1988 Winter Olympics torch relay

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1988 Winter Olympics torch relay logo.svg
Host city Calgary, Canada
Countries visitedGreece, Canada
Distance18,000 km
Torchbearers6,214
Start date15 November 1987 (1987-11-15)
End date13 February 1988 (1988-02-13)

The 1988 Winter Olympics torch relay was run from November 15, 1987, to February 13, 1988, prior to the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics.

Contents

Organization

The planning of the Torch Relay required significant research and testing, with each kilometer of the relay test-driven three times, and estimates that each torch bearer would travel at a speed of 7 km/h. [1] The relay kept to secondary highways as much as possible and used snowmobiles for 2,750 km between Shanty Bay, Ontario and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. [1] Overall the torch travelled approximately 11,000 km on land and 7,000 km by air or sea. [1]

Relay sponsor Petro Canada issued entry forms allowing citizens the chance to become one of 6,214 people to carry the torch for 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), torch bears were either chosen on merit or selected through random draws. [2] [3] Organizers, who initially expected to receive 250,000 entries, were inundated with over 6.6 million forms and called the response a sign that the Olympics had "fired the imagination of Canada". [4] [5] Part of the success for the number of applications was the OCO in February 1987 sending approximately 10 million applications out to virtually every Canadian household. [2] The relay, called "Share the Flame", also saw the torch travel by boat, snowmobile and dogsled. [1]

The Olympic Torch relay involved a convoy of 80 people in 40 support vehicles travelling 125 kilometers per day. [2]

Relay

The Olympic torch relay began when the torch was lit at Olympia and Greek runner Stelios Bisbas began what was called "the longest torch run in history". [6] The flame arrived in St. John's, Newfoundland on the Atlantic Ocean two days later and over 88 days, traveled west across Canada. [4] It passed through each provincial capital and many major cities, north to the Arctic Ocean at Inuvik, Northwest Territories, then west to the Pacific Ocean at Victoria, British Columbia before returning east to Alberta, and finally Calgary. [1] The route was designed in a way that 90 per cent of Canadians lived within a 2-hour drive of the route. [1] The torch covered a distance of 18,000 kilometres (11,000 mi), the greatest distance for a torch relay in Olympic history until the 2000 Sydney Games, and a sharp contrast to the 1976 Montreal Games when the relay covered only 775 kilometres (482 mi). [7]

Map of torch relay, starting from St. John's in the East. (Key: land, air.) Relais de la Torche Jeux d'hiver 1988.png
Map of torch relay, starting from St. John's in the East. (Key: land, air.)

The identity of the final torchbearer who would light the Olympic cauldron was one of OCO'88's most closely guarded secrets. [8] [9] The relay began at St. John's with Barbara Ann Scott, a 1948 gold medalist in figure skating and Ferd Hayward, the first Newfoundlander to represent Canada at an Olympic games in 1952, both representing Canada's past Olympians. [8] The relay and ended with Ken Read and Cathy Priestner carrying the torch into McMahon Stadium representing the nation's current Olympians. They then stopped to acknowledge the contribution of para-athlete Rick Hansen and his "Man in Motion" tour [10] before handing the torch to 12-year-old Robyn Perry, an aspiring figure skater who was selected to represent future Olympians, to light the cauldron. [9] The choice of Perry was an unusual departure from most Games as the cauldron has typically been lit by a famous individual or group from the host nation. [11]

Protest

The relay was subject to peaceful protests by members and supporters of the Lubicon Cree First Nation at several stops in Ontario and Alberta in protest of ongoing land claim disputes between the band and the Crown, as well as discontent over an exhibit at Calgary's Glenbow Museum called "The Spirit Sings" that featured numerous artifacts stolen from native land. [12]

Olympic Torch

The Olympic torch on display Olympic Torch Calgary 1988.jpg
The Olympic torch on display

The design of the Olympic Torch for the Calgary games was influenced by the landmark building of the Calgary skyline, the Calgary Tower. [13] The National Research Council Canada developed the design for the Torch, [13] which was constructed of maple, aluminum, and hardened steel, entirely Canadian materials, the torch was designed to remain lit despite the sometimes adverse conditions of Canadian winters. [14] The Torch had to be light enough for relay runners to carry comfortably, and the final design came in at 60 centimeters in length and 1.7 kilograms in weight. [13] [4] [15] The maple handle portion included laser-incised pictograms of the 10 official Olympic Winter sports, and lettering was engraved on the steel cauldron portion. [13] The torch used a combination of gasoline, kerosene and alcohol to allow a continuous burn during the unpredictable Canadian winter. [13] Approximately 100 torches were manufactured for the Games. [13]

The Calgary Tower itself was retrofitted to install a cauldron at its peak and was lit for the duration of the Games, one of several "replica cauldrons" constructed at Olympic venues throughout Calgary and Canmore. [16]

Notable torch bearers

Route

DateLocations visited [23] [24] Map
November 17Newfoundland and Labrador:
Signal Hill
St. John's
Holyrood
November 18Holyrood
Placentia [25]

Nova Scotia:
Sydney

November 19Sydney
St. Peter's
November 20St. Peter's
Antigonish
November 21Antigonish
Sheet Harbour
November 22Sheet Harbour
Port Dufferin
Dartmouth
November 23Dartmouth
Halifax
Truro
November 24Truro
Caribou [26]

Prince Edward Island:
Wood Islands
Charlottetown

November 25Charlottetown
Borden

New Brunswick:
Cape Tormentine

November 26Cape Tormentine
Port Elgin

Nova Scotia:
Amherst

New Brunswick:
Sackville
Dorchester
St. Joseph
Dieppe
Moncton [27]

November 27Moncton
Riverview
Salisbury
Petitcodiac
Sussex
Apohaqui
Norton
Hampton [27]
November 28Hampton
Quispamsis
Saint John
Grand Bay
Oromocto [27]
November 29Oromocto
Fredericton
Woodstock [27]
November 30Woodstock
Hartland
Florenceville
Bristol
Bath
Perth-Andover
Grand Falls [27]
December 1Grand Falls
Edmundston
Saint-Jacques [27]

Quebec:
Cabano

December 2Cabano
Kamouraska
December 3Kamouraska
Saint-Michel
December 4Saint-Michel
Quebec City
Donnacona
December 5Donnacona
Shawinigan
December 6Shawinigan
Sorel-Tracy
December 7Sorel-Tracy
Victoriaville
December 8Victoriaville
Sherbrooke
December 9Sherbrooke
Bromptonville
St. Pie
December 10St. Pie
Iberville
December 11Iberville
Dorion
December 12Dorion
Montreal
December 13Montreal
Saint-Eustache
December 14Saint-Eustache
Laval
Lachute
Pointe-au-Chêne
December 15Pointe-au-Chêne
Papineauville
Plaisance
Thurso
Masson
Gatineau
Hull [28]
December 16Hull

Ontario:
Ottawa
Casselman
Monkland
Bonville
St. Andrews
Cornwall [29]

December 17Cornwall
Ingleside
Morrisburg
Iroquois
Cardinal
Johnstown
Prescott
Maitland
Brockville [29]
December 18Brockville
Lyn
Mallorytown
Waterton
Gananoque
Kingston
Amherstview
Millhaven [30]
December 19Millhaven
Morven
Napanee
Deseronto
Marysville
Shannonville
Belleville [30]
Colborne
December 20Colborne
Omemee
December 21Omemee
Pickering
December 22Pickering
Markham
Unionville
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Newmarket
Richmond Hill [31]
December 23Richmond Hill
Toronto
Mississauga
Clarkson [31]
December 24Clarkson
Oakville
Bronte
Burlington
Waterdown
Clappisons Corners
Dundas
Copetown
Lynden
Osborne Corners
Paris [32]
December 25Paris
Brantford
Cainsville
Langford
Alberton
Duffs Corner
Ancaster
Hamilton
Stoney Creek [32]
December 26Stoney Creek
Fruitland
Grimsby
Beamsville
Vineland
Jordan
St. Catharines
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Virgil
St. Davids
Niagara Falls
Fort Erie [33]
December 27Fort Erie
Gasline
Port Colborne
Welland
Thorold
Pelham
Fonthill
Ridgeville
Fenwick
West Lincoln
Wellandport
Dunnville [33]
December 28Dunnville
Canborough
Canfield
Cayuga
Decewsville
Nelles Corner
Balmoral
Jarvis
Renton
Simcoe
Delhi
Courtland
Tillsonburg
Aylmer [34]
December 29Aylmer
Rodney
December 30Rodney
Highgate
Ridgetown
Blenheim
Cedar Springs
Wheatley
Leamington [35]
December 31Leamington
Kingsville
Harrow
Malden Centre
Amherstburg
River Canard
Sandwich West
Windsor
Tecumseh [35] [36]
January 1Tecumseh
Puce
Emeryville
Belle River
St. Joachim
Tilbury
Chatham [35] [36]
January 2Chatham
Reece's Corners
January 3Reece's Corners
London
January 4London
Kitchener
Waterloo
January 5Kitchener/Waterloo
Orangeville
January 6Orangeville
Shanty Bay
January 7Shanty Bay
Hawkestone
Orillia
Severn Bridge
Kahshe Lake
Gravenhurst
Bracebridge
Huntsville
Melissa
Novar
Katrine
Sundridge
South River
Trout Creek
Powassan
Callander [37]
January 8Callander
North Bay
Nipissing
Sturgeon Falls
Verner
Warren
Hagar
Markstay
Wahnapitae
Coniston
Sudbury
Narin Centre
McKerrow [38]
January 9McKerrow
Walford
Spanish
Cutler
Serpent River
Spragge
Algoma Mills
Blind River
Iron Bridge
Thessalon
Bruce Mines
Desbarats
Echo Bay
Garden River
Heyden [39]
January 10Heyden
Batchawana Bay
Montreal River Harbour
Wawa [39]
White River
January 11White River
Nipigon
January 12Nipigon
Shabaqua Corners
January 13Shabaqua Corners
Dryden
January 14Dryden

Manitoba:
Ste. Anne
outskirts of Winnipeg [40]

January 15Winnipeg
Elie
Portage la Prairie
MacGregor
Carberry
outskirts of Brandon [40]
January 16Brandon
Oak Lake
Virden
Elkhorn [40]

Saskatchewan:
Whitewood
Grenfell
Indian Head [41]

January 17Indian Head
Regina
Moose Jaw
Davidson [41] [42]
January 18Davidson
Bladworth
Kenaston
Hanley
Dundurn
Saskatoon
Warman
Hague
Rosthern
Duck Lake
Prince Albert [42]
January 19Northwest Territories:
Yellowknife
Inuvik

Yukon:
Whitehorse

British Columbia:
Fort St. John

January 20Fort St. John
Prince George
Courtenay
January 21Courtenay
Nanaimo
January 22Nanaimo
Victoria
January 23Victoria
Vancouver
January 24Vancouver
Clearbrook
January 25Clearbrook
Spuzzum
January 26Spuzzum
Ashcroft Manor Ranch
January 27Ashcroft Manor Ranch
Monte Creek
January 28Monte Creek
Kelowna
January 29Kelowna
Oliver
January 30Oliver
Greenwood
January 31Greenwood
Warfield
February 1Warfield
Creston
February 2Creston
Cranbrook
February 3Cranbrook
Jaffray
Fernie
Sparwood [43]
February 4Sparwood

Alberta:
Coleman [43]
Brocket

February 5Brocket
Fort Macleod [43]
Lethbridge
February 6Lethbridge
Coaldale
Chin
Cranford
Barnwell
Taber
Purple Springs
Grassy Lakes
Burdell
Bow Island [44]
February 7Bow Island
Medicine Hat
Lloydminster [45]
February 8Lloydminster
Fort McMurray [45]
February 9Fort McMurray
Fort Vermilion
Grande Prairie
Namao [45]
February 10Namao
Wetaskiwin
February 11Wetaskiwin
Ponoka
Lacombe
Red Deer [46]
February 12Red Deer
Innisfail
Bowden
Olds
Carstairs
Crossfield
Airdrie [46]
February 13Airdrie
Calgary

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 OCO'88 1988 , p. 243
  2. 1 2 3 OCO'88 1988 , p. 241
  3. OCO'88 1988 , p. 245
  4. 1 2 3 Findling & Pelle 1996 , p. 313
  5. Ferguson, Derek (1987-04-15). "6.6 million applications made to tote Calgary Olympic torch". Toronto Star. p. A1. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-10.(subscription required)
  6. "Olympic torch begins journey to 1988 Winter Games", The Item (Sumter, SC), p. 4B, 1987-11-16, retrieved 2013-03-10
  7. Factsheet: The Olympic torch relay (PDF), International Olympic Committee, 2012, pp. 4–7, retrieved 2013-03-10
  8. 1 2 OCO'88 1988 , p. 247
  9. 1 2 Busby, Ian (2013-02-13), "Secret Service", Calgary Sun, p. S3
  10. "Canadian Olympians". CP PHOTO and COA. 1988. Retrieved November 27, 2018. "Canada's Cathy Preistner (left) and Ken Read (centre) receive the Olympic flame from Rick Hanson during the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary
  11. They lit the flame: torch carriers of the last 20 years, Associated Press, 2004-08-12, archived from the original on 2014-06-11, retrieved 2013-10-13 via Highbeam
  12. Findling & Pelle 1996 , p. 315
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 OCO'88 1988 , p. 249
  14. Bradley, Jeff (1987-11-18). "Torch run starts Calgary Olympics". Spokane Spokesman-Review. p. D1. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  15. Norris, Alexander (1986-11-29). "Ottawa research team basks in glow of Olympic torch". Ottawa Citizen. p. A10. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  16. Joynt, Jerry (2013-02-09), "Tower flame kept secret until end", Calgary Herald, p. A17
  17. Mennie, James (December 12, 1987). "Indian protest mars Olympic torch relay". The Montreal Gazette. ProQuest   431571191.
  18. Crowley, Kevin; DeFries, Kathryn (December 19, 1987). "Torchbearers' notebook: an emotional journey for relay squad". The Whig - Standard. p. 3. ProQuest   353390054.
  19. 1 2 Moloney, Paul; Bilodeau, Paul (December 22, 1987). "Big Ben will carry torch to official Metro ceremony". Toronto Star. p. A4. ProQuest   435687546.
  20. "Olympic torch gets a warm welcome". Montreal Gazette. December 14, 1987. p. A3. ProQuest   431572491.
  21. "Protesters stay back as torch welcomed". Ottawa Citizen. Regina. The Canadian Press. January 18, 1988.
  22. Flather, Patti (January 25, 1988). "Excited spectators cheer on Olympic relay: Thousands lined streets to watch torch run". Vancouver Sun. p. B1. ProQuest   243679741.
  23. "Torch relay Olympians", Calgary Herald , November 17, 1987, page F11.
  24. Daily updates on the torch's location were shown on the front page of the Calgary Herald from November 18, 1987 through February 5, 1988; see Newspapers.com.
  25. "Olympic torch bearers running before daybreak", Canadian Press, via the Vancouver Sun , November 18, 1987, page A7.
  26. "Olympic flame begins journey through P.E.I.", Canadian Press, via the Moncton Times-Transcript , November 25, 1987, page 14.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Olympic Torch Arrives In N.B. Tonight", Saint John Times-Globe , November 25, 1987.
  28. Authier, Philip. "Former Olympian eager to see torch again", Ottawa Citizen , December 15, 1987, page C3.
  29. 1 2 Authier, Philip. , Ottawa Citizen , December 11, 1987, page B3.
  30. 1 2 "The torch passes by . . . from Brockville to Belleville", December 17, 1987, page 24.
  31. 1 2 Duffy, Andrew. "Flame given a rousing welcome on its way to Metro's outskirts", Toronto Star , December 23, 1987, page A11.
  32. 1 2 "When and where you can see the Olympic torch", Brantford Expositor , December 22, 1987, page 15.
  33. 1 2 "Where you can see the torch", St. Catharines Standard , December 24, 1987, page nine.
  34. "Torch travelling through Haldimand-Norfolk", Brantford Expositor , December 26, 1987, page A10.
  35. 1 2 3 "The Olympic Torch Relay Is Coming", The Windsor Star , December 30, 1987, back page.
  36. 1 2 "Hearts warmed by a passing flame", The Windsor Star , January 2, 1988, front page and page A4.
  37. "Day 52: Olympic Torch Relay", North Bay Nugget , January 6, 1988, City Page.
  38. "Day 53: Olympic Torch Relay", North Bay Nugget , January 7, 1988, City Page.
  39. 1 2 Astles, Anne. "Blind River ready to 'Share the Flame', The Sault Star , January 8, 1988, page A11.
  40. 1 2 3 "Chance to carry flame 'lucky opportunity'", Brandon Sun , January 13, 1988, page 2.
  41. 1 2 Petrie, Ron. "Many events planned for Sask. leg of torch relay", Regina Leader-Post , January 8, 1988, page D 10.
  42. 1 2 Traynor, Dave. "Sask. ready for Jan. 16 arrival of Olympic Torch", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix , January 7, 1988.
  43. 1 2 3 Keyser, Tom. "Torch enters Alberta today", Calgary Herald , February 4, 1988, page A3.
  44. "The Olympic torch heads east to Taber", Lethbridge Herald , February 4, 1988, page 10.
  45. 1 2 3 Haynes, Dave. "Former stars savor spotlight", Calgary Herald , February 8, 1988, page OA3.
  46. 1 2 "Torch Route", Calgary Herald , February 11, 1988, page OA2.

Further reading