Olympics Banners Vancouver. Green and blue Olympic flags for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. (Credit: Mark Hryciw, dreamstime.com)

By Staff

Olympic Dream: Okanagan Making a Bid

Olympic Dream: Okanagan Cities Making a Bid in 2038?

Apr 1, 2026 | 6:30 AM

Okanagan cities may be dreaming big — Olympic big.

VernonMatters has learned the City of Kelowna has quietly reached out to municipal leaders in Vernon and Penticton about the possibility of a joint bid for the 2038 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Details of the early-stage discussions were revealed in an email chain inadvertently shared with VernonMatters, outlining what Kelowna officials believe could be a “uniquely positioned regional bid” built around the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and South Okanagan.

The pitch centres on the idea that a collaborative approach between the three cities could meet the evolving expectations of the International Olympic Committee, which has increasingly encouraged host regions to spread events across multiple communities to reduce costs and reliance on new infrastructure.

Kelowna’s proposal highlights existing facilities such as Prospera Place, along with arenas and venues in Vernon and Penticton, as key assets that could be utilized or upgraded.

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Nearby ski resorts — Big White, Silver Star and Apex Mountain — are also identified as potential competition sites for alpine and freestyle events.

The email further suggests that sliding events such as bobsleigh, luge and skeleton could be held at Whistler, aligning with recent Olympic models that favour geographic flexibility over concentrated builds.

“The Okanagan corridor offers a rare combination of existing infrastructure, natural assets and inter-city cooperation,” one section of the correspondence reads. “This aligns directly with the IOC’s modern hosting vision.”

The concept appears to be inspired in part by the upcoming Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, which will be spread across multiple regions in northern Italy, as well as France’s successful bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.

While still in its infancy, the proposal suggests the formation of an exploratory committee involving all three cities, with the potential to engage provincial and federal partners should the concept advance.

There is no indication at this time that Vernon or Penticton have formally responded to the outreach.

The domain name Okanagan2038.com has already been secured, according to the email chain.

VernonMatters has reached out to officials in all three municipalities for comment.

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This story is part of VernonMatters’ April Fools’ Day coverage.
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