Canada remains eager to bring the Olympic Games back to the country and could consider bidding for the 2038 Games if Switzerland fails to secure hosting rights, according to Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer David Shoemaker.
The International Olympic Committee said Switzerland’s bid for the 2038 Games could be confirmed by 2027, provided local political consultations are completed by the end of this year. If those conditions are not met, the IOC is expected to reopen the bidding process to other nations.
Shoemaker said Canada would be prepared to step forward if the opportunity arises. He noted that Switzerland must meet all financial and political commitments to host the Games and added that 2038 would be a realistic option for Canada if the bid falls through.
He also suggested that Calgary may now regret withdrawing from the 2026 Winter Olympics race after a public vote rejected the proposal in 2018. With the Milano Cortina Games approaching, Shoemaker said interest in hosting has resurfaced among officials and residents in Alberta.
The COC is studying the logistical model of the upcoming Italian Games, which will be spread across a large geographic area. Shoemaker said a similar approach could work for Canada by using venues across Western Canada and possibly including Lake Placid in the United States while carefully managing the operational challenges.
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