The Two Welcomes

Marshall McLuhan saw modern media and the pursuit of images as a restless machine, exciting us in so many ways but wearing us down in others. One of the dangers of so many things assaulting our senses at the same time, he believed, was that they could slowly erode our ability to remember. "We live in a world where forgetting is an industry in itself, leaving very few people interested in their own recent history. If we are what we remember, then the less we are."I thought of McLuhan's observations during all the celebrations of the one year anniversary commemorating the Vancouver Olympics. To be sure, they were terrific. The tragedy at the luge track and the late arrival of Canadian medals in the early days eventually gave way to moments of greatness, culminating in Sidney Crosby's ideal goal.Last week I heard repeatedly that the Vancouver Olympics were perhaps the greatest spectacle we ever had. Politicians and media types trumpeted the images, reminding every one of how great Canada is. Some said it was the birth of a new generation, no longer so humble but outwardly proud and aggressive. That could be true. But not too many years before the Vancouver spectacle there was another great event that was in its own way just as "Canadian," only humbler, remarkably efficient, and suffused with the spirit of volunteerism and joy. They were the Calgary Olympics in 1988 and we seem to have forgotten them already.Only 22 years apart, the two winter Olympics were different from one another. Where Vancouver was loud and loaded with celebrity, Calgary was a quiet coming of age, not just of the city itself but the West, and ultimately of Canada itself. It reminded us all that grand spectacles that look more like rock concerts aren't the only way the represent the spirit of accomplishment. While Vancouver was so much about corporate sponsorship, Calgary took us to a more distinctly human place, where volunteerism was still the heart of the Olympics. The fact that Calgary turned a modest profit at the time was a source of pride, reminding the country (and the West) that they do things differently, turning thrift and human capital into a world-class operation.Much was made of Vancouver's legacy, the numerous venues left for future generations. Calgary's investments endure even more so. The legacy of Calgary’s 1988 Games (still one of the only Olympics to have actually turned a profit) continues to be felt far beyond the prairie city itself. The Calgary-based WinSport Canada has contributed close to $124 million to sport development. Facilities under its management include Canada Olympic Park, the Ice House indoor training for sliding sports, the Ski Jump Training Centre, the Freestyle Aerials and Moguls course, the 22-foot super halfpipe, the Olympic Track (for bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge), the Beckie Scott High Performance Training Centre , and Camp Green on Farnham Glacier in southern BC. They also fund two-thirds of the operating and capital costs of the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary.As we increasingly call for greater spectacle in such massive venues (think of the Super Bowl or the World Cup), we are in the process of forgetting that the Games can be held efficiently, economically, and, ultimately, with citizen engagement. Calgary did that. I well recall watching the tube with my kids as Eddie the Eagle performed his magic and Elizabeth Manley was an angel on ice. The kids didn't want to go to bed. For them Calgary still endures as one of the great highlights of their early years. Calgary did that too. But for me it was the volunteers, transported from the city to all the different venues, filling the Olympic Games with the presence of quiet Canadian proficiency and friendliness. That dedication couldn't be supplanted by the shock and awe spectacles that have now become essential to modern sports. Calgary was Olympics at its essence. Vancouver was fantastic and rewarding; Calgary was deeply fulfilling and an ultimate definition of what citizens can do to welcome the world. Sadly, McLuhan was right - we've almost forgotten already.