The ice track in Canadian city Calgary is set to be upgraded and modernised next year ©IBSF

The ice track built for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Canadian city Calgary is set to be upgraded and modernised next year.

The Alberta Government has set aside CAD$10 million (£5.8 million/$7.4 million/€6.6 million) for improvements to aspects of the track at the Canada Olympic Park, such as the refrigeration system.

According to CTV Calgary, the track, which will become slightly shorter in length, will also benefit from some new lighting and shading.

In the past 30 years, Calgary has hosted five International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Championships, most recently in 2005, and was venue for various IBSF World Cups, North American Cups and Intercontinental Cups.

The proposed upgrade of the ice track comes amid talk of a potential bid from Calgary for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

A survey from the Calgary Bid Exploration Committee (CBEC) revealed earlier this month that nearly two thirds of the 1,949 respondents were in favour of the city putting itself forward. 

The survey, conducted by research consulting firm Stone-Olafson, asked people from Calgary, Canmore, Banff and Cochrane whether they would support an effort to bring the Games back to Calgary for the first time since 1988.

Thirty-two per cent of those surveyed said they "strongly supported" a bid, while the same number "support" Calgary possibly entering the race for the 2026 event.

The Calgary ice track was built for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games ©Getty Images
The Calgary ice track was built for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games ©Getty Images

A total of 17 per cent were opposed, eight per cent of which were "strongly" against the idea.

Four per cent said they were not sure and 15 per cent responded that they were indifferent.

Transportation and housing, economic health and Government finances and debt levels were among the key concerns flagged by the survey.

The results will be featured in the Bid Exploration Committee report to the City Council on July 24.

They mark a boost to Calgary's hopes of submitting a candidacy for the Games, although previous candidates - such as Budapest 2024 - have had similar support before being forced to withdraw amid a threat of a referendum.

Innsbruck in Austria and Sion in Switzerland are all potential contenders.

Kazakh city Almaty, Erzurum in Turkey and Sapporo in Japan are other places to have been linked with possible bids.

The bidding process for the 2026 Winter Olympics is not expected to officially begin until after next year's Games in Pyeongchang.