The idea for a Toronto 2024 bid came out of a groundswell of national pride in how the city hosted the Pan American Games last month. While some councillors sre skeptical of a proposed bid, Tory is mulling the idea and is still gathering information.
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“Normally we’d know the players at this point in time, because it’s one of the biggest decisions, economically, Toronto and Ontario will have to make, whether or not they commit themselves to this bid”, she said.
The head of the city’s budget committee says that now that the excitement over the Pan Am Games has faded, he is feeling more “cautious” about proceeding with a possible Olympic bid. He said he hopes to discuss the topic with the other federal party leaders, Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau, as the city will need to rely on whoever wins the federal election.
Councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and James Pasternak also expressed their concerns. The budget for the Games – which in Toronto’s case could include a brand new stadium – would cost billions. On Tuesday, Los Angeles lawmakers voted to clears the way for its mayor to seek an Olympic deal. Others in the mix for 2024 are Rome; Paris; Hamburg, Germany; and Budapest, Hungary.
Although there are many opinions advising against an Olympic bid, former Olympian Curt Harnett says he thinks Toronto is ready to host the Games.
The IOC typically rotates between continents in awarding the Summer Games, and a municipal report published past year warned that “if Toronto does not bid for 2024 and the Summer Games are awarded to a U.S. City, it is likely that Toronto will not have a reasonable chance of winning until at least the 2036 Summer Games”.
City staff have also been asked by Tory to provide a list of infrastructure projects that could be accelerated by an Olympic bid.
Councillor John Campbell reminded everybody about the $1.5-billion debt Montreal was left with after hosting the 1976 Games, and that many Olympics have proven to create giant budgetary black holes.
The councillor said he’s in favour of sending the application letter, but won’t support using taxpayer money to finance the bid, and should Toronto officially throw its hat in the ring, he won’t agree to a contract that would leave the city on the hook for any cost overruns.
“The letter is not the submission of a bid”, he said.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie released a statement on the possibility of a Toronto Olympic bid.
“With the ongoing public debates, I have asked that this matter be added to Council’s General Committee meeting set for Wednesday, September 9”.
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“Hosting the Olympics is an enormous responsibility which will have lasting implications for communities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area – long after the games have concluded”.
