Commonwealth Games bid could be privately funded says sports economist

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Could private investors pay for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to come to Calgary?

Earlier this week, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said a group was pursuing the idea of bidding for the games, which could be funded by private investors.

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Sports economist Moshe Lander believes private funding for the games is possible.

“Ted Turner who was the long-time owner of CNN. He created something out of his own imagination called the Goodwill Games.”

Those games were held from 1986 til 2001 where the last event took place in Brisbane, Australia.

The private funding would only mean paying for things like extra transit for an influx of people in the city but Lander believes Calgary Sports and Entertainment could use the bid as a means to replace McMahon Stadium.

“What better way to do it than to host a major sporting event in the summer where that would be the main stadium that would be needed for things like track and field and the major outdoor events.”

Landre points to Edmonton hosting the 1978 games and the construction of Commonwealth Stadium.

According to Nenshi, no level of government has been in talks with the group about the possible bid.

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Other cities considering bids for the games include Porst Moresby, Papua New Guinea and Shah Alam, Malaysia.

The Indian Olympic Association announced last month that it’s also considering a bid.

In a statement sent to 660 NEWS, the Commonwealth Games Federation said it has been approached by a group for the bid but can’t identify them.

“We are currently having a positive dialogue around the potential sporting, infrastructural and legacy benefits that a Commonwealth Games could provide for the city and province but those discussions are is still at an early stage.”

Canada last hosted the Commonwealth in 1994 in Victoria.