Canadian Olympic Committee 'extremely pleased' Calgary exploring 2026 bid

The Canadian Olympic Committee has set up a special committee to help Calgary explore a possible bidfor the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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The members of the Special Committee for Home Games, announced Friday,were chosen for their extensive experience in bidding and hosting Games and other large-scale sporting events.

"Based on the success of Olympic Games and other world-class sporting events Canada has hosted in the past, I think a Canadian bid would be very well regarded and welcomed," John Furlong, chair of the special committee andCEO of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee, said in a statement.

In March, the COC contacted Canada's seven largest cities to assess the interest and potential for hosting the 2026 Winter Games or 2028 Summer Games.Interested cities were askedto reply by June 30, and Calgary did.

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"We ... are extremely pleased that Calgary decided to explore this further," said COC presidentTricia Smith in a statement.

"We have witnessed first hand the power of the Games to galvanize and transform the country and inspire youth and all Canadians to dream big," Smith said.

"Calgary 1988 showed us how to host the world, and the Games provided the infrastructure and spirit to become a powerhouse in winter sport," she said, referring to the Winter Olympics held in the Alberta city.

IOC to name host city in 2019

Thespecial committeewill play an advisory role and will not make decisions or recommendations on whether anyCanadian city shouldlaunch an Olympic bid.

No later than September 2017, the Canadian Olympic Committee Board and Session will decide if and when a bid is launched and by which city.

The International Olympic Committee will name the host city of the 2026 Winter Games in 2019.