Calgary city council has voted to continue working on a potential bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It appeared last week that council was on the verge of killing a bid, but councillors voted 9-6 on Monday to keep exploring a possible pitch for the games.

Olympic and Paralympic athletes campaigned in recent days for council not to bail on a bid until all the facts are known and the financial picture is clearer.

The city's chamber of commerce also supported continued research of a bid.

The Alberta and Canadian governments committed to financially supporting a bid estimated to cost $30 million.

The province wants Calgary to hold a plebiscite measuring the public's desire to host a games. Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics.