Why Calgary’s Winter Olympics were so special

The ‘88 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary were widely considered the best-organized and friendliest games in Olympic history.

They transformed the city. Cowtown – a city of just over 657,000 at the time, was on the world stage – welcoming tens of thousands of visitors and more than 1,420 athletes from more than 50 countries

For Calgarians, the 16 days were a magical time- an average of 35,000 people jammed Olympic Plaza every evening for the medal presentation ceremonies and fireworks.

Pin trading was huge and a chance to swap pins and stories with visitors and athletes from around the world.

An arts and culture festival featured the Calgary debut of Cirque du Soleil.

Figure skating was THE event of the games: the Battle of the Brians that pitted Canadian Brian Orser against American Brian Boitano and Canadian Liz Manley’s silver medal win on the ice, coming from behind to win the women’s free skate.

No one can forget the underdog athletes who endeared themselves to millions: British ski jumper Michael “Eddie the Eagle” Edwards and the four-man Jamaican bobsled team.

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Calgarians themselves played an integral role in the success of the games. The city lived up to reputation for volunteerism in spades with almost 10,000 volunteers. At its peak during the Games, the number of volunteers surpassed the entire City of Calgary workforce. The opening ceremonies alone featured around 10,000 young Calgarians along with 40 social and cultural groups, performing before 60,000 spectators at McMahon stadium.

Premier Ralph Klein wrote:

“They were the XV Olympic Winter Games. They were the Calgary Games. But aside from the official titles, the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary will be forever remembered as “the people’s Games,” for it was the people of Calgary who gave so willingly of their time, and of their commitment.”

As well-organized as they were, the games ran into some glitches – a Chinook that rolled in just in time for the games forced several postponements of alpine ski events at Nakiska and ski jumping events at Canada Olympic Park.

Organizers brought in the Canadian Armed Forces to transport truckloads of snow to COP. High winds also wreaked havoc with the balloon festival – grounding the event more often than not.

But in the end – the games were a triumph – and many Calgarians retain magical memories of the 16 days that Calgary welcomed the world – games that have left a lasting legacy.

Here again is Ralph Klein:

“A legacy of spectacular winter sport facilities, upgraded roads and transportation systems, parks and pathways, and endowment funds for future Canadian athletes, serves to remind us every day that the Olympic Games bring with them the message that people and nations can gather in peace, and leave a legacy of international friendship.”