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The site of alpine skiing at the 1960 Winter Olympics is still used as a ski resort today.
The Tower of Nations, now located at the entrance of the valley, stands 79 feet tall and 29 feet wide. Crowned with the five Olympic rings, each eight feet in diameter, it displays the crests of all the competing nations.
The VIII Olympics was highlighted by 34 nations competing in 15 alpine and ski jumping events, 8 speed skiing contests, 3 figure skating competitions and 28 hockey matches. Appearing for the first time at this Olympic was women's speed skiing and the men's biathlon, a combination of Nordic skiing and rifle marksmanship.
Notable Events and Achievements
- First Winter Olympics Games to be televised
- First time computers were used to tabulate the results
- Walt Disney choreographed the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
- Frenchman Jean Vuarnet was the first to compete on metal skis, winning the men's downhill gold medal.
- Veikko Hakulinen, Finnish cross-country skier, was the only athlete at Squaw Valley to claim three medals.
- An unsung U.S. Hockey Team stunned a highly-favored Soviet squad 3-2 and then overwhelmed Czechoslovakia 9-4 to capture its first-ever gold medal.
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