Calgary 1988
Opening Ceremonies
A two-hour ceremony opened the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, on February 13, 1988,
in the newly renovated McMahon Stadium. Some 60,000 spectators and 2,600 athletes and
officials attended the ceremonies, organized by 8,000 volunteers from the region. For
the first time in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, the athletes were permitted to sit in
the stands with the spectators.
A choir of 1,100 voices opened the ceremony with the theme song of the XV Olympic Winter Games,
Come Together in Calgary. The opening number required 1,200 performers and 200
horses. About 100,000 young people from Calgary, aged nine to 12, presented a performance;
some 40 social and cultural groups, including five First Nations from the south of the
province also participated in the festivities. The flags of the 57 participating countries
were then hoisted by a company of 120 cadets from Calgary. Canada's governor general, the
Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé, made her entrance in a horse-drawn carriage. The Royal
Canadian Mounted Police performed a number from the Musical Ride. The delegations then made
their entrance into the stadium from the north, in alphabetical order, according to the tradition.
Over 300 dancers performed a contemporary two-step to recall the origins of Calgary's first
settlers. Two Canadian artists, Ian Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot, sang on this occasion.
60,000 spectators attended the opening and closing ceremonies...
The President of the organizing committee, Frank King, and the President of the IOC, Juan
Antonio Samaranch, delivered their speeches, and then the Governor General announced the
official opening of the Games. Two former Canadian olympic athletes, Cathy Priestner and
Ken Read, entered the stadium with the Olympic torch. The torch was handed to a 12-year-old
schoolgirl, Robyn Perry, symbolizing the future generation of athletes; she then lit the
McMahon Stadium cauldron.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, the olympic flame was lit
at several competition sites. In this way, more people were able to participate in the
ceremonies that took place in different locations. The McMahon Stadium, however, kept the
official flame of the Games.
An acrobatic aerial display by Canada's Snowbirds was then performed for the public,
which showed its delight at seeing the trails of smoke in the colours of the five olympic
rings. The judge and the designated athlete swore their oath; a choir sang the Canadian
national anthem, and then the opening ceremonies came to a close with the song "Can't
You Feel It?." The XV Olympic Winter Games were officially open.
Closing Ceremonies
The Olympic Games of Calgary ended on the evening of Sunday, February 28, 1988. On a smaller
scale than the opening ceremonies, the closing celebration was held in the McMahon Stadium,
attended by 60,000 people. For the first time, the closing ceremonies of the Winter Games
took place outdoors. During the ceremonies, the spectators brandished candles, creating the
striking illusion of a sea of red. A magnificent performance of figure skating, performed on
an area the size of two olympic skating rinks, concluded the Calgary Games.
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