1980 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

Here are portions of the 1980 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at Lake Placid, NY, as viewed from the stands. Shot on 8mm film and digitized by PC Projects LLC.

[@ItalianOrlando]

42 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was there as a performer in opening and closing ceremonies.

[@Sk-bt9fn]

Were you in the 27th lancers?

[@ItalianOrlando]

@@Sk-bt9fn Yes. Marching member 77-78 and Drumline staff 79-84.

[@ernestbuckley8671]

This was a magical time period. Something about the rare beauty of the Adirondacks, snow, and all the colors of the Olympics really made this opening ceremony standout. Visited Lake Placid in 2016, still a beautiful small town in upstate NY.

[@mikeobrien901]

Bring it back to placid. Love to see a smaller down to earth Olympics

[@mitchc6040]

Amazing and so great the winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid.

[@MediaProSB101]

I went up to Placid for these games - my friend Greg lived up there. I was living in NYC. He got tickets for several of the events. Helped me get a gig for the two weeks the Olympics would be in town. I will never forget it. Something we did then, you could never do now... a friend's brother worked for Sports Illustrated, covering the games, natch. He gave a 'gold' ticket to the opening ceremony to his brother we'll call Lucky. They all lived in Placid and knew the lay of the land. Once Greg was in, he walked over to the chain link fence and carefully passed the gold ticket through to the next person, and repeated the steps till I think we got 8 people in on that one ticket. Going out on the Lake every night to watch the laser and fireworks show, and the medal ceremonies... was a great experience. Thanks for the footage!

[@roberts.2536]

What an incredible setting. There's nothing like the Adirondacks! I like how the ceremonies used to take place in the daytime, when you could see the winter scenery. My uncle was very good friends with the late Dr. Charles Morgan Kerr, the torchbearer at Lake Placid. They ran a few Boston Marathons together.

[@ebstus]

Great footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@chiriladorin-alexandru2776]

40 years ago.

[@MoreAwsomeMetal]

Things were way more formal back then! The opening ceremonies have really became a huge show in so little time, under the presidency of Juan Antonio Samaranch!

[@samholden9660]

God 1980 looks old😩😭

[@vanillaexplosion99]

Yea but the men had a lot more natural testosterone than men from today and the women well you would know if you were there. Its a sad state American men and women are today.

[@beckybetancourt3521]

its almost government old. My grandma got this great cheese when she turned 65!

[@UrLocalSergioalberto.2001]

Década de Los 80

[@emilyjones3845]

Is the torch where it still stands today?

[@skittlecar1]

Yes it is. At the horse show grounds.

[@emilyjones3845]

@@skittlecar1 I thought so! Thanks :)

[@skittlecar1]

@@emilyjones3845 It's strange. You can go stand by it, alone, without another soul in sight. And at one point, the whole world was watching it.

[@emilyjones3845]

@@skittlecar1 huh I’ve never thought of it that way, such a good perspective. I’ve been there so many times, always the only one in sight, next time I’m there I’m sure I’ll be thinking of your point. Kind of eerie and cool all at once

[@bigovdawg]

yes, i live here. beautiful town. come check in out at the horse show grounds