Calgary Winsport Canada's Olympic Park
Calgary attempted a bid four times to host the Winter Olympics, and they were successful on the fourth bid, hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics. In 2009 the Park opened to the public and has grown into an amazing recreation facility.
Canada’s Olympic Park or COP currently receives over one million visitors annually. Winsport houses and maintains many facilities built for the 1988 Olympics, the largest being COP. It also houses Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Winsport is also home to the National Sports School in conjunction with the Calgary Board of Education. The school is for Olympic caliber students in grade 9 through grade 12, allowing them to train and compete internationally while continuing their studies.
Canada’s Olympic Park is an impressive sight and offers some awe-inspiring, thrill-seeking activities. Downhill Karting by Skyline Luge is a wheeled ride that sends you racing down a 1. 8-kilometer track that can be enjoyed by the whole family. More than 50 twists and turns in the luge cart send you on a downhill race. In either winter or summer, feel the wind in your face flying down the bobsleigh track, with a professional bobsled operator, of course. In winter, the Luge is open to try a ride. Many of the attractions are seasonal, but the COP has adventurous activities all year round.
Although the Park was built for the winter games, there are many spring, fall, and summer thrill-seeking activities. For example, it is the only Park with a chairlift up to the trails to mountain bike down. COP is home to North America’s fastest zipline. Reach speeds of 75 mph soaring down the iconic ski jump tower on the zipline! There are mountain bike trails for every rider from beginner to expert, even using a Skills Loop to train on various terrains. Free Fall will get some adrenaline pumping, eight stories up on a platform in a bungee harness, step off, and free-fall eight metres! It is as close as you can get to the feeling of a skydive! The Park offers an intermediate level 18 hole mini-golf course that takes up to 60 minutes to complete. The scenic chairlift provides a stunning view of the Olympic Park, highlighting the zipline, iconic ski jump tower, view of the Calgary skyline, and the to west, the Rocky Mountains.
Winsport was created for winter activities. Downhill ski runs of every skill level are available and top-notch. Snowboarders also have runs from beginner to expert. There is a separate half-pipe and terrain park for the more skilled. Beginners have a large separate area to try out some skis or take a lesson for the first time. Cross country skiing is also available. COP is home to one of the fastest tube parks in Western Canada. Ice rinks at the park offer skating, lessons, and hockey for all levels.
The Park is open to the public and remains a training facility for upcoming and current Olympic athletes. The Bill Warren Training Centre provides Nordic athletes and public training by providing support services and dryland training. The Olympic Oval was built as part of the COP, and it remains one of the fastest speed skating rinks in the world today. It was the first covered speed skating rink ever built. The National Sport School that Winsport runs has seen many current and former students compete in the recent Olympic games.
Winsport is also home to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, which has over 650 inductees. The 4,000 square foot museum opened in Calgary in 2011; originally, it was located in Toronto. The Canadian public nominates the inductees in one of two categories, athletes or as builders of the sport. There are over 100,000 artifacts and 60,000 photographs housed in the museum’s collection. There are 12 galleries, dozens of interactive exhibits, a theater, and many artifacts for the sports history buff to explore.
Winsport offers so many exciting adventures that are sure to please visitors young and old. With over one million visitors each year, taking in the historic view of the Canadian Olympic Park and the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, it is a must-see in Calgary!
Check out the Telus Spark Science Centre which is in Calgary AB too.
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