Flame on! Excellence in Motion at Olympic Oval features rare collection of Winter Olympic torches

When Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988, Usman Jutt was a four year-old living in Edmonton, so his personal memories of this moment, utterly transformative for the city, are almost nil, relegated to a Calgary Olympics sticker on the bumper of his dad’s car. 

But growing up in a low-income home, the oldest of eight kids, sports became a sanctuary for Jutt, and he came to realize just how meaningful the ’88 Olympics was for Calgary. The significance of that historical moment remains poignant today, as the countdown begins for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, set to kick off Feb. 6 in Milano-Cortina, Italy. 

Jutt’s passion for the Olympics is so great that he was among those who lobbied for Calgary to host the Winter Olympics once again this year. He’s still saddened that push was unsuccessful. But, as an accomplished entrepreneur, he’s also had the means to indulge a rather rare hobby. The 41 year-old is president and CEO of Chirp, co-chairman of the Calgary Surge basketball team, and an avid collector of Olympic torches. 

The first torch he acquired was the one that lit the Olympic Cauldron at the ’88 Games, fashioned in the likeness of the Calgary Tower. Thus began his collection. In an interview for this story, he was uncertain just how many torches he’s accumulated, but he’s now short a few as he has donated a part of his collection to Excellence in Motion, a gallery of Winter Olympic torches to be unveiled today (Friday, Jan. 30) at the Olympic Oval located in the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Kinesiology. 

The permanent display, which also includes a few torches obtained by UCalgary, tells the story of the previous 10 Winter Olympic Games, beginning with the ’88 Calgary torch and leading up to the 2022 torch from Beijing, China. Lillehammer (1994), Vancouver (2010) and Sochi (2014) are among the nine torches on display. The only torch missing is from the ’98 games in Nagano, Japan.

Exhibit celebrates Oval's role in sports history

Excellence in Motion highlights Calgary’s place in Olympic history, as well as the legacy of the Olympic Oval. 

“The impact the ’88 Olympics had on Calgary is undeniable,” says Jutt. “From the Jamaican bobsled team to Eddie the Eagle, people came to know Calgary internationally because of the Games.... These were fascinating nation-building moments for Canadian national identity.” 

Mark Messer, renowned icemaker and director of the Olympic Oval, concurs. “It was absolutely transformational and it brought us as a city to the world,” he writes in an email from Milan, where he’s employing his expertise for the upcoming Games. He recalls the pride Calgarians felt hosting the Olympics, which is deeply felt to this day. “I still get excited remembering those Games, almost 40 years ago.”  

Calgary’s infrastructure also benefited massively, Messer notes. New roads and the light-rail transit system were built in preparation for the Games, along with such legacy venues as Canada Olympic Park, Olympic Plaza, the Saddledome and, of course, our Olympic Oval. 

Jutt is grateful for that sports infrastructure, which created opportunities for him to participate in sports, despite his family’s financial limitations. “The ’88 Games laid a monumental framework for Calgary from which generations of kids benefited,” he says. “Today, though, that infrastructure is flagging and the Olympic Oval is a good example of that. It’s seen better days.” 

A reminder of the Oval's importance

It's no secret that while the Olympic Oval has been maintained for four decades, it’s now at a point in its life cycle where real investment is needed to allow the fastest ice on earth to serve the next generations of skaters, from learners to Olympians. 

“This is a city-building opportunity and a generational investment,” Jutt says. “It would be a devastating if the Olympic Oval closed. We need to be advocating for its future because it really is a special place that can empower future generations.” 

This is why Excellence in Motion is such a meaningful tribute to the Olympic Oval, adds Dr. Nick Holt, PhD, dean of the Faculty Kinesiology. “It’s a display celebrating both Olympic history and the remarkable athletes who have trained here,” he says. “It tells a story of legacy, performance and Calgary’s place in Olympic history.” 

Beyond the economics, Jutt believes the Olympic Oval is a powerful symbol of how Calgary is connected to the world. 

As per tradition, the Olympic flame originates from the “eternal flame” in Greece, derived from atop Mount Olympus. The flame is collected and passed from torch to torch across the globe, eventually making its way to the host city and its ceremonial torch. 

“This is where that ’88 Olympic cauldron was lit, by an eternal flame that had travelled around the world,” says Jutt. “Calgary played a significant role in Olympic history. That’s something that should always be honoured.”