' vote
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[November 14, 2018]
(Reuters) - Calgary's hopes of
hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics were dashed on Tuesday after
citizens voted resoundingly against the western Canadian city's plan
to bid for the Games.
More than 56 percent of voters said 'No' in the plebiscite, a
surprisingly lopsided margin after both sides had expected a close
call in the city which hosted the 1988 Winter Games.
After witnessing a high turnout, with more than 304,000 ballots cast
in a reflection of the interest in the poll, the unofficial results
had 132,832 opting 'For' and 171,750 'Against' Calgary making a bid
to host the Games.
The outcome was another blow for the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), which has seen interest in hosting Games fall dramatically as
the size and cost of staging the multi-sport event has sky-rocketed.
The Calgary vote leaves Sweden's Stockholm and an Italian bid
involving Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the only candidates left in
the race.
Swiss city Sion, Japan's Sapporo and Graz in Austria all withdrew
earlier this year, while Turkey's Erzurum was last month eliminated
from the bidding process by the IOC, which will elect the winning
bid in June 2019.
"It (result) comes as no surprise following the political
discussions and uncertainties right up until the last few days," the
IOC said in a statement.
"We understand the disappointment of all those involved in the
candidature... who fought so hard for the Olympic project.
"It is disappointing that the arguments about the sporting, social
and long-term benefits of hosting the Olympic Games did not sway the
vote.
"We will continue our cooperation with Milan/Cortina d'Ampezzo and
Stockholm in order to ensure the best possible host for the Olympic
Winter Games 2026."
BID FINISHEDWhile the Calgary vote was non-binding, the 15-member
city council is expected to respect the outcome when it meets on
Monday to decide whether to move the bid process forward.
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Calgary 2026 and Canada Olympic Committee (COC) acknowledged the
people had spoken, with the former saying it would wrap up
operations in the next few weeks.
"We know that this was very divisive, but it's time to put that
behind us," Calgary bid chief Mary Moran told supporters.
"This all began with great promise: a chance to bring the Olympics
and Paralympics home to Calgary and Canada.
"A chance to re-establish our city on the world stage -- put us back
on the map... It all made sense, and it still makes sense."
However, those in the 'No' camp were jubilant at the result.
"I think that people had enough of the establishment, telling us
what to do, what to think," local councillor Sean Chu said. "They
tell you to spend millions, billions, it's good for you."
The COC, meanwhile, said the vote represented a missed "unique
opportunity" to bring a renewed vision to the Games.
"The Canadian Olympic Committee respects the results of tonight's
plebiscite in Calgary, but we are disappointed with the outcome,"
COC said in the statement.
"The opportunity to welcome the world to Canada, where people can
experience the uniting power of the Games and within our nation's
culture of peace and inclusion, would have offered countless
benefits to all."
Beijing is hosting the next Winter Games in 2022.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Additional
reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Karolos Grohmann in Berlin.
Editing by Greg Stutchbury/John O'Brien)
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