OC CEO signals Canada’s interest in 2038 Olympics if Switzerland pulls out

David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), has emphasised that the desire to bring the Olympic Games back to Canada remains strong, suggesting the country could consider bidding for the 2038 Games should Switzerland’s bid falter.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Wednesday that Switzerland’s bid for the 2038 Games could be finalised by 2027, provided that the local political consultation process, which is expected to conclude by the end of this year, is completed. If Switzerland fails to meet this deadline, the IOC will open the bidding process to other interested parties.

“If Switzerland wants to host the Games, they’re welcome to it,” Shoemaker said on Thursday. “But to do so, they will need to meet all the commitments, guarantees, and secure the necessary funding to make it happen in 2038. If that doesn’t materialise, we’re ready, and 2038 would certainly be on the table for us.”

Shoemaker also acknowledged that Calgary, which had previously turned down the 2026 Winter Olympics bid, might now be feeling some regret. The host city of the 1988 Winter Olympics was initially considered a favourite for the 2026 Games, but the bid ultimately went to Milano Cortina. Calgary dropped out of the race in late 2018 after 56% of voters opposed it in a city plebiscite.

“With the 2026 Games now upon us, perhaps Calgary is looking across the Atlantic and thinking, ‘That could have been ours,'” Shoemaker noted. “I haven’t conducted any polling, but we’ve certainly heard a lot from people in Alberta, including current officials, who wish they’d had another shot.”

Canada, in partnership with four Host First Nations, had also explored a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler, but the provincial government of British Columbia declined to support the proposal in 2022.

Shoemaker mentioned that the COC is closely monitoring the logistical setup for the Milano Cortina Games, which will be the most spread-out Winter Olympics in history, covering over 22,000 square kilometres. He suggested that Canada could potentially apply similar strategies, using facilities across Western Canada, and even in Lake Placid, New York, to create a successful bid.

“We’re examining how a dispersed Games could work to Canada’s advantage, especially with the potential to use Western Canadian venues – and possibly even Lake Placid. We’re aware of the benefits, but we’re also mindful of the challenges that come with such a vast spread,” he said.