On June 26, the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Assessment Committee met to discuss: - Potential cultural and educational components to advance Calgary’s cultural plan
- Public engagement
Here’s our full presentation to the committee.
Culture and the Olympics
Culture is one of three pillars of the Olympic Movement, along with Sport and Sustainability. It is central to the Olympic mandate:
- Showcases the culture of the host city and nation.
- Captures the opportunity of a global Olympic gathering to create intercultural exchanges, further intercultural understanding and promote the prospects for world peace.
If Calgary were to host another Olympics and Paralympics, there would be a culture component to hosting the Games. It would include events, programs and celebrations that showcase Calgary, Alberta and Canada’s culture to the world, including a focus on Indigenous people. These cultural experiences are one way a host city can help achieve its cultural plan goals and build excitement for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The culture component to the Olympics and Paralympics is generally a four-year program that begins with the flag handover ceremony at the previous Games’ closing ceremony. For the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the ceremony will take place at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games in 2022. Cultural programs during the Games are organized by the Organizing Committee, as well as by government partners and sponsors.
Starting in 2022, the following four years would see cultural events and programming underway, typically beginning with regional events. These events and programming gain momentum, concluding in an international Cultural Olympiad for 60 days, which takes place before and during the Games. It concludes at the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Winter Games.
Culture events and programming could include many options:
- School and youth programming
- Ticketed events
- Commissioning local artists for art or exhibits
- Torch relay, events in the streets
- Medal ceremonies
- Concerts or shows
- Community-based and initiated celebrations at the neighbourhood level
Culture events and programming would provide experiences for citizens and visitors outside the sporting events. They would also provide an opportunity to engage all Calgary communities.
Part of determining whether we should bid on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is making sure a bid advances all five strategic priorities of Calgary’s cultural plan:
- Maximize Calgary’s diversity advantage
- Grow Calgary’s cultural sector and creative industries
- Activate culturally vibrant neighbourhoods and districts
- Reinvigorate centre city as a culture heart of the city
- Conserve and celebrate Calgary’s built, natural and indigenous heritage
Funding sources and investing in the host city’s arts and culture
The culture feature of an Olympic bid rests within the operational cost to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The operational costs are typically covered through a combination of funding sources: ticket sales, private sponsorships and government. They are supported through partners and sponsors, in addition to the events provided by the host committee.
Looking back at the ’88 Calgary Games, there were both sporting legacies, such as the Winsport facilities, Olympic Oval, Nakiska ski hill, and Canmore Nordic Centre, as well as culture legacies. Examples include construction of the Olympic Plaza, and major funding towards Arts Commons and many Calgary arts organizations, such as the Calgary Philharmonic, Calgary Opera, Alberta Theatre Projects and One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre.
As part of The City’s public engagement events, there will be opportunities for you to talk with us about Calgary’s culture scene and whether hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games could fit with our city.
Public engagement
It is important citizens have the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the bid process and the components of Calgary’s bid through the engagement process.
We are planning our public engagement to begin in September. Engagement opportunities will continue leading up to the vote of the electors, taking place in the fall.
Committee meeting recaps
June 19 meeting recap
June 12 meeting recap
June 5 meeting recap
May 29 meeting recap
May 15 meeting recap
For more information about the Olympic bid project, visit calgary.ca/OlympicBid.