FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 30, 2008

EDDIE THE EAGLE EDWARDS, CANADIAN MEDALLISTS, DAVID FOSTER AND JAMAICAN BOBSLEIGH PILOT HEADLINE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OLYMPIC CELEBRATIONS

CODA to hold free Olympic-sized party in Calgary to celebrate Canadian winter sport excellence

CALGARY--The most infamous and unforgettable personalities of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games including British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle Edwards, David Foster, Elizabeth Manley, Tracy Wilson, the pilot of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, along with the Games' volunteers and dignitaries, will come together with Canadians to celebrate the 20th anniversary of those opening ceremonies during a giant public celebration and ski night at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, on February 13, 2008.

The free, fun-filled celebration at Canada's flagship Olympic legacy venue, which will build on Calgary’s volunteer spirit, is the first of several events CODA will hold to showcase the on-going record impact the XV Olympic Winter Games continues to have on Canada's winter sport performance, and rising international medal count.

"CODA wants to give everyone, especially the thousands of volunteers who gave the world the 'Best Ever' Olympic Winter Games, the opportunity to relive the magic of 1988 by coming together once again in Calgary before handing off the torch to our neighbours in British Columbia," said Guy Huntingford, president and chief executive officer, CODA, who is encouraging Canadians to wear their 1988 Olympic clothing at the event.

The February 13 retro party, which is scheduled from 5:30-9:30 p.m., will include free skiing and entry to the Hall of Fame, a fireworks display, an athlete snow-sport demonstration, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, and live music by the Mocking Shadows at the base of the ski hill. Davis Foster, composer of the theme song for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, will kick off the action as guests are reintroduced to Canada’s Olympic medallists in figure skating, Elizabeth Manley and Tracy Wilson, along with Eddie the Eagle Edwards and Devon Harris, the pilot of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team.

The media fixation in 1988, Eddie Edwards who was 24 years old then, won the hearts of millions while becoming the first man ever to represent Britain in an Olympic ski jumping event. Edwards will participate in the anniversary festivities while on a 10-day tour of the province with his family. The Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, led by Devon Harris, also made history on Calgary’s Olympic Track. Harris will be prominently featured in the Jamaican-themed lounge throughout the evening.

"Hosting the Olympics changed this city, province and country forever. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate our roots, but also showcase the important role these facilities continue to play in providing Canadian athletes with the critical tools and resources needed to achieve excellence each year," said Huntingford.

During the two-week celebration, CODA will also showcase the Olympic Track and Canada’s sliding sport athletes with a Public Luge Race.

For $10 participants will receive instruction by Canada's high-performance luge athletes, and receive one shot at posting the fastest time on the track in a fun luge race, current scheduled for Saturday, February 17. Starting on the lower part of the Olympic Track, the fastest three times of the day for men and women will win significant prize packages, and a spot on the podium. The podium will be located in the middle of a celebration at the finish line of the Olympic Track that will also include bands, athlete autograph signings and a barbecue. All proceeds for the event will go towards supporting the Canadian luge program.

Canada did not win any medals in the sliding sports of bobsleigh, skeleton and luge in 1988. However, through facilities like the Olympic Track and the Ice House – the world’s only indoor start training facility – which CODA added to Canada Olympic Park seven years ago, athletes in the three sports have combined to win nearly 150 international medals. Canada's sliding sport athletes have won 23 medals this season alone.

"CODA's world-unique training and competition facilities, like the Ice House, have allowed Canadian athletes the opportunity to set record medal counts at every Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Huntingford. "From five medals in 1988 to a record 24 medals in 2006, we are going use this moment in history to celebrate our rising medal count in all sports, while showcasing CODA's ambitious plans that will deliver even more medals for Canada well into the future."

CODA is a national leader in creating Canadian Olympic winter sport excellence from the grassroots level to the country's best athletes. A not-for-profit organization, CODA supports national sport organizations, encourages educational opportunities and subsidizes the operation of unique training and recreational facilities used by the nation's top athletes and the general public. For more information on CODA please visit us at www.coda.ca on the Internet.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Director of Communications, CODA
C: 403-470-9546
T: 403-247-5423
E-mail: cdornan@coda.ca

CODA's Vision: Creating Canadian Olympic Winter Sport Excellence