Officials to make major announcement on 2030 Commonwealth Games bid

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Particulars of a possible joint Calgary-Edmonton bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Video games will probably be launched Wednesday by a grassroots Alberta group, together with municipal and provincial authorities officers.

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A information convention deliberate for Wednesday, hosted by a gaggle referred to as the Alberta 2030 Commonwealth Video games Corp., will characteristic Commonwealth Sport Canada president Claire Carver-Dias, Alberta Tradition Minister Jason Luan, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Edmonton options Amarjit Sohi and Tsuut’ina. Nation Chief Roy Whitney, in addition to a number of different group leaders and Alberta athletes.

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In keeping with a media advisory, the announcement will “formally launch an exploratory course of that may decide the feasibility of a bid to host the Commonwealth Video games in Alberta.”

The Commonwealth Video games are held each 4 years, with athletes from 72 nations and territories. The 2022 Video games, held final August in Birmingham, England, noticed greater than 5,000 opponents in 20 sports activities.

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A Hamilton, Ont.-based bid for the 2030 Video games fell aside final month, paving the way in which for Alberta to throw its hat within the ring. Whereas nothing has been confirmed, officers have since hinted {that a} native bid may very well be within the works.

“Now we have a really energetic group in our group who want to see the Commonwealth Video games come right here – they have been very vocal about that,” Gondek mentioned on February 14. “Whether or not we entertain it as a council or not is a choice that may come earlier than us.”

When requested by reporters Tuesday, Gondek declined to touch upon the potential bid or the upcoming Wednesday press convention.

“Tomorrow we are going to let you know every part,” she mentioned.

Chris Dornan, a spokesman for the Alberta 2030 Commonwealth Video games Corp., mentioned the group of group builders labored with Commonwealth Sport Canada, Indigenous teams and all ranges of presidency on the potential bid.

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“This exploration included enterprise and institutional organisations, venue operators and varied group teams and advocates to find out the worth of bringing the Commonwealth Video games to communities throughout the province,” he mentioned.

Edmonton beforehand hosted the Commonwealth Video games in 1978 — resulting in the development of the namesake Commonwealth Stadium — and each Calgary and Edmonton have had teams vying for his or her metropolis to host the 2022 or 2026 Video games lately.

Final week, on the first assembly of Calgary council’s multi-sport area home committee — a gaggle tasked with bringing town its first area home — metropolis officers mentioned they had been speaking with Commonwealth Video games counterparts about how such a facility would metropolis ​​can put together to host the Video games. .

“We are going to work intently with the Commonwealth Video games individuals,” Heather Johnson, town’s director of recreation, advised committee members.

The 2026 Video games will probably be hosted by the state of Victoria in Australia – with a multi-city idea just like the Alberta bid.

— With information from Brodie Thomas

mrodriguez@postmedia.com

Twitter: @michaelrdrguez