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OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, THE XV {1988 CALGARY OLYMPICS} {1988/02/27}, PART 8 (TV)

Summary

This program presents a portion of coverage of the 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games from Calgary. Highlights of this portion include coverage of the following events and topics:

Anchor sports commentator Jim McKay presides throughout this portion and introduces various events and highlights.

McKay describes the disappointing results in all areas of United States skiing so far this year. Various athletes and experts weigh in on the problems for the USA ski team, including injuries and internal disorders. Alpine skier Doug Louis states he thinks the problem stems from the lack of communication between coaches, trustees and athletes. USA Alpine Director Harald Schoenhaar points to funding issues. Felix McGrath, a member of the 1988 Calgary team, reiterates the funding problems, pointing out that funding has been low in the 1980s.

Additionally, McKay says that after 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, four medalists were no longer part of the team. Serge Lang, founder of the World Cup Skiing Circuit, reflects on the social and financial components that impact motivation for the USA skiers. President of the U.S. Olympic Committee Robert Helmick looks to 1992 for a new beginning for the USA skiers.

Sports commentators John Morgan and Lynn Swan cover the first run in the four-man bobsled event: in first place is East Germany's sled 1 with a time of 56.16, in second place is Switzerland's sled 2 with a time of 56.39, third place is Canada's sled 1 with a time of 56.66. Tied for fourth place are the USA's sled 1 and the USSR's sled 2 with a time of 56.72.

Bobsled athlete Hans Hiltebrand (Switzerland) is profiled: at 43 years old, he acknowledges that the 1988 Games will be the end of his professional bobsledding career. He is an electrician and owns his own company.

After the second run in the four-man bobsled event, the results stand with East Germany's sled 1 in first place with a time of 1:53.47; the USSR's sled 2 in second place with a time of 1:54.00, Switzerland's sled 1 in third place with a time of 1:54.20, Switzerland's sled 2 in fourth place with a time of 1:54.30, and USA's sled 1 in fifth with a time of 1:54.39.

McKay moves to a segment interviewing George de la Pena, choreographer with The American Ballet Theatre, who is helping to train ladies' figure skater Debi Thomas (USA).

McKay then covers members of the Disabled Ski Team, beginning with an interview with David Jamison (USA). Sports commentators Donna de Varona and Ted Kennedy, Jr. talk about the importance of the sport. Diana Golden (USA), member of the disabled ski team, says that being part of the team is not a matter of courage but of love of the sport, and director of Disabled Skiing for the U.S. Ski Association Jack Benedick says that it gives the athletes confidence in themselves. Also interviewed is member of the disabled ski team, Cathy Gentile (USA).

Women's 1,500-meter speed-skating final results are reported: Yvonne van Gennip (Holland) is in first place with a time of 2:00.68, Karin Kania (East Germany) is in second with a time of 2:00.82, Andrea Ehrig (East Germany) is in third place with a time of 2:01.49, Bonnie Blair (USA) in is fourth with a time of 2:04.02, and Yelena Lapuga (USSR) is in fifth place with a time of 2:04.24.

McKay discusses the mental challenges that can impact an athlete. Figure skaters Janet Lynn (USA) and Charlie Tickner, who won a bronze medal at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, talk about how falling during a competition can alter the rest of the program and future performances. Also shown are Rosalynn Sumners (USA), who won silver at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, and former world champion figure skater Elaine Zayak (USA).

Notable commercials and/or promos include O.J. Simpson and Jamie Lee Curtis for Hertz.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: February 27, 1988 08:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 01:02:23
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:15982
  • GENRE: Sports
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Sports; U.S. Olympic Archive, presented by Gordon Crawford, The; Olympic Games, 1988, Winter, Calgary; Olympics; Bobsleigh, four-man men; Figure Skating, individual women; Short Track Speed Skating, 1500m women
  • SERIES RUN: ABC
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - American Express credit cards
    • TV - Commercials - Apple
    • TV - Commercials - Dow
    • TV - Commercials - IBM computers
    • TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
    • TV - Commercials - Merrill Lynch stocks
    • TV - Commercials - Sprint telephone services

CREDITS

  • Jim McKay … Anchor Sports Commentator
  • Lynn Swann … Sports Commentator
  • John Morgan … Sports Commentator
  • Donna de Varona … Sports Commentator
  • Ted Kennedy Jr. … Sports Commentator
  • Brian Boitano … Athlete, Talent
  • Doug Louis … Athlete
  • David Jamison … Athlete
  • Felix McGrath … Athlete
  • Debi Thomas … Athlete
  • Cathy Gentile … Athlete
  • Bonnie Blair … Athlete
  • Diana Golden … Athlete
  • Yvonne van Gennip … Athlete
  • Karin Kania … Athlete
  • Andrea Ehri … Athlete
  • Yelena Lapuga … Athlete
  • Janet Lynn … Athlete
  • Hans Hiltebrand … Athlete
  • Charlie Tickner … Athlete
  • Rosalynn Sumners … Athlete
  • Elaine Zayak … Athlete
  • Harald Schoenhaar … Guest
  • Serge Lang … Guest
  • Robert Helmick … Guest
  • George de la Pena … Guest
  • Jack Benedick … Guest
  • Jamie Lee Curtis … Talent, Hertz commercial
  • O.J. Simpson … Talent, Hertz Commercial