In retrospect, the only thing I wish never happened, was Elizabeth Manley biting that stupid medal. Now every single lame-ass athlete tries to do the same, quirky, manufactured, cutesy, spontaneity in the moment... moment. And I think they are all lame for it.
That was something people did long before Manley did it.
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Also: Calgary won the right to bid for the games on Canada's behalf, defeating Montreal (can't believe they tried after 76) and Vancouver. The Vancouver committee was rather choked about it. Of course, Calgary was also promising to spend four times what the Vancouver group did.
The Olympics were awesome. I went to the Mens Luge and the Ladies Giant Slalom, and I must have been standing right next to Cowperson at Nakiska because Karen Percy crashed right in front of me. I was devastated - I wanted her to win so bad. Plus I was 13 and thought she was super hot, so there was that too. I was almost as sad when she went on to marry Kevin Lowe years later.
I remember the ski jump and bobsleigh simulators they had in the Calgary Tower too. Too bad they took those out, they were pretty cool.
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Went to three hockey games. USA and Norway, sat in a section with some Norweigians who were cheering all game and singing. After the game saw them in the mess that was traffic around the Olympic plaza, still singing and having a great time. Saw Hasek play the Russians and lose. Also saw Finland and Sweeden play to a tie.
Definitely was into those Olympics from going to see the torch run come to Cranbrook to getting to go to Calgary to see some of it, when it was crazy warm.
Seems like yesterday we were tlking about how wow Olypics were 20 yers ago already.
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Our family business made the Olympic Torch Candles. The torch run and closing ceremonies will always be special to us in the fact that our product was instrumental to adding the Olympic experience to both of those events.
I spent every evening at Olympic Plaza supervising sales of our candles and met quite a few Olympic dignitaries including Vladislav Tretiak.
Being an Olympic licensee we had our own pins made and of course I was able to trade them for quite a nice collection.I had people frantically pulling me over because we had the Calgary Olympic logo on our vehicle just to trade or beg or buy a pin from me. LOL
I was able to go across Canada during the Olympic Torch Run Ceremonies and meet so many people from all over this great country.
It was a great time and fantastic experience and one I am very proud to have been a part of, especially as a born and raised Calgarian.
Last edited by Timbo; 02-13-2013 at 11:34 PM.
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I was only 8 but I lucked out and got to go to one of the Olympic hockey games through a community outreach type program.
It was Sweden vs. Czechslovakia. Sweden won 5-2, I'll never forget.
We watched the laser light show downtown, some friendly young guys put me and my sister on their shoulders so we could see, when my mom's boyfriend couldn't figure it out.
Our family watched all we could on TV, especially the figure skating which was my mom's favorite.
Collected pins, and candles, and glasses, and all the fun stuff.
Had a mini Olympics competition playday at our school. I think I got picked for team China, haha. Course every kid wanted to be on team Canada.
Its really bizarre but one of the most awesome things that you see in the closing ceremonies is the athletes holding up little home made signs thanking the host city.
Thinks like that really get me where I live.
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