How to Experience Calgary’s Olympic Legacy

Calgary proudly hosted the 1988 Winter Olympic Games  and continues to celebrate its Olympic legacy to this day. Just ask a local! With 57 nations participating, and 1,423 athletes competing in 46 different events, the Games made a lasting impact on the city you can still experience today. It’s the games where British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle soared into living rooms around the world through the television screen, where the men’s Jamaican bobsled team became legends, and where beloved mascots Howdy and Hidy  welcomed the world to Calgary for 16 days in February of 1988.

It’s easy to see how Calgary’s Olympic legacy continues to live on today, training the next generation of Canadian Olympians and enriching the lives of locals and visitors with world-class experiences at iconic venues built for the games. You can experience Calgary’s Olympic legacy in so many ways, from skating on the Fastest Ice in the World of the Olympic Oval to WinSport’s world-class ski runs and the Olympic Flame of the Calgary Tower, discover how Calgary’s Olympic legacy lives on.

Olympic Plaza is currently closed to the public for redevelopment as part of the Werklund Centre Transformation Project .

Medal presentation ceremonies are an iconic part of every Olympic Games. Olympic Plaza  was built in 1988 in the heart of downtown as a special place to hand out the coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals  to athletes from around the world. In the years that followed, it hosted countless events from concerts to pancake breakfasts.

Location: 228 8 Ave SE

The 1988 Winter Olympic Games brought a long-awaited indoor ice-skating track to the University of Calgary , with the Olympic Oval  acting as the host to speed skating events throughout the Games. Constructed between 1985 and 1987, just in time for the Games, the Oval gained a reputation as “The Fastest Ice in the World” with female athletes participating in a 5000-metre race for the first time. It continues to be a world-class speed skating facility, along with a hub for research in the University of Calgary kinesiology department, and a training ground for the next generation of speed skating heroes. Visitors and locals can participate in more than 50 recreational public skating sessions  each month on the 400-metre oval ice.

Location: 288 Collegiate Blvd NW

The bid for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and the arrival of the NHL’s Calgary Flames  made the construction of the Scotiabank Saddledome  an important project for Calgary in the 1980s. Opening its doors for the first time during the Olympics, the Saddledome hosted both figure skating  and ice hockey  with a capacity of over 20,000 fans taking in the action. Calgary Flames , Hitmen , and Roughnecks  home games, big time concerts , and the Calgary Stampede concert series  make the Saddledome a popular spot for live entertainment to this day.

Location: 555 Saddledome Rise SE

WinSport  might be the most famous contribution to Calgary’s Olympic legacy. Originally known as Canada Olympic Park, WinSport hosted the men’s bobsleigh, luge, and men’s ski jumping events, along with some Nordic combined events and a demonstration of freestyle skiing before it became an official Olympic sport. Two of the most memorable moments of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games took place at WinSport, with British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle  winning the hearts of millions and the Jamaican bobsled team  inspiring the film “Cool Runnings” . WinSport continues to train Olympians of the future along with welcoming millions of visitors for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing experiences  each winter.

Location: 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW

Constructed in 1967, the Calgary Tower  came to play an important role in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, acting as the official Olympic Flame during the duration of the Winter Games. Did you know that a hand-held replica of the Calgary Tower was passed in the Torch Relay across Canada  leading up to the Games? The natural gas-fired cauldron stayed lit for 16 days before being extinguished at the closing ceremonies. Visitors from around the world continue to visit the Calgary Tower today, taking in 360° views from 191 metres above the streets of downtown and dining at the rotating restaurant Sky360 .

Location: 101 9 Ave SW

Home to the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders , McMahon Stadium  was chosen as the venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. 60,000 spectators took in the opening ceremonies on February 13, 1988, that included a flyover by the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Snowbirds, the traditional parade of nations, and performances by Canadian musicians David Foster, Gordon Lightfoot, and Ian Tyson. The Games officially came to an end at McMahon Stadium on February 28, 1988. You can experience the energy of McMahon Stadium at Stampeders’ home games  every summer.

Location: 1817 Crowchild Trail NW

Home to all the cross-country ski and biathlon competition at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, the Canmore Nordic Centre  continues to train Olympic hopefuls and welcome recreational skiers  to this day. Located in the popular mountain town of Canmore , the Nordic Centre is an important part of Calgary’s Olympic legacy as a gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Visitors can purchase a trail pass to ski the same trails as the best in the world during the ’88 Games. It’s address still bears the Olympic legacy too.

Location: 1988 Olympic Way, Canmore, AB

Located about one hour from Calgary, Nakiska Ski Area  is a beautiful destination in the heart of Kananaskis Country  and Calgary’s closest mountain ski and snowboard resort. Host of alpine events for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, strong wind gusts delayed some events until the conditions were just right for the best in the world to hit the slopes. Nakiska is a family favourite because of the short drive and runs ready for all skill levels  along with the challenging Monster Glades section with secret powder stashes for advanced riders.

Location: 2 Mt Allan Dr, Kananaskis, AB