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Montreal's Olympic StadiumPhotos.com

Quebecers are about to kick off brainstorming sessions on the future of one of Canada's biggest white elephants: Montreal's Olympic Stadium.

For the first time, the provincial agency in charge of the crumbling, billion-dollar "Big O" will accept ideas from the public.

The first meetings begin next week and a committee of nine Quebecers will present a report on the consultations next year.

The head of the committee says all options are on the table — except the frequently touted idea of demolishing a seldomly used stadium constantly in need of repair.

Lise Bissonnette says dynamite alone couldn't take down the concrete behemoth — meaning it would have to be torn apart almost by hand.

Ms. Bissonnette says that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

She says the money would be better spent on renovations to relaunch the stadium and the surrounding Olympic Park facilities.

Ms. Bissonnette says she expects the committee to receive ideas from social, cultural and sports groups.

The stadium housed the 1976 Summer Games, was home to Major League Baseball's Expos, and has been the venue for numerous concerts.

The Canadian Football League's Alouettes have also tended to use it in recent years for playoff games.

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