The Olympics . . . . 20 years later

[Dion]

Originally Posted by pope04

Plus, how could they suck with Jim Peplinski in the lineup?

Pretty sad when asks the Flames them to loan them Peplinski.

[habernac]

remember Matti Nykänen? Won the golds in the ski jump, then went on to a stint as a stripper, then had a man slaughter conviction as well as a series of domestic violence issues.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by habernac

remember Matti Nykänen? Won the golds in the ski jump, then went on to a stint as a stripper, then had a man slaughter conviction as well as a series of domestic violence issues.

and who says you can't do it all?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by habernac

remember Matti Nykänen? Won the golds in the ski jump, then went on to a stint as a stripper, then had a man slaughter conviction as well as a series of domestic violence issues.

Priceless!

And then there's Mastercard

[Arsenal14]

I was actually at the gold medal hockey game in 88. I don't remember much of it, but it was USSR vs. Finland. I can't even recall which team won, but I remember the Swedish team that won the bronze medal walking out onto the ice in their suits and ties to receive their medals. I also remember freezing my arse off at the opening ceremonies. I think I also went to the bobsledding, but that is a really brutal event to watch live (especially when you're only 7 years old).

One more thing to keep in mind when looking at the medal totals is that there were a lot less events at that time. No snowboarding, curling, short-track speedskating, freestyle skiing, etc.

[Arsenal14]

And to follow up my own post, I checked on Wikipedia and it turns out that there was no gold medal game in 88. It was actually the final game of the medal round which was in a round robin format. Finland won the game 2-1, which gave them the silver medal ahead of Sweden, but the Soviets had already clinched the gold. Some interesting names on those teams:

USSR: Larionov, Makarov, Krutov, Fetisov, Kasatonov, Kravchuk, Mogilny
Finland: Numminen, Lumme, Eloranta

And there were 46 events in 1988 which was up to 84 in the last Olympics.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

One more thing to keep in mind when looking at the medal totals is that there were a lot less events at that time. No snowboarding, curling, short-track speedskating, freestyle skiing, etc.

Curling, short-track, and freestyle were all exhibition events in 88. Short track and freestyle became full medal events in 92, and curling in 98.

If the exhibition events from Calgary had been included in the official medal counts, Canada would have had a gold and bronze in curling; a gold and a bronze in freestyle; and a gold, 6 silver, and three bronze in short-track. Added to the five official medals, Canada would have had 19 medals in Calgary, which would have been pretty good.

[maidestone]

In 1988, I was working as the Plant Manager of White Ram Knitting, here in Calgary. White Ram was actually the First Official Supllier signed by the Olympic organization for the '88 Winter Olympics. We made those sweaters worn by all volunteers. The sweaters impressed the Calgary Flames enough for them to ask White Ram to supply experimental Flames sweaters for Susan Smith, the then official Flames anthem singer. Smith worn the sweaters a few times during the '88-'89 season, but the project was later cancelled due to contract term reasons.

[icarus]

My memories (I was 7):
- Going to COP to watch the luge and bobsled
- Going to Olympic Plaza at night on a couple occasions to watch award ceremonies. The best part were the lasers shooting amongst the buildings, it was like the latest technology in the world. Also remember the C-Train being the most packed it has ever been.
- Going to Stephen Ave with my brother pin trading. Still got my pins at home.
- Every activity at school for about a year was Olympic-related. I think the regular cirriculum of learning how to read and write was thrown out the window. At a pub trivia night recently I wowed the host by knowing the Olympic motto in Latin (citius altius fortius); this is what we learned in school at that time, along with all the Olympic sports, venues, etc. The next year we were all made to colour pictures of Flaming C's eating frogs in Habs jerseys in class.

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Finland and Sweeden play to a 2-2 draw

I have a puck from that game at home, one of my prized possessions. It sits next to my chunk from the Berlin Wall.

[Scrambler]

I was primarily up in Canmore at the age of 7 and I can remember all the fun of the Cross Country events.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Dion

I had all my pins framed below a print from the Olympic games. Hangs above my TV in the den.

The pins. Dear God, the pins.

I was able to get the coveted ABC pin (rare only because so few pins were brought to Calgary), SI, Kodak, many more from International journalists. For some reason, I got lots from the Soviet Union. When I'd get on the LRT to get to and from work, avid pin collectors would go ape when they saw my collection adorned on my coat.

My mother framed them for me and gave them to me for my birthday the month after the Olympics.

Speaking of posters, there was a kiosk in the Big 4 or maybe the Roundup Centre that handed one out for free every day. My collection was complete, but I refused to take the Alberto Tomba poster because I thought he was a bit of a weasel. I wonder what a complete set would be worth today?

[WesternCanadaKing]

I was still in sperm and egg form. *sigh*

[PowerPlayoffs06]

I remember watching the torch run from a crowd of folks all with our candle-torch things.

Trying to collect pins, but I was just a youngin' so it was more of a novelty than a serious collection.

Going to an Olympic game with our Beavers troupe. That was awesome, except the losers at the Saddledome took the bagged snacks that we all brought with us. Apparently one of the leaders had called and asked if we'd be able to bring a snack for ourselves, and was told yes, then when we got there they took them all away. We're talking like, 75 kids being robbed of their candy bars, chips and pops. Great first memory of the Saddledome experience...

[SarichFan]

I remember my dad sneaking us into the actual freakin Olympic parade.. It was crazy.

[driveway]

My favourite olympic memory:

My mother worked for OCO 88 as a Project Manager - the project which she managed was the design and implementation of INFO 88, the computer system which ran the 1988 Games. When all the various nations submitted their athlete registrations for the games it became apparent that each and every one of them had decided, out of camraderie, to enter a competitor in the Slalom - yes, even the Jamaicans. This resulted in 109 entrants for the Slalom competition. INFO 88 had been built to handle up to 99 entrants in any sport. You remember Y2K? Well it happened here first in 88.

The whole system had to be rebuilt essentially from scratch in a matter of weeks. My mother had a nervous breakdown.

So why is this my favourite memory? Because I, a clueless 7 year old came home one Wednesday afternoon to find my tough-as-nails mother in tears and my father frantically packing bags who grabbed me and said: "Get packed, we're going to Disneyland."

"When?" I replied.

"Tonight," he says.

Iin order to help my mother through her stress-induced breakdown, the whole family was carted off to Disneyland (where I'd never been) for 4 days so she could sit in a quiet hotel room and gather herself together and I went and rode splash mountain a jillion times and it was my best Olympic memory.

[Dion]

88 Olympic Mascots

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

I was actually at the gold medal hockey game in 88. I don't remember much of it, but it was USSR vs. Finland. I can't even recall which team won, but I remember the Swedish team that won the bronze medal walking out onto the ice in their suits and ties to receive their medals. I also remember freezing my arse off at the opening ceremonies. I think I also went to the bobsledding, but that is a really brutal event to watch live (especially when you're only 7 years old).

One more thing to keep in mind when looking at the medal totals is that there were a lot less events at that time. No snowboarding, curling, short-track speedskating, freestyle skiing, etc.

I remember both of those, I think Finland won, one of the finnish players was nice enough to hand his game used stick to me.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

I remember both of those, I think Finland won, one of the finnish players was nice enough to hand his game used to me.

His game used... what?

driveway, sorry about your mom having a nervous breakdown and all, but that was a great story!

[icarus]

Originally Posted by driveway

My favourite olympic memory:

My mother worked for OCO 88 as a Project Manager - the project which she managed was the design and implementation of INFO 88, the computer system which ran the 1988 Games. When all the various nations submitted their athlete registrations for the games it became apparent that each and every one of them had decided, out of camraderie, to enter a competitor in the Slalom - yes, even the Jamaicans. This resulted in 109 entrants for the Slalom competition. INFO 88 had been built to handle up to 99 entrants in any sport. You remember Y2K? Well it happened here first in 88.

Iin order to help my mother through her stress-induced breakdown, the whole family was carted off to Disneyland (where I'd never been) for 4 days so she could sit in a quiet hotel room and gather herself together and I went and rode splash mountain a jillion times and it was my best Olympic memory.

While in Disneyland your family should have pitched a movie about the Jamaican slalom team. They would have called it "Cool Zigzags".

[Mango]

I was in first grade during the Olympics. It's hard to believe it has already been 20 years. How time goes by so quickly! I won a Howdy stuffed bear at school during a spelling bee. I still can't part with it. Great memories

David Foster is a such a legend. That song is fantastic. I think I get goosebumps every time I hear it.

I have many good memories of '88. My dad took me to so many of the events. We went to almost every hockey game.

I think I might well up here thinking about it.