[buzzard]

I remember Beta. In 1998, I had two VCR’s recording the Calgary Opening Ceremonies – Beta on the American broadcast, Standard on the Canadian broadcast. No satellite in those days – one feed on cable, another feed on antenna – that was pretty high tech in those days.

Lots of memories from that:

At the start - “Mesdames et messieurs nous presentons Ian Tyson et Gordon Lightfoot”
Four Strong Winds with some neat wide-view footage of the Callico Dancers doing precision dancing, reminiscent of the June Taylor dancers on the Jackie Gleason Show (how old do you have to be to pull out that reference?).

On the Canadian broadcast, I remember being annoyed at Don Whitman when they started playing Alberta Bound and he pointed out the obvious “This is a famous one” and hoping that he wouldn’t keep talking over the performance – fortunately he didn’t.

All of the athletes and then-Premier of Alberta Peter Lougheed clapping along.

Hard to believe that was 22 years ago. In another week and a half we’ll be hosting another winter Olympics. Go Canada!

Brian