Wonderful limited edition bronze sculpture entitled ‘Five Alive,’ presented to Paula Andrews for her work as the mayor of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Village and as a member of the Calgary Winter Olympic Organizing Committee (OCO ’88) Board of Directors. Designed by noted sculptor, rancher, and horse trainer Gina McDougall, the statue depicts a colt rearing from atop a base that features the Calgary logo to front, and mountain and wilderness designs to the sides and back, the latter of which is numbered 31/88 and engraved “Gina, 1984.” The statue stands 11.25″ in height and is set on a 4.5″ x 4″ x 1.75″ wooden base with engraved plaques to the front and back: “Paul Andrews, In Appreciation, XV Olympic Winter Games” and “‘Five Alive,’ Gina.” In fine condition.
Accompanied by a detailed letter of provenance from Andrews, which reads: “The Calgary ‘88 Winter Olympics staged the Cross Country and Biathlon events at the Canmore Nordic Centre located just outside the town of Canmore, Alberta. As mayor of Canmore, I was appointed to the Calgary Olympic Development Association Board of Directors (CODA) and later to the Calgary Olympic ‘88 (OCO ‘88) Board of Directors. (From 1983 until after the ‘88 Olympics)
I worked closely with staff on the planning, development and operation of athletes village for the Cross Country and Biathlon athletes. I was appointed, by the OCO ‘88 Board of Directors, to the position of mayor of this athletes village. Providing a home for athletes during the Olympics involves everything from housing, food services, and health care to training facilities, transportation and anything else needed by athletes in their home.
My involvement with the Olympics as a board member and especially as mayor of the athletes village resulted in the most challenging and time consuming volunteer positions I have ever held. However the work I completed for the 88 Winter Olympics was also the most rewarding volunteer experience in my life.
As a thank you for my work I received a few gifts. Some I regifted to other volunteers, or donated to the town and Nordic Centre, and some, such as a set of medals and participation medallions, a torch used in the torch relay and a sculpture of a horse I was given for my work on the OCO ‘88 Board, are in today’s Olympic Auction."
