The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Calgary 1988, was a multi-sport event held from February 13 to 28, 1988, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was the first Winter Olympic Games to be held for 16 days, like the counterpart Summer Olympic Games. The majority of the contested events took place in Calgary itself. However, the skiing events were held west of the city at the Nakiska ski resort in Kananaskis Country and at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park in the town of Canmore.
The 1988 Winter Paralympic Games were the fourth Winter Paralympics, held again in Innsbruck, Austria. These were the last Winter Paralympics to be held in a separate location from the Winter Olympics. Beginning in 1992, the Olympics and the Paralympics were held in the same city or in an adjacent city. These Paralympics were not held at the same Olympic venue in Calgary, Canada, because of financial and recruiting difficulties. A total of 377 athletes from 22 countries took part. The USSR competed for the first and only time. Sit-skiing was introduced as another event in both the Alpine and Nordic skiing competitions. Other sports were biathlon and ice sledge speed racing. Ice sledge speed racer Knut Lundstroem from Norway was the most successful athlete, winning four gold medals in the 100m, 500m, 1000m and 1500m events.
Canmore is a town in Alberta, Canada, located approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) west of Calgary near the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. It is located in the Bow Valley within Alberta's Rocky Mountains. The town shares a border with Kananaskis Country to the west and south and the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 to the north and east. With a population of 14,798 in 2020, Canmore is the ninth-largest town in Alberta.
Nordic combined at the 1988 Winter Olympics consisted of two events, held from 23 February to 28 February. The ski jumping portion took place at Canada Olympic Park, while the cross-country portion took place at Canmore Nordic Centre.
Spray Valley Provincial Park is a provincial park located east of the Rocky Mountains, along the Spray River in western Alberta, Canada.
East Germany competed at the Winter Olympic Games for the last time at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Following German reunification in 1990, a single German team would compete in the 1992 Winter Olympics.
West Germany competed at the Winter Olympic Games for the last time as a separate nation at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Following German reunification in 1990, a single German team would compete in the 1992 Winter Olympics.
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is a provincial park in Alberta, Canada, located immediately west of Canmore, 105 km (65 mi) west of Calgary.
For the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a total of nine sports venues were used. Calgary tried twice to host the Winter Olympics in the 1960s without success before finally winning the 1988 Winter Games in 1981. Stampede Corral was built in 1950 while McMahon Stadium was built in 1960. When the National Hockey League (NHL) Flames franchise was relocated from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States during the summer of 1980, a new arena was needed. The Saddledome construction was underway in late 1981 when Calgary was awarded the 1988 Games. Completed in 1983, the Olympic Saddledome has played host to the Flames ever since, including three Stanley Cup Finals and the NHL All-Star Game in 1985. An innovation for the games was the first indoor long-track speed skating venue which has served as a model for future Olympics. The bobsleigh and luge track was the first combination track in North America and was noted for the Jamaican bobsleigh team crash during the four-man event. Both the Oval and the bobsleigh/luge track continue to host the World Championships in their respective sports since the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The men's 4 x 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics 23 February, at Canmore Nordic Centre. Each national team consisted of four members, with each skiing 7.5 kilometres and shooting twice, once prone and once standing.
The men's individual nordic combined competition for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary at Canada Olympic Park and Canmore Nordic Centre on 27 and 28 February.
The men's team Nordic combined competition for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary was held at Canada Olympic Park and Canmore Nordic Centre on 23 and 24 February.
The Women's 5 kilometre cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing programme at the 1988 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada. It was the seventh appearance of the event. The competition was held on 17 February 1988, at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The Women's 10 kilometre cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing programme at the 1988 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada. It was the tenth appearance of the event. The competition was held on 14 February 1988, at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The 20 kilometre cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing programme for women at the 1988 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada. It was the second and final time the event took place at the Olympics, with it being replaced by the 30km event. The competition was held on 25 February 1988 at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The Women's 4 × 5 kilometre relay cross-country skiing event was part of the cross-country skiing programme at the 1988 Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada. It was the ninth appearance of the women's relay event. The competition was held on 21 February 1988, at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The men's 50 kilometre freestyle cross-country skiing competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, was held on 27 February 1988 at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The men's 15 kilometre classical cross-country skiing competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, was held on 19 February at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The men's 4 × 10 km relay cross-country skiing competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, took place on Wednesday 24 February at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park in Canmore, Alberta. The race saw Sweden beat Soviet Union by 12.7 seconds, with Czechoslovakia finishing third.
The men's 30 kilometre classical cross-country skiing competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, was held on Monday 15 February at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Canmore.
