Topic spans: 1987 - 1991
The Calgary Olympics: The Winter of '88
"Everything is perfect!" That's how one IOC member described the 1988 Winter Olympics to Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein. Unlike the debt-drenched 1976 Montreal Olympics, Calgary was a financial success, even turning a profit. Highlights included the dramatic battle of the Brians, Elizabeth Manley's spectacular skate and ski jumper Eddie "the Eagle." The 16-day event transformed this western cow town into a city boasting top-notch sports facilities.
6 television clips
9 radio clips
Extreme weather
Broadcast Date: Feb. 28, 1988
The beautiful weather has gotten everyone down. Unusually mild temperatures coupled with record strong winds lead to dozens of events being rescheduled. As heard in this CBC Radio report, the weather is taking its toll on athletes. The high winds have caught even long time residents by surprise: "Everyone was worried about snow…no one thought about the wind."Rob McCormick, a technical advisor to the Games, says cancellations could have been avoided if the organizers had put up windscreens that were recommended in the first place. Francis Saville, the venue chairman of Canada Olympic Park, dismisses the remark saying there's no point in second-guessing.
Extreme weather
• In the end, a total of 33 events had to be rescheduled at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, including alpine events, ski jumping and luge.• A chinook is a warm, dry wind that occurs during Alberta winters. Usually welcomed during Calgary's cold winters, it caused huge headaches for Olympic organizers as temperatures fluctuated from –30 to a balmy 12 Celsius over night.
• Record winds as high as 120 km/h prevented many events from going on as scheduled.
• Weather wasn't the only source of frustration at the Calgary Games. One of Canada's biggest disappointments came in hockey. The Soviets crushed Canada 5-0 on Feb. 24, 1988, eliminating all hope for a medal for Canada. Team U.S.S.R. went on to win the gold. That was a marked changed from Canada's performance in the first Winter Games in 1924. Back then, Canada's hockey team easily won the tournament, scoring 110 goals in six games and only letting in three goals.
• One of Canada's most decorated Olympians Gaetan Boucher's performance was also a letdown. The four-time Olympic speed skater (silver in 1980, two golds and a bronze in 1984) was hoping to "retire in a blaze of glory" after the 1988 Winter Olympics. Instead his best place finish was fifth.
Extreme weather
Medium: Radio
Program: Sunday Morning
Broadcast Date: Feb. 28, 1988
Host: Linden MacIntyre
Reporter: Nancy Durham
Duration: 3:29
Last updated:
March 27, 2008
Activez le Javascript sur votre navigateur...
15 clips in this topic . page
Television
4:42
July 2, 2003
Vancouver pulls off a come-from-behind victory to claim the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Television
5:03
Feb. 27, 1988
The Ottawa figure skater comes from behind to place second.
Extreme weather.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: March 27, 2008.
[Page consulted on Feb. 15, 2012.]