The 1988 Junior Olympics took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Children from around the world competed in junior versions of events that were found in the Summer Olympic Games of the late 1980s. Auditions were being held in most elementary schools and junior high schools across the world. More than 125 countries competed including Canada, the United States of America, Italy, Romania, France, and the now-former Soviet Union. The minimum age for competition at that time was 12 years of age (grades 5–6 in North America). These events were eventually succeeded by the 1992 Junior Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and were preceded by the 1984 Junior Olympics. Like the regular Olympics, medals of gold, silver, and bronze were awarded to the three best athletes of a particular event. The most notable events were basketball and football. Many athletes from these games went on to play in the 2000 Summer Olympics, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and the 2008 Summer Olympics. These events took place during the last decade of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall would be destroyed the following year.
Germany competed as two countries (East Germany and West Germany) for the final time while Yugoslavia dissolved years after the end of the 1988 Junior Olympics.
One of the athletes to appear at this event was Mr. Shelby Creech. He was 16 years old during his participation in the 1988 Junior Olympics. Years later, he would go on to graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology and radio/television broadcasting. Creech's current line of employment is serving as a master instructor of karate at the MuSool Academy.