There is an old joke in Calgary - How many Calgarians does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Answer: 25. One to screw in the lightbulb, two to hold the ladder and 22 to tell you how great the 1988 Winter Olympics were.

Calgary’s median age hovers around 38 years old; this means almost half of Calgarians weren’t even born in 1988 or are too young to remember it. It is a shame the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics legacy is slowly getting dimmer. Great cities preserve and build on their legacy project, not let them burn out.

Fading Legacy

However, with each passing year the memory of the 1988 Winter Olympics fades away.

In 2018 Calgary had a plebiscite to ask citizens if they were in support of submitting a bid for the 2026 Olympics. 56% were opposed. So, the idea of hosting a second winter Olympics died almost before it started. And with it perhaps died Calgary’s legacies to the 1988 Winter Olympic.

The Calgary Saddledome’s days are numbered. It is headed for the wrecking ball as soon as the City and the owners of the Flames (NHL hockey team) work out a deal on a new arena. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that could take a while. One deal has already failed.

The Olympic Oval (the fastest ice on earth, not to be confused with the Greatest Show on Earth as the Stampede still brands itself) is on its last lap. Research done in preparation for the failed 2026 bid indicated the building needs $55 million in upgrades to bring it up to current Olympic standards. There have been ongoing problems with the ice plant and roof causing it to be shut down for extended periods. How much longer can it last?

Canada Olympic Park where bob sled, luge and ski jump events took place has fallen on hard times. The ski jump has never been used since the Olympics and is now a zip-line. If it was used today’s jumper would probably end up on the TransCanada Highway.

Winsport, the Park’s operators struggle between investing in upgrades to infrastructure which supports the training of Olympic athletes and those needed to support public use of the ski hills and three new arenas.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame opened in 2011, but closed its doors at the end of 2020 and hasn’t reopened.

Olympic Plaza in downtown needs a makeover and will probably get one as part of mega makeover of Stephen Avenue Walk and the Art Commons Transformation project.