WinSport gets in the Olympic mood by re-lighting cauldron

President & CEO Barry Heck lit the cauldron and was joined outside the Day Lodge by COO John Sutherland as the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics officially began.

WinSport is transforming into Calgary’s hub for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

With 36 Team Canada athletes (out of 206) coming from Calgary or other southern Alberta communities, some of whom got their start as kids at WinSport, the winter sports venue also possesses a crucial piece of Olympic swag one of the original satellite cauldrons from the 1988 Winter Games.

In recognition of the games officially kicking off Friday, WinSport has relit the cauldron from the ‘88 Games, “joining official cauldron celebrations in Milan’s Peace Arch and Cortina’s Piazza Dibona.”

Live Olympic coverage will be streamed across WinSport at a variety of venues, including the EightyEight Lounge Bar and Grill, the Garden Cafe, WinSport Hockey House and other spaces across the WinSport Centre.

There’s a Canadian medal board on display in the Day Lounge at the Markin MacPhail Centre to track Canada’s progress throughout the games.

Both Thursday Olympic nights have been designated as 1988 Nights which includes throwback prices.

There will be final two-hour lift tickets available for $19.88 (plus GST) and final two-hour advanced access tickets for $24.88 available at guest relations on the north end of the Day Lodge parking lot.

The EightyEight Bar and Grill is offering $5 pints after 5 p.m. on both 1988 Nights.

WinSport is also partnering with the Canadian Olympic Committee to host Team Canada FanFest on Feb. 14 and 15 at Canada Olympic Park. The free event will feature live viewing, appearances by Team Canada athletes, winter sports demonstrations and hands-on activities.

There will also be donation boxes set for fans to contribute Calgary 1988 pins, supporting a future legacy art installation planned for the Day Lodge.

For more information about FanFest, go here.