The , officially known as the '''XV Olympic Winter Games,''' were held in
Calgary, Alberta ,
Canada . The Olympics were highly successful financially as they brought in million-dollar profits. The games left a lasting impression on the host city and gave it a new identity from a cowtown to a large commercial sector of the country.
1988 was also the last year that the
Paralympics and the Winter Olympics were held in separate cities; all subsequent games have been hosted by the same city or a city nearby.
- The Games were opened by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé , Governor General Of Canada , on behalf of the Queen Of Canada , Elizabeth II .
- Two competitors, Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards in Ski Jumping and the Jamaican Bobsled Team , entered their respective competitions with little experience and less chance of winning any medals. However, the determination of these novices to compete in spite of being outmatched by their competitors won the affection of the spectators which overshadowed the actual winners. They were hailed as demonstrating the true Olympic spirit as playing for the simple thrill of competition. The story of the bobsledding team was made into a film called '' Cool Runnings ''.
- For the first time the Winter Olympics were extended to 16 days, the speed skating events were held indoors on a covered rink, the alpine events took place on artificial snow, and warm Chinook winds not only threatened to cancel events, but sent a ski jumper flying into a camera tower.
- For the first time the Closing Ceremony is held in the same main Olympic stadium as the Opening Ceremony.
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
- Canada Olympic Park - Ski jumping, bobsleigh, luge, nordic combined, freestyle skiing (aerials and ballet), disabled alpine skiing
- Canmore Nordic Centre - Cross-country skiing, biathlon, nordic combined, blind cross-country skiing
- Max Bell Arena - Curling and short-track speed skating
- McMahon Stadium - opening and closing ceremonies
- Nakiska - Alpine skiing, freestyle moguls skiing
- Olympic Oval - Speed skating
- Olympic Saddledome - ice hockey, figure skating (primary venue)
- Stampede Corral - Figure skating and ice hockey (secondary venue)
carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony]]
1988 was the second time Canada had hosted the Olympics, after the
1976 Summer Olympics in
Montreal . Subsequently, Canada won the bid to host the
2010 Winter Olympics for
Vancouver .
Unfortunately, like in Montreal, the host Canadian team again failed to obtain a gold medal. The
Canadian Olympic Committee has pledged to change this at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver with a program called ''
Own The Podium - 2010 '', and the Olympic team's success in
Turin 2006 made that seem like a distinct possibility.
Calgary gained international stature from the Olympics, and ended the events with world class facilities to host international meets and serve as a training facility. Ever mindful of the financial disaster of the
1976 Summer Olympics , Calgary was financially successful, erasing the spectre of a second Canadian games at a loss. Its use of the profits for the future ''Canada Olympic Park'' and the funding of Canadian athletes through the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) gave Calgary a lasting legacy and impact on the Canadian sports scene. It also provided funds for the maintenance and upgrading of athletic facilities in Calgary,
Banff , and
Lake Louise . Well after the Olympics ended, CODA has continued to use its resources to develop resources for Olympic athletes in the city, which includes supporting
Canada's First High School Designed For Olympic Calibre Athletes , in a partnership with the
Calgary Board Of Education .
Not only was there a profound economic impact, there was a substantial social one as well. From the unprecedented volunteer involvement in staging the games, to a program where ordinary Calgarians could purchase, for $19.88, a brick at the medal presentation plaza with their name laser-engraved on it, the involvement of ordinary Calgarians was evident. This was of paramount importance to the organizing committee,
OCO'88 , as it kept the games from appearing distant and "out of reach".
The instrumental theme song ("Winter Games") was composed and performed by Canadian musician
David Foster .
The official mascots of the games were two white-furred, western-attired bears named Hidy and Howdy. The names were chosen from a field of 7,000 names through a contest sponsored by the
Calgary Zoo . They were designed by Sheila Scott of Great Scott Productions, and produced by International Mascot.
