From Western Roots to Winter Olympic Glory: The Calgary Stampede’s Olympic Connection

As the world turns its attention to the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy, Calgary is once again reminded of the deep connection our city and the Calgary Stampede have with the Olympic movement.

“The 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary really leaned on the same community spirit that the Stampede had already built,” shares Jessica Smallman, Calgary Stampede Collections Specialist. “A lot of volunteers either came from the Stampede or started with the Olympics and later became Stampede volunteers.”

That spirit wasn’t just behind the scenes, it was front and center. During the 1988 Olympics, the Stampede played an active role in bringing Western culture to the international stage. The Calgary Stampede Showband performed during the Opening Ceremonies, complete with custom red rubber boots so the musicians could safely march on ice. Chuckwagons and members of Elbow River Camp also rode into McMahon Stadium in a powerful display of Indigenous and Western heritage.

The Stampede even hosted a special Olympic-inspired rodeo during the games, earning the organization a unique set of gold, silver and bronze medals, awarded by the International Olympic Committee in recognition of the Stampede’s contribution. Today, these rare artifacts remain part of Sam Centre's collection, preserving a moment when Calgary’s Western roots met the world stage.

The Olympic connection doesn't stop there, though. Artifacts on display at the Sam Centre include an extensive collection of Olympic pins. “Pin collecting really exploded during the Olympics,” explains Smallman. “And that tradition still lives on, just like Stampede pins, which date back to the 1800s.”

The Olympic spirit has also long been celebrated through the Calgary Stampede Parade, which has welcomed many Canadian Olympians as Parade Marshals:

• 1967 – Nancy Greene (Raine), Alpine Skiing
• 1984 – Gaétan Boucher, Long Track Speed Skating
• 1987 – Todd Brooker & Laurie Graham, Alpine Skiing
• 1988 – Tracy Wilson, Robert McCall & Brian Orser, Figure Skating
• 2002 – Catriona Le May Doan, Long Track Speed Skating
• 2006 – Sara Renner, Cross-Country Skiing
• 2014 – Gilmore Junio & Denny Morrison, Long Track Speed Skating (Honorary Parade Marshals)
• 2015 – Kaillie Humphries, Bobsleigh
• 2018 – Mark McMorris, Snowboarding

As the Games begin in early February, join us in cheering on Team Canada and celebrating the athletes who continue to inspire a nation. Visitors are also invited to experience the Stampede’s Olympic legacy firsthand at Sam Centre, where a specially curated exhibit of Olympic-related artifacts will be on display throughout the 2026 Winter Games.