Winter Olympiad (1960)

The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event, which was celebrated between February 18, and February 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States (located near the Lake Tahoe basin). It was the first return of the Olympic Games to North America in 28 years. This was the only time that bobsledding was not included in the Olympic programme because of controversy. As the Games were held in California, it seemed fitting that the chairperson of the Pageantry Committee in charge of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies was none other than Walt Disney. A new sport, biathlon (a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting) was added to the Olympic programme. Klas Lestander of Sweden won the first race. Women competed in speed skating for the first time. The United States ice hockey team won an unexpected championship, upsetting both Canada and the USSR...

Opening date
18 February 1960

Closing date
28 February 1960

Ceremonies

Official opening of the Games by: Vice-president Richard Nixon

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: Kenneth Charles (Ken) Henry (1952 Olympic champion in 500m speed skating)

Olympic Oath by: Carol Heiss (figure skating)

Official Oath by: The first officials' oath was sworn at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Participation

Country of the host city:  United States of America (USA)

Candidate cities:   Innsbruck (AUT), St. Moritz (SUI) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)

Sports

• Biathlon
• Ice Hockey
• Skating
• Skiing

Highlights

• Frenchman Jean Vuarnet won the men's downhill gold medal. He was also the first to compete and win on metal skis.

• In biathlon, Sweden's Klas Lestander recorded the 15th best time over the 20-kilometer course but was perfect on each of his 20 rifle shots, thereby winning the first Olympic biathlon competition.

• Finnish cross-country skier Veikko Hakulinen was the only athlete at Squaw Valley to claim three medals.

• An IBM 305 RAMAC was used to provide electronic data processing, another first for the Olympics.

Facts

• The organizers refused to build a track for the bobsleigh competition, making this the first time that this discipline was not on the Olympic programme.

• The Olympic Anthem was heard.

• 1960 was the first year for women's speed skating and the men's biathlon.

• First time, artificial refrigeration was installed for speed skating events.