Venues of the 1960 Winter Olympics

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For the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, in the United States, a total of five sports venues were used. Except for the Palisades Tahoe, all of the venues had to be constructed. For the first time in Winter Olympic history, a temporary venue was constructed at McKinney Creek for biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined. A bobsleigh track was not constructed over the guarantees from the FIBT not being able to field the minimum twelve teams needed to compete, making it the only time bobsleigh has not been included in the Winter Olympics.

Contents

Venues

VenueSportsCapacityRef.
Blyth Arena Figure skating, Ice hockey; opening and closing ceremonies8,500 [1]
McKinney Creek Stadium Biathlon, Cross-country skiing, Nordic combined (cross-country skiing)1,000 [2]
Papoose Peak Ski jumping hill Ski jumping, Nordic combined (ski jumping)Not listed. [3]
Squaw Valley Olympic Skating Rink Ice hockey, Speed skating 8500 [1]
Palisades Tahoe Alpine skiing 9,650 [4]

Before the Olympics

Bobsleigh was not included at this Winter Olympics at a 1957 International Olympic Committee meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria because of a lack of assurance from the International Bobsleigh Federation (FIBT) on having a minimum twelve teams. [5] This was why a track was not constructed for the 1960 Games. [5] As a result, an extraordinary event would take place at the 1956 Winter Olympic venue used for bobsleigh. [6]

The ski jump was designed in 1957 with construction beginning the following year. [3] It was completed the following year with trial events taking place in February 1959. [3] The jumps had calculation (K) points of 40 m (130 ft), 60 m (200 ft), and 80 m (260 ft), the first time in Olympic history that there were three ski jumps. [3]

McKinney Creek Stadium was constructed in August 1959 and completed in time for the 1960 Games. [2]

During the Olympics

The speed skating venue used a Zamboni-type machine that could completely resurface the oval in 45 minutes. [1] This led to four world records being set at the oval. [1]

The cross-country men's 4 x 10 km relay event at McKinney Stadium produced an exciting finish in which Finland edged out Norway by 0.8 seconds, the closest event finish in Olympic history until Norway lost out again 34 years later by 0.4 seconds, only this time to Italy. [7] [8] [9]

After the Olympics

Blyth Arena continued as an indoor venue until a heavy snowstorm in 1983 collapsed the roof. [10] By 1991, the arena was demolished as replaced by an outdoor arena that was part of a revitalization plan in Squaw Valley. [10] The speed skating venue was also dismantled by 1991. [10]

The jump was used for the US National Championships in 1976 following renovations. [11] Afterwards, the jump became known for speed skiing and snowboarding events and now serve as alpine skiing events. [11]

After the Olympics, McKinney Creek Stadium was dismantled since it was a temporary venue. [2] The trails where the cross-country skiing and biathlon events took place are popular off-road trails. [12]

Palisades Tahoe hosted an Alpine Skiing World Cup in early 1969, the only alpine event of significance held there since 1960. [13] FIS Races that are not of World Cup level have taken place in 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2010. [14] The ski resort continues to be a popular alpine skiing and snowboarding attraction and is the only venue of the 1960 Games still in use as of 2010. [15]

As of 2016, three buildings from the 1960 Winter Olympics remain in Palisades Tahoe. [16] An expansion of the resort's village, currently in the planning stages, would see two of these buildings demolished. [16]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara McKinney</span> American alpine skier

Tamara McKinney is a former World Cup alpine ski racer from the United States. She won four World Cup season titles, most notably the 1983 overall, the first American woman title holder for a quarter century. McKinney's other three season titles were in giant slalom and slalom (1984). She was a world champion in the combined event in 1989, her final year of competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papoose Peak Jumps</span> Ski jumping hill located at Palisades Tahoe

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McKinney Creek Stadium was a temporary ski stadium located at Tahoma, California, in the United States. Built in 1959, it was used for cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and biathlon at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.

For the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, a total of three sports venues were used. The main stadium was used for all but two sports and part of a third. It was the first ski jump used for the Winter Olympics. A bobsleigh track was prepared for use.

For the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, United States, a total of five sports venues were used. This was unchanged from the previous games in St. Moritz. For the first time in the history of the Winter Olympics, an indoor venue was used for the figure skating and six of the twelve ice hockey events at the Olympic Arena. The first bobsleigh venue outside Europe was constructed for use. Four different 18 km and five different 50 km venues were submitted for approval prior to the Olympics. After the 1932 games, three of these venues served as host for their respective championships that were held outside Europe for the first time.

For the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, a total of six sports venues were used. Alpine skiing events took place for the first time and were held in three different locations. Riessersee held the speed skating and some of the ice hockey matches while the bobsleigh events took place south of the lake. The ski jump and its neighboring stadium played host to the cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping events. Even though figure skating and some of the ice hockey matches took place outdoors at the ice stadium, the ice itself was artificially refrigerated to prevent ice thawing.

For the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, a total of eight sports venues were used. The five venues used for the 1928 Winter Olympics were reused for these games. Three new venues were added for alpine skiing which had been added to the Winter Olympics program twelve years earlier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. As of 2015, the bob run continues to be used for bobsleigh and the Cresta Run for skeleton while alpine skiing remains popular in St. Moritz.

For the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, a total of eight sports venues were used. All of the venues used were new or rebuilt. To make use of television coverage for the first time in the Winter Olympics, the cross-country skiing stadium was constructed to allow the best coverage. Five of the venues used for these games would appear in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only twenty-five years later.

For the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, a total of eight sports venues were used. Luge made its debut at these games, but were marred by the death of a British slider two weeks prior to the Games. A second ski jumping event debuted and the best two out of three jumps were used in both events for the only time in the history of the Winter Olympics. All eight venues would be used again when the Winter Games returned to Innsbruck twelve years later though the venues would undergo renovations in time for the 1976 Games.

For the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, a total of ten sports venues were used. Most venues were constructed between the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck and the 1968 Games. Thawing was an issue for the four-man bobsleigh run. They were limited to only two runs. Thawing also affected the men's 500 m speed skating event. Electronic timing in alpine skiing affected the results of the women's giant slalom event. It gave Canada's Nancy Greene a headache for two days despite her gold medal in the event.

For the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, a total of twelve sports venues were used. A thirteenth venue which was a reserved luge course was constructed, but never used in actual competition. Construction on all of the venues used took place between 1968 and early 1971 in time for the test events. The Tsuskisamu Indoor Skating Rink was not completed until late 1971 or early 1972 because the number of teams scheduled to compete at the 1972 Games was not known. At the actual luge venue used, a malfunctioning starting gate during the first run led to the results being cancelled and rerun being ordered. The results of this event led to the only tie in Olympic luge history. The ski jumps at Miyanomori and Okurayama served as host venues for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships thirty-five years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1976 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, a total of eight sports venues were used. The games were originally awarded to Denver, Colorado in the United States in 1970, but they withdrew in the wake of Colorado residents voting against it for environmental and cost reasons in November 1972. This led to the International Olympic Committee opening up the bids for the games again, eventually awarding them to Innsbruck in February 1973. The Austrian city, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964, was in the process of having the venues used for those Games before Denver's with clear cutting of the alpine skiing venues, lessening of the amount of cross-country skiing routes, upgrading the ski jumps, adding lighting in the indoor sports arena to accommodate color television, and the construction of a combination bobsleigh and luge track. After the 1976 Games, the venues have remained in use, hosting events in Nordic skiing and the sliding sports. They hosted some of the events for the Winter Universiade in 2005 and seven of the eight venues served as host for the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1980 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, United States, a total of seven sports venues were used. All five of the venues used for the 1932 Winter Olympics were also used at the 1980 Winter Games with adjustments. These adjustments included electronic scoreboards, increased refrigeration, and the addition of a separate luge track. This was the last Winter Olympics where there were separate bobsleigh and luge tracks. The closest finish in Olympic history in cross-country skiing led skiing officials to time future events in hundredths of a second rather than tenths of a second. This would also apply to biathlon events. Eric Heiden won five gold medals at the speed skating oval while the "Miracle on Ice" took place between Americans and Soviets at the Olympic Center. In the late 1990s, the luge track was demolished and a new combination track was constructed in time for the only Winter Goodwill Games held. The sliding venue was named to the American National Register of Historical Places in February 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics</span>

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.

For the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, a total of thirteen sports venues were used. Val-d'Isère has been part of the Alpine Skiing World Cup since the late 1960s while Tignes served as host of the first Freestyle World Ski Championships in 1986. Most of the venues used were constructed between 1987 and mid 1990 with the test events taking place in late 1990 and early 1991. It was the last Winter Olympics with an outdoor speed skating rink which led to weather issues for three of the ten events. Three cross-country skiing events were run in snowstorms while the men's 20 km biathlon was found to be 0.563 km (0.350 mi) too short. The downhill events in alpine skiing were criticized for being too steep. Freestyle skiing made its official debut at these games with the men's winner being stormed after his win while the women's winner won her event in a snow storm. La Plagne hosted the skeleton World Championships in 1993 while Val-d'Isère hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2009.Some of the venues will be used again during the 2030 Winter Olympics,when the main host city will be Nice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venues of the 1998 Winter Olympics</span>

For the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, a total of fifteen sports venues were used. Nagano had attempted twice to host the Winter Olympics, losing out to Sapporo, host of the 1972 Winter Olympics. The third time, in 1991, Nagano edged out Salt Lake City to host the 1998 Games. The biathlon venue was adjusted in accordance with the Washington Convention over endangered species. The biggest venue controversy was at Happo'one resort on the length of the men's downhill and the battle that ensued to the point where skiing officials threatened to pull the event entirely before a compromise was reached three months before the Olympics. M-Wave has hosted three World Speed Skating Championships since the Olympics, while the Spiral has hosted a couple of world championships in bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Wirth</span> American businessman and philanthropist

Andrew "Andy" Wirth is an American businessman and philanthropist who works in the mountain resort and hotel industry. He was most recently the president and CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, the parent company of Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows ski resorts in Olympic Valley, CA until 2018. He is also the grandson of former US National Park Service Director Conrad Wirth and the great grandson of Theodore Wirth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 1960 Winter Olympics official report. p. 121. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 1960 Winter Olympics official report. pp. 109-10, 115. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 1960 Winter Olympics official report. p. 103. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  4. ↑ 1960 Winter Olympics official report. pp. 99-102. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  5. 1 2 1960 Winter Olympics official report. p. 20.
  6. ↑ FIBT.com Men's World Championships and Olympic Games: 1924-2007 results. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2009). "Cross-County (Nordic) Skiing, Men: 4 x 10 Kilometer Relay". In The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics: 2010 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 237.
  8. ↑ 1960 Winter Olympics official report. p. 117. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  9. ↑ 1994 Winter Olympics official report. Book 4. pp. 166-7. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 "Family Fun at Squaw Valley". Smith, Lynn. Los Angeles Times. 24 February 1991. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  11. 1 2 Skisprungschanzen.com profile of the Squaw Valley jump. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  12. ↑ Trails.com profile of McKinney Creek Trail, CA. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  13. ↑ FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Squaw Valley 28 February -1 March 1969 podium results. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  14. ↑ FIS Alpine Skiing Races Squaw Valley 1998-2010 podiums. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  15. ↑ Squaw Valley profile. Accessed 27 October 2010.
  16. 1 2 Peter Fimrite (15 November 2016). "Big Squaw Valley resort expansion gets the green light". SFGATE. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
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