The emblem is a line that forms the Adirondacks, which turns into a column on the left, paying tribute the ancient Olympic games. On the top of the column it is serrated to hold the Olympic rings. This represents a double cauldron, acknowledging that the Olympics were also held in Lake Placid in 1932. |
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| Host city | Lake Placid, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Nations participating | 37 |
| Athletes participating | 1072 (840 men, 232 women) |
| Events | 38 in 6 sports |
| Opening ceremony | February 14 |
| Closing ceremony | February 23 |
| Officially opened by | Vice President Walter Mondale |
| Athlete's Oath | Eric Heiden |
| Judge's Oath | Terry McDermott |
| Olympic Torch | Charles Gugino |
| Stadium | Lake Placid Equestrian Stadium |
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932. The only other candidate city to bid for the Games was Vancouver-Garibaldi, British Columbia, Canada; which withdrew before the final vote.
The mascots of the Games were "Roni" and "Ronny", two raccoons. The mask-like rings on a raccoon's face recall the goggles and hats worn by many athletes in winter sports.
The sports were played at the Olympic Center (later renamed Herb Brooks Arena), Whiteface Mt., Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run, , the Olympic Ski Jumps, the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center, and the Lake Placid High School Speed Skating Oval.
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The most notable highlight of the Games involved the United States men's ice hockey team. The team was composed mostly of collegiate players and was not predicted to advance beyond group play. They won the gold medal, defeating the heavily favored Soviet team and Finland in the medal round. The United States team's 4–3 win over the Soviet team, which came into the 1980 Games having won 4 consecutive Olympic gold medals, became known as the "Miracle on Ice" in the US press. The win captured the hearts of Americans during a time of Cold War tensions, even though it was the win against Finland that captured the gold medal. A film about the event, called Miracle, was released in 2004.
Other notable highlights included:
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
Critics decried poorly planned transportation which left spectators waiting for hours in freezing weather, and some athletes complained about lousy accommodations at the Olympic village, where the dorms would later be turned into a prison. The supply and demand for event tickets never merged, as would-be buyers were unable to buy unsold tickets because only those who already had a ticket could enter ticket-sales areas at venues.[1] Unsold tickets are still being sold as souvenirs at several local tourist shops, including the Olympic Regional Development Association's gift shop at the Olympic Arena. The former Will Rogers Memorial Hospital was briefly used as press headquarters.[2]
(Host nation highlighted)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soviet Union | 10 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
| 2 | East Germany (GDR) | 9 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| 3 | United States | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| 4 | Austria | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Sweden | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Finland | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Norway | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
36 NOCs participated. United States President Jimmy Carter had already called for the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, leading to a great deal of tension at the Games. Nevertheless, the USSR and its allies participated (though the USSR didn't participate in the 1984 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles).
Cyprus made their Olympic debut at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The People's Republic of China and Costa Rica both made their Winter Olympic debut. The Republic of China had boycotted the Games over the IOC's recognition of the PRC as "China", and its request for the Republic of China to compete as "Chinese Taipei".[3]
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The official theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics was "Give It All You Got" by the American flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione, who performed the song (along with the song "Pina Colada") live at the Closing Ceremonies, with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (Canada).[4]
| Preceded by Innsbruck |
Winter Olympics Lake Placid XIII Olympic Winter Games (1980) |
Succeeded by Sarajevo |
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