Canada Olympic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canada Olympic Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
Canada Olympic Park, Summer 2005
|
|
| Location | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Coordinates | 51°04′47″N 114°12′57″W / 51.07972°N 114.21583°W |
| Top elevation | 1,250 m (4,100 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1,130 m (3,710 ft) |
| Skiable area | 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi) |
| Runs | 3 25% - Easy 55% - Intermediate 20% - Terrain Park |
| Longest run | 639 m (2,096 ft) |
| Lift system | 4 chairlifts, 4 magic carpet |
| Snowfall | 1.14 m (3.7 ft) /year |
| Website | WinSport |
Canada Olympic Park (COP) is a famous sports center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It used to be called Paskapoo Ski Hill. This park is a place for both serious athletes and everyday visitors. It's owned and run by an organization called WinSport.
Canada Olympic Park was a key location for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Many exciting events like ski jumping, bobsleigh, and luge happened here. The park is in western Calgary, near the Trans-Canada Highway.
Contents
Canada Olympic Park: A Legacy of the 1988 Winter Olympics
Canada Olympic Park is one of the most important reminders of the 1988 Winter Olympics. These Olympic Games took place in Calgary in 1988. The park was the main spot for many winter sports.
It hosted bobsleigh and luge races on its special track. Other events included nordic combined, ski jumping, and freestyle skiing.
Fun Activities and Facilities at COP
Canada Olympic Park offers many exciting things to do all year round. In winter, you can enjoy classic snow sports. In summer, the park changes for warm-weather fun. There are also indoor facilities open every day.
Winter Sports: Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
.jpg)
Canada Olympic Park is a great place for skiing and snowboarding. It's perfect if you don't want to drive far to the mountains. The ski hill has three main parts.
There's a section for downhill racing. Another part is for casual skiing and riding. The third part is a special terrain park. This park is known for being really good. In 2006, its halfpipe was made to be just like the one used in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The terrain park also has cool features like spines, handrails, and tables for tricks.
The park uses six lifts regularly to get people up the hill. There are two fast four-person chairlifts. There is also one fixed four-person chairlift. Four Magic Carpets help beginners and kids.
How Snow is Made at COP
Canada Olympic Park mostly uses man-made snow for its slopes. Snowmaking usually starts in early December. It continues until early February, depending on the weather. The park has lots of snowmaking machines. These include special fan guns and stick guns.
A pump station on site provides water and air. This water is sent to hydrants around the hill. When working at full power, the park uses a lot of water. It uses about 850,000 liters per hour!
Ski Jumping: Soaring Through the Air
WinSport also has a special area for ski jumping at Canada Olympic Park. This facility has six different jumps. They range in size from K4 (small) to K95 (large).
Three of these jumps are used all year long. These are the K18, K38, and K63 jumps. The K4 and K89 jumps are only used in the summer. The biggest jump, the K95, is not used for jumping anymore. It's now a place for parties and events.
About 28,000 jumps happen here each year. Most of these jumps take place in the summer. The Altius Nordic SC club calls this ski jump venue home.
Summer Fun: Mountain Biking and More
In the summer, Canada Olympic Park opens for mountain biking. You can put your bike on the high-speed chairlift. Then you ride up and bike down the trails. There are many trails on the west side of the hill. Some have cool wooden structures and narrow paths.
The east side has regular trails with fewer stunts. COP also has a downhill course for competitions. The trails are made for all skill levels. There's also a large dirt jump park and a trials park. Summer sports camps run all season. They offer activities from luge to ski jumping.
WinSport Arenas: Ice Sports and Events
In 2011, WinSport opened its amazing ice facility. It has four ice rinks inside. One arena is international size and seats 3000 people. Three other rinks are NHL-sized.
These arenas are used for many ice sports. People play curling, figure skating, and hockey here. They also host concerts, shows, and other sports events. In 2013, Hockey Canada even held a special camp here. It was for Canadian hockey players hoping to go to the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Markin-MacPhail Centre: Training for Champions
The Markin-MacPhail Centre was finished in 2014. It's named after its supporters, Allan Markin and Keith MacPhail. This center is a top training spot for Canadian athletes. It's for those who have reached a high level in their sport.
The center includes the ice arenas. It also has a gymnasium and a medical center. Athletes can get treatment and recover there. There's also an office tower. It houses the National Sport School and several national sports organizations.
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame: Celebrating Canadian Athletes
On October 28, 2008, Calgary was chosen to be the permanent home of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (CSHOF). This is a special place that celebrates famous Canadian athletes. The building was built on land given by the former Calgary Olympic Development Association. This group is now called Canadian Winter Sport Institute or WinSport Canada.
The Hall of Fame opened to the public on July 1, 2011. This was on Canada Day, a national holiday. It's now the only sports museum at Canada Olympic Park. The old Olympic Museum became a training site for athletes.
Future Plans for Canada Olympic Park
WinSport Canada has plans for future development at Canada Olympic Park. In 2012, city leaders voted against a very large retail center. However, WinSport can still develop the land with smaller projects over time. These projects will be designed to be helpful and long-lasting for the park.
