25 years after the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games, Canadians continue to benefit from the legacy.
Calgary was thrust onto the world stage when the International Olympic Committee president, Juan Antonio Samaranch, announced the Stampede city was successful in its bid to host the ’88 games.
The 1988 bid, led by Frank King, was Calgary's fourth attempt to land the Winter Olympics and it set off a huge celebration.
King says the 1988 committee brought an innovative approach to hosting the games.
“We said, "You know why you should choose Calgary. It's because we have no facilities of any kind for any of the Olympic winter games," says King. “People would say that's going to be held against you and we said, oh no, we're going to ask each of you to help us design these facilities so that they will be the best facilities in the world and that they will be lasting.”
The Olympic facilities became world-class training facilities following the Calgary games and have been instrumental in Canada’s success in international competitions
Two time Olympic speed skating champion Catriona Le May Doan and Kameron Kiland, the Olympic Oval’s director, are appreciative of the legacy left behind by the ’88 games.
“An indoor oval for the Olympic games hadn't happened before so they really didn't follow in anybody's footsteps,” says Le May Doan. “They took a chance and that chance resulted in this facility which resulted in so many of us being able to live out our dreams.”
“Whenever I meet with Frank we talk about ‘88 and what the buildings have become and still are to this day,” says Kiland. “When he walks into a room you can see people get these tingles, that this was the guy that helped make Calgary what it is today.”
Olympic gold medalist rower Roger Jackson, a former head of the Canadian Olympic Committee himself, was a member of the 1988 bid committee. Jackson says Frank King was the right man to lead the effort.
“People just loved being around him (Frank King) and listening to his enthusiasm,” says Jackson. “That pervaded throughout the organizing committee through all ten years of our involvement.”
“He's still much loved today.”
For his Calgary Olympic contributions, Frank King is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
