1988 Winter Olympics — 15th edition of Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada
The 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics set a cost record at the time and introduced lasting winter sports infrastructure that helped Canada become a top Winter Olympics nation.
Key Facts
- Dates
- February 13–28, 1988
- Participating NOCs
- 57 (record at the time)
- Athletes
- 1,424
- Total cost
- approximately C$829 million
- Duration
- 15 days (first Winter Games of this length)
- Top individual gold medals
- Matti Nykänen & Yvonne van Gennip (3 each)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Calgary was awarded the XV Olympic Winter Games after a bidding process, with organizers committed to building all necessary venues from scratch to host a modern Winter Olympics. The city invested heavily in infrastructure, making it the most expensive Winter Games held up to that point at approximately C$829 million.
From February 13 to 28, 1988, Calgary hosted 1,424 athletes from a record 57 National Olympic Committees across winter sports disciplines held at venues in Calgary, Nakiska, and Canmore. The Games were notable for Finnish ski jumper Matti Nykänen and Dutch speed skater Yvonne van Gennip each winning three individual gold medals, and for the memorable stories of Eddie Edwards and the Jamaican bobsleigh team.
The purpose-built venues remained in active use under WinSport for training and competition, directly contributing to Canada's development as a winter sports power. This investment paid long-term dividends culminating in Canada's first-place overall finish at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, while the stories of Eddie Edwards and the Jamaican team inspired major feature films decades later.
Result
at Calgary, Alberta, Canada (with events at Nakiska and Canmore)