February 13, 1980- Opening Ceremony for 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day, Feb. 13, 1980, the Winter Olympics began in Lake Placid.

The year was unusually dry, so there was very little snow on the Mountains around Lake Placid.

To make sure there would be snow, Olympic organizers used snow machines for the first time in history to make snow.

Lake Placid’s Games also started the volunteer network that is still used in the Olympics today.

The 1980 Winter Olympic Games marked the first time thousands of volunteers helped with everything from slope set-up to parking attendants.

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