The IOC will not cover the additional costs of the 2026 Winter Games, said an official

The International Olympic Committee has announced that it will not contribute more than the $ 1.2 billion pledged to fund the Calgary Olympic Winter Games, despite the call of the Premier of Alberta, Rachel Notley, to the international governing body to fill financial gaps.

The federal government and the City of Calgary have yet to announce how much they will contribute to the 2026 Olympics and Alberta's promise of funding falls short of expectations, raising fears for the sustainability of the province's bid. town less than three weeks before Calgarians. vote at a plebiscite to decide whether to continue the event or not.

Addressing reporters at the Canadian Olympic Park, in the shadow of the facilities used for the 1988 Games, Christophe Dubi, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, said that the organization had promised to Pay about $ 1.2 billion in cash and services to the city. the 2026 Games. That's more than the $ 700 million promised by the provincial government of Alberta.

"That's what we can do at this point, which is a substantial contribution if you compare it to the local authorities and their commitment at this stage," said Dubi. He added that any profit generated by the Games would be intended, in part, to the local organizing committee.

A draft plan for the 2026 Games estimated the cost at $ 5.2 billion, with all three levels of government contributing $ 3 billion. Sponsorship and event revenues would cover the rest. The federal government and Calgary are expected to announce in a few days their allocation of the remaining $ 2.3 billion.

Neither one nor the other government said it would cover the cost overruns and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has not yet said if the city could bear the financial risk of an increase in security or construction costs. Dubi also said that the IOC would not cover the extra costs.

Facing Calgary with only two other offers that have struggled, Notley said Monday that Alberta's largest city is in a strong position in negotiations with the IOC and should seek more concessions.

"If there is a gap between what needs to be put forward and what exists, maybe the IOC should look into what it can put. You know, there are not many people claiming the Olympics. . So perhaps we should be a price giver and not a price taker for this one, "she said.

However, Dubi said that the IOC considered that the joint candidacy of the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, as well as that of Stockholm, was at the same level as that of Calgary. "The conditions in the other two cities are basically the same as here in Calgary, with many existing sites, which makes sense for us," he said. "We think we have three very strong candidates."

Dick Pound, a Canadian IOC member and a member of the Calgary 2026 Board of Directors, said: "I do not think it takes into account what the IOC has already put in place and that our competitors can not do. the same suggestion. "

Dubi said on Wednesday that the Calgary Games would be a "low-risk" venture for the city. He added that the two most common misconceptions in Calgary's bid related to the level of risk and potential cost overruns.

"Here you have everything. You have the expertise, you have experience, you have regular accommodation and you have the sites, "he said. "I can not tell you that there will be no cost overruns here."

Erin Waite, a campaign spokesperson who called for a no vote at the November 13th plebiscite in Calgary, disputed Dubi's badertion that hosting the Games would pose little risk.

"Calgarians faced many questions just weeks before the vote on the plebiscite. If you tried to buy a house with so much information, you would probably go away, "she said.

With a report by Allan Maki