In 1990, the International Olympic Committee and Juan Antonio Samaranch were looking for ways to increase the number of events in the Winter Olympics for women, and made the suggestion to IIHF president Günther Sabetzki, with the promise that if it was successful, Samaranch would fast-track the sport into the Olympics. Sabetzki asked Costello if the CAHA would stage a women's world championship, and he agreed as long as it could be hosted close to CAHA offices in Ottawa, to keep expenses down. Costello oversaw the formation of the Canada women's national ice hockey team, and the inaugural 1990 IIHF Women's World Championship, which led to development of women's hockey in Canada,