What's left of the '88 Calgary Olympic Games, 30 years later

Although Alberta was going through a period of major economic crisis in the early 1980s, it was busy organizing one of the most prominent sports events on the planet.

In September 1981, after rejectingthree previous Calgary bids, the IOC finally awarded the 15th Olympic Winter Games to the Alberta city, which was largely unknown on the international stage,but growing.

It would be Canada's second time hosting the international sporting event, after Montrealin the summer of 1976.

An excuse to build

At the time, the Alberta metropolishad practically no suitable sports facilities for elite athletes.

"We didn't have anything here, really," recalledFrank King, then president of the local Olympic committee.

But that lack of infrastructure was at the heart of the city's fourth and finally successful bid, and it became a selling point to bring the games to Calgary.

A look back at the '88 Winter Games legacy

7 years ago

Duration 1:25

On Feb. 13, 1988, Calgary welcomed the world's best athletes to the XV Winter Olympic Games.

"We need facilities here, and the quality of life is much better when you have these kinds of facilities," King said.

The Games brought Calgary theOlympic Oval, Olympic Plaza, Canada Olympic Park and the Saddledome.Nakiska Station, about an hour's drive from Calgary in the Rockies, was built to host alpine skiing events.

And all of that infrastructure, built for the '88 Winter Olympic Games,still serves Calgarians and the sports community today.

Today, theSaddledome is the home of the Calgary Flames, among other sports teams like the Calgary Hitmen and Roughnecks. Olympic Plaza, where the medal ceremonies were held, is a downtown public skating rink for Calgarians in the winter.

Nakiska is used by some of the world's greatest skiers, while Canada Olympic Park is home to several national winter sports organizations.The Olympic Oval has recorded more than 300 speed skating records since the 1988 Games.

In short, this Olympic experience has changed the face of the city and turned it into a hub for winter sports in Canada.

Of the 12 national winter sports organizations in Canada, eighthave offices in Calgary or Canmore.

Both King and Jerry Joynt, vice-president of communications for the local '88 Olympicorganizing committee, agree that sports infrastructure is the main legacy of the1988 Games.

"It's fabulous," said King, pointing to the facilities at Canada Olympic Park, which is operatedby WinSport. "All cities should have something like this."

The possibility of a2026 bid

This idea of hosting the Olympic Winter Games again has been under consideration since September 2016, when the city established a committee to evaluate the feasibility of a 2026 Winter Olympics bid.

Calgary is seen as a serious contender, but the cityis still in consultations, and wants to ensure a financial commitment from the provincial and federal governments before formally submitting a bid.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says his personal feelings 'don't matter' when it comes to a potential Olympic bid

7 years ago

Duration 0:43

Speaking from Pyeongchang, Nenshi outlines when a 'Yes' or 'No' decision would have to be made by Calgary City Council.

The other three cities interested in the 2026 Games areSion, Switzerland; Stockholm, Sweden;and Sapporo, Japan.

International Olympic Committeeadministrators visited Calgary in mid-January and had nothing butgood things to say.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and two Alberta ministers arecurrently visiting Pyeongchang, host of the current Winter Games.