Celebrating UCalgary’s involvement in the 1988 Winter Olympics

“Perfect.”

No other word could best describe how everyone was feeling as the curtain fell on the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

About 60,000 people packed McMahon Stadium for the closing ceremonies of the Games, which capped off a 16-day event that changed the landscape of the games and changed Calgary forever.

While it faced its share of challenges, the ’88 Olympics were lauded for how it brought the community together while welcoming the world.

“From your very first ‘howdy’ to this last farewell, you have graciously met this challenge with your unique western style and hospitality,” International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch told the crowd before acknowledging an unseasonable (if typical) warm spell that hit mid-Games and briefly caused headaches. “In spite of your famous chinook, you have still managed to produce the best organization of the Olympic Winter Games ever.”

The University of Calgary played a prominent role in hosting the games, most notably being the location for the new Olympic Oval for speedskating events, not to mention McMahon Stadium. 

With the 2026 Winter Olympics underway, let’s take a look back at some of the other aspects of the ’88 legacy, some of which are still felt today.

1. The athletes’ village

When organizers first started putting together the bid for the 1988 Olympics, UCalgary was identified as the likely location for the athletes’ village.

The initial proposal included a $20-million expansion of the residence buildings to house and feed upwards of 2,000 athletes, coaches and trainers.

Glacier Hall and Olympus Hall were built in the lead-up to the games, opening officially for students in the fall of 1986.

Organizers also had to be flexible in how the accommodations all came together, with the Soviet Union citing their studies that bunk beds resulted in noticeable decreases in performance, so they were “quite adamant” about not having them, according to then-UCalgary housing manager Peter Fraser.

Others were concerned with how late the entertainment areas would be open and some teams wanted to make sure colour televisions weren’t in every room because they would be too distracting.

The village also became a hub for student jobs with more than 150 being hired for a variety of jobs, ranging from chefs to busboys, with salaries spanning from $5 to $10 an hour.

2. A construction 'boom'

Construction crews were a busy bunch during the time between the announcement of the successful Olympic bid to the actual Games.

Aside from the coming Olympics, the university was grappling with a space crunch thanks to a 40-per cent increase in student enrolment between 1980 and 1985.

Nearly $177 million in projects were approved, including the Olympic Oval, the two residence buildings, a fine arts building and Scurfield Hall.

A major expansion to the physical education (now Faculty of Kinesiology) facilities included the 3,500-seat Jack Simpson Gymnasium. It opened in June 1987 and was named after the chief engineer of a company that built many of the buildings on campus.

Another major project was an expansion to the MacEwan Student Centre, which was connected to the Physical Education Building, with the bookstore, student counselling and health services moving into the extension. The grand opening for the expansion was held on Jan. 28, 1988.

To help accommodate the growth as well as the many visitors during the Olympics, the university also approved the building of what is now the Art Parkade.

3. School’s out

Not only were classes cancelled during the Olympics, but, to make way for the visitors, students living in residence had to vacate the premises for a few weeks.

The University of Calgary Alumni Association created the “Adopt-A-Student” program, asking Calgarians to take in students from Jan. 1 until March 4.

The extra time was built in to allow organizers to properly secure the facilities before the games, and clean up and return them to normal living quarters afterwards.

Many athletes left pins, pennants and autographed posters behind to thank those who moved out so they could move in.

However, memento seekers were able to get into the rooms prior to the students returning. Fraser tried to make it right by rounding up what he could, whether it be salvaged or donated by national team heads, to distribute to the 700 students.

4. Life of the party

The athletes' village wasn’t just a place for athletes to eat and sleep.

Organizers made sure there were ample opportunities to unwind in comfort and convenience, as well.

Everything from first-run movies in three theatres to video games (including the newly released Blades of Steel for the Nintendo Entertainment System) were available, while a small retail mall was built in the old university gymnasium including a hairstylist, florist, general store, bank, post office, phone centre and photo studio.

Many were seen playing cards or board games in between competitions, while, at night, the parties started.

Bryan Adams performed at an athletes-only concert on Feb. 20, while k.d. lang played at a special farewell party after her performance at the closing ceremonies on Feb. 28.

5. Recognized for our volunteer spirit

McMahon Stadium wasn’t just the location for the 1988 opening and closing ceremonies.

In September 1983, officials unveiled plans for a $14.4-million expansion project that included an additional 15,600 seats, along with an Olympic Services Centre and an Olympic Volunteer Centre.

Construction on the volunteer centre — also known as the Red and White Club, which is still in use today as an events venue and UCalgary office space — began in mid 1984 and was finished within a year.

It became the home base for training the thousands of volunteers who helped make the 1988 Olympics such a memorable experience for all visitors.

In honour of the work put in by the many involved, OCO’88 president Bill Pratt received the prestigious Olympic Order after the conclusion of the games. 

“Although I received the Order, I consider it for the whole team,” he said after the special ceremony held at the Olympic Volunteer Centre with 500 volunteers and staff. “The secret of the Games was the fact that every person, volunteer staff and citizens of Calgary did the job, and did it in such joyous spirit that made us a reputation that is beautiful.”

6. An Olympian among us

Most of the attention during competition focused on the medals and some of the unlikely heroes of the ’88 Games like Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and the Jamaican bobsled team, who were the inspiration behind the John Candy movie Cool Runnings — which was partially filmed at UCalgary.

As always, Canadians were enthralled with how their athletes were performing and one was of particular interest in UCalgary circles. In fact, he not only competed at the Winter Games, he is one of the few athletes to try to win medals at both the Winter and Summer Olympics in the same year (the two events moved to separate years in the mid 1990s).

John Graham, BA’93, was the lone Dino competing at the ’88 Olympics as a member of the bobsleigh team.

Originally from Moose Jaw, Graham and his family moved to Calgary in 1980 where he was part of the Calgary Spartans track program.

He was named the University of Calgary Athlete of the Year in 1985 competing mostly in track and field, winning several Canada West and national championships.

The Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame inductee’s success on the track opened up a door to join Canadian bobsleigh team and, while they didn’t win a medal in Calgary, Graham was the brakeman for the team that captured gold at the 1990 World Cup four-man championship.

He became just the third Canadian athlete to participate in the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year when he went on to compete in track and field at the Seoul Olympics and managed an Olympics three-peat in 1992 when he was again part of the Canadian bobsleigh team at Albertville, France.