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Particulars on a possible joint Calgary-Edmonton bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Video games are set to be revealed Wednesday by a grassroots Alberta group, alongside 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 function Commonwealth Sport Canada president Claire Carver-Dias, Alberta Tradition Minister Jason Luan, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Edmonton Mayor Amarjit Sohi and Tsuut’ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney, in addition to a number of different neighborhood leaders and Alberta athletes.
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In response to a media advisory, the announcement will “formally launch an exploration course of that can assess the feasibility of bidding to host the Commonwealth Video games in Alberta.”
The Commonwealth Video games are held each 4 years, that includes athletes from 72 nations and territories. The 2022 Video games, held in Birmingham, England final August, noticed greater than 5,000 opponents take part in 20 sports activities.
A Hamilton, Ont.-based bid for the 2030 Video games fell aside final month, paving the best way for Alberta to throw its hat within the ring. Whereas nothing has been confirmed, officers have since hinted an area bid could also be within the works.
“We’ve got a really lively group in our neighborhood that wish to see the Commonwealth Video games come right here — they’ve been very vocal about that,” Gondek mentioned on Feb. 14. “Whether or not or not we entertain that as a council is a choice that will come earlier than us.”
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When requested by reporters Tuesday, Gondek wouldn’t touch upon the potential bid or the approaching Wednesday press convention.
“Tomorrow, we’ll let you know all the pieces,” she mentioned.
Chris Dornan, a spokesperson for the Alberta 2030 Commonwealth Video games Corp., mentioned the group comprised of neighborhood builders has been working with Commonwealth Sport Canada, Indigenous teams and all ranges of presidency on the potential bid.
“This exploration has included enterprise and institutional organizations, venue operators and varied neighborhood teams and advocates to evaluate the worth of bringing the Commonwealth Video games to communities all through the province,” he mentioned.
Edmonton beforehand hosted the Commonwealth Video games in 1978 — ensuing within the building of the namesake Commonwealth Stadium — and each Calgary and Edmonton have had teams lately vying for his or her metropolis to host the 2022 or 2026 Video games.
Final week, on the inaugural assembly of Calgary council’s multisport fieldhouse committee — a gaggle tasked with bringing town its first fieldhouse — metropolis officers mentioned they’re talking with Commonwealth Video games counterparts about how such a facility might see town ready to host the Video games.
“We’ll be working intently with the Commonwealth Video games people,” Heather Johnson, town’s director of recreation, informed committee members.
The 2026 Video games shall be hosted by the state of Victoria in Australia — that includes a multi-city idea much like the Alberta bid.
— With information from Brodie Thomas
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
Twitter: @michaelrdrguez