On a clear November day in 2018, Calgarians made a decisive choice at the ballot box, voting against pursuing a bid to host the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. That vote, according to advocates, represented far more than a rejection of a sporting mega-event; it was a lost opportunity to revitalize the city's aging athletic infrastructure and cement a legacy of physical wellness for Alberta.
The Financial and Facility Fallout
By voting no, Calgarians also said no to a proposed budget that promised significant upgrades. The plan outlined refurbishments for 10 sports facilities originally built for the 1988 Calgary Olympics, alongside the construction of two new venues. This ambitious project was to be funded through shared investment from municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
Calgary's portion of that investment was pegged at $390 million. "All those facilities would have been refurbished based on the formula set out in the federal funding policy, and we are sitting here today on a hope and a prayer, hoping we get money for those facilities that still haven't been renewed," said Mary Moran, former CEO of Calgary Economic Development and current chair of the Alberta Sports Leadership Association.
The facilities on the list for renewal included:
- The Olympic Oval
- McMahon Stadium
- The WinSport sliding track and ski hill
- The Saddledome
- BMO Centre
- Big Four Building
- Max Bell Arena
- Canmore Nordic Centre
- Nakiska Ski Resort
The budget also included funds for a new multi-sport complex and a mid-size community arena.
A Lost Mandate for Wellness and Legacy
Moran argues that a successful bid would have fundamentally shifted priorities. "Had the bid gone through, it would have made sports and physical wellness a top mandate for Calgary and Alberta," she stated. This sentiment is echoed by other sports leaders in the community. Jason Ribeiro, president of the Calgary Surge professional basketball club, agreed, noting the Games "would have been a calling card for our community."
Instead, the city is left with a collection of legacy venues, most now over 35 years old, facing critical repair needs or the threat of operational failure. Moran points to the iconic Olympic Oval as a prime example of infrastructure "on the eve of not being able to operate."
The Precarious State of the 'Fastest Ice'
Built for the 1988 Games, the Oval earned a global reputation as the "fastest ice in the world," attracting elite teams for training and hosting major national and international competitions that generated economic impact. "And still doesn't have funding to be renewed," Moran lamented.
The facility's problems are concrete. In recent years, Canadian speedskaters raised alarms that the rink might lose its ability to make ice due to numerous brine leaks discovered among the 400 pipe connections beneath its surface. In January 2025, the University of Calgary initiated a fundraising campaign with a $65 million goal to save the Oval. The needed upgrades include a new ice slab, a wider access tunnel, a running track, modernized weight rooms, gender-neutral changing rooms, and renovated office and VIP spaces.
The story is similarly challenging at WinSport, the central hub for the 1988 Olympics. Its ski jumps were decommissioned and parts of its sliding track demolished in 2018. A planned $25 million restoration of the track, scheduled for 2020, was halted due to a funding shortfall from higher levels of government, with the budget later redirected to expand a day lodge.
The 2018 plebiscite result continues to resonate, framing a ongoing conversation about civic investment, the preservation of sporting heritage, and the cost of missed opportunities for a city once defined by its Olympic legacy.
