1988 winter Olympics

 The 15th edition of the winter Olympics was held in Calgary Alberta from February 13-28. 57 nations and 1423 athletes participated in the games.

1. First winter Olympics to go 16 days and three weekends.

2. Last games for the Soviet Union and East Germany.

3. The "heroic failure" of Michael "Eddie" Edwards in ski jumping and the debut of the Jamaican bobsled team happened here.

4. David Foster composed "winter games" and "Can't You Feel It?" for these games. 

5. Chinook winds played havoc to the point that snow had to be made the temperatures got warm. Alpine skiing was contested on artificial snow for the first time.

6. Christa Rothenburger of East Germany won gold in 1000m speed skating event. She then follows it up with a silver in cycling team sprint at the 1988 summer games to become the only athlete towing a medal at the winter and summer Olympics in the same year.

7. Soviet Union, Finland and Sweden finished 1,  2, 3 in hockey. Canada finished 4th.

8. Elizabeth Manley wins silver for Canada in figure skating. She wasn't expected to win a medal at all. She came within a fraction of Katarina Witt gold.

9. Speed skating had 10 (TEN) Olympic or world records.

10. Two podium sweeps.

A. February 18, women's luge, East Germany, Steffi Walter-Martin, Ute Oberhoffener-Weiss and Cersten Schmidt.

B. February 25,; women's 20k freestyle, Soviet Union, Tamara Tikhonova, Anfisa Retzsova and Raisa Smetanina.

11. Soviet Union finished with most golds and most overall medals (11g, 9s, 9b, 29 total). Canada finished with 2s, 3b for 5 total.

Tomorrow - 1992 Albertville France

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