Games of the XXI Olympiad
Our national pride in hosting the world, and in winning more medals than in the previous two Olympic Games combined (11), was tempered by the fact that Canada did not win a gold medal. Swimmers claimed eight of Canada’s medals, with athletics, canoeing and equestrian boasting the other three. Greg Joy won a silver medal in the high jump event.
Women’s events were included for the first time in basketball, rowing and team handball. Field hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time.
There was an innovation in the transport of the flame with the 1976 Games. The Olympic flame arrived by air, sent in the form of an electronic signal by a telephone cable towards a transmitter in the direction of a satellite from the Intelsat network. It was then forwarded to a receiver where the stored energy activated a laser beam which gave it back its original appearance.
Nadia Comaneci was the star of the Games. The 14-year-old Romanian gymnast caused a sensation when, for her performance on the uneven bars, she was awarded the first-ever perfect score of 10.0. She eventually earned seven 10.0s.
