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Calgary Voters Go to Polls Today in Referendum on 2026 Winter Games (Updated)

(This evening, the CBC reported that voters opposed to Calgary’s bid for the 2026 Winter Games won 56.4% of the vote. According to the CBC, these are unofficial results.) The Olympics are a global spectacle, but all politics is local. And when the two truisms go head-to-head in today’s plebiscite vote in Calgary, Alberta, local threatens to win. At stake is the future of one of three remaining host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympic...

Russian Athletes Must Compete as Neutral at the 2018 Olympics (Updated x2)

In Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board voted to allow Russian athletes at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, but only to compete as neutral athletes. That means no national anthem, no Russia-emblazoned uniforms, and no Russian flags to be raised should the athletes win medals. Instead, the Olympic anthem would be played. The decision, available in full here, follows years of investigation into a state-organized doping program at the 2014...

The International Olympic Committee on Friday launched the bid process for hosting the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, setting a deadline of 15th October 2009 for national Olympic committees to inform it of applicant cities. Applicant cities will participate in the observer program at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (CAN), ahead of the deadline for submission of application files on 15th March 2010. The IOC will confirm what bids have been accepted next June. Candidate cities will have until 11th January 2011...