1960 Winter Olympics

1960 Winter Olympics

Olympics infobox|1960|Winter
Name = VIII Olympic Winter Games

Size = 150
Optional caption = The emblem is made up of three red,
white, and yellow triangles, which represent a
star or snowflake, and the Olympic rings.
Host city = Squaw Valley, California,
United States
Nations participating = 30
Athletes participating = 665
(521 men, 144 women)
Events = 27 in four sports
Opening ceremony = February 18, 1960
Closing ceremony = February 28, 1960
Officially opened by = Vice President Richard Nixon
Athlete's Oath = Carol Heiss
Judge's Oath =
Olympic Torch = Ken Henry
Stadium = Blyth Arena
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). Squaw Valley won the bid in 1955. It was the first return of the Olympic Games to North America in 28 years.

Host selection

Alexander Cushing, the creator of the resort was initially inspired to submit Squaw Valley when he noticed a newspaper article mentioning Reno, Nevada and Anchorage, Alaska had expressed interest in the Games. Squaw Valley was a town with no mayor, and claimed one ski resort with only one chairlift, two rope tows, and a fifty-room lodge. In fact, Cushing was the only inhabitant and homeowner in the whole area. To this day, many wonder how he convinced the International Olympic Committee to select the little known resort. Nevertheless, the bid captured the imagination of the International Olympic Committee, although IOC head Avery Brundage stated "the USOC obviously has taken leave of their senses." Cushing campaigned vigorously to win the Games and networked to gain many allies, particularly from South American Olympic Committees, who normally cared little for the Winter Games. Stressing simplicity and "the World's Games" (as opposed to dominant Europe), the tiny resort beat out previous hosts St. Moritz, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and favorite Innsbruck, Austria, which would go on to host the 1964 Winter Olympics.

The Games were awarded in June 16, 1955, at the 50th IOC Session in Paris, France, to "shock and disbelief" over Innsbruck, and a four and a half year rush to construct roads, hotels, restaurants, and bridges, as well as the ice arena, the speed skating track, ski lifts, and ski jumping hill began. Criticism of the high altitude, remote location, and lack of facilities were shown to be only partly justified when the contests were over. [http://www.kiat.net/olympics/history/winter/w08squawvalley.html Kiat.net] ] Olympic course designer Willy Schaeffler walked the mountain for four days before appearing in declaring the site worthy. His valuable credits (the 1936 Games and the 1952 World Championships in Aspen) led him to tirelessly design the courses for the Games. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0300765.html Infoplease] ] In fact, the alpine and cross-country courses were so difficult that they garnered quite a bit of controversy.

The chart's information below comes from [http://www.aldaver.com/votes.html the International Olympic Committee Vote History] web page.

References

*

External links

* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1960 Official site]
* [http://www.1960olympicphotos.com/ Bill Briner Photo Collection of the 1960 Games]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdUsoyZy2aA Clip of US vs USSR ice hockey match]
* [http://www.marcolympics.org/jeux/1960/winter/index.php The program of the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics]


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