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As the City of Calgary continues to investigate hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, many comparisons have been made with the 1988 Olympics that were held in Calgary.

Without a doubt, some readers will have some fond memories from that event.

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But what all Calgarians should note is that the 1988 Olympics was a very different event, held in a different era and driven by different forces.

For starters, a group of dedicated volunteers, including several successful businesspeople, was the driving force behind efforts to persuade the International Olympic Committee to hold the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.

A short video documentary on YouTube describes how the volunteers fundraised by selling pins and asked local businesses for donations. In one part of the short video, a committee member described how volunteers on the organizing committee would make salads and other dishes for their Olympic meetings.