Montreal's readiness to host the Olympics again is under debate

The article reports officials say Montreal could host the Olympics again using existing venues and partnerships, while studies and experts note that past Games have often exceeded their budgets.

As the Winter Games proceed in Italy, discussion has turned to whether Canada will seek to host again. Officials say Montreal is not off the table and future bids would likely involve partnerships with other cities. The International Olympic Committee is emphasizing sustainability and the use or upgrading of existing facilities rather than large new projects. Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Games and later carried substantial debt, though many venues were repurposed. Key points: - Andrew Baker of the Canadian Olympic Committee said Montreal could be part of a joint bid, with possible partners including Toronto, Quebec City or Lake Placid, N.Y. - The IOC is promoting sustainability and use of existing venues, which proponents say could limit the need for major new construction in Montreal. - Montreal's 1976 Games produced more than a billion dollars in debt and took about 30 years to pay off, though several facilities were repurposed (the Velodrome became the Biodome, the Olympic Village became housing, and the Olympic Basin is still used). - The Oxford Olympics Study 2024 found that cost estimates for the Games have routinely been exceeded, with Montreal 1976 showing a 720% overrun among Summer Games. - Experts are divided: some favour shared hosting and lasting legacy benefits, while others warn modern Games pose significant financial and logistical challenges. - Lake Placid is discussed as a partner but lacks capacity to host the modern Games alone, and environmental and infrastructure limits are factors. Summary: Using existing facilities and sharing costs across cities could align with the IOC's sustainability agenda, according to officials and scholars. Past cost overruns and differing expert views mean financial and logistical outcomes remain uncertain. Undetermined at this time.