Crowds sit on the hillside north of Montreal's Olympic Stadium as they await the arrival of Olympic teams ahead of the opening ceremonies at the 1976 Summer Olympics, in Montreal, on Saturday, July 17, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck Stoody
Friday, July 17, 2026, marks 50 years since the opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Here is a look back at some scenes from the first Games on Canadian soil.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2026.
The opening ceremonies of the 1976 Summer Olympics is pictured at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on Saturday, July 17, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESSAbby Hoffman, of Toronto, carries the Canadian flag as she leads her team into Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 1976 Summer Olympics, in Montreal, on Saturday, July 17, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESSSandra Henderson of Toronto, left, and Stephane Prefontaine of Montreal light the Olympic cauldron at Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal on Saturday, July 17, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESSQueen Elizabeth II, left, attends a reception with Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau, second from right, at Montreal’s city hall, on Saturday, July 17, 1976. The Queen opened the 1976 Summer Olympics later that afternoon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HayesRoyalty and dignataries stand for the entrance of Olympic athletes during the opening ceremonies at the Montreal Olympics, on Saturday, July 17, 1976. IOC chairman Lord Killanin stands between Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HayesMontreal Mayor Jean Drapeau, centre, shows off the Olympic Velodrome to IOC President Lord Killanin during a tour of the cycling facilities on July 7, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug BallJohn Wood of Mississauga, Ont., churns his way towards a silver medal win for Canada in the men’s 500-metre canoe singles event in Montreal on July 30, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESSGreg Joy of Vancouver clears the high jump during Olympic finals competition on Aug. 1, 1976, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred ChartrandPrime Minister Pierre Trudeau watches Olympic wrestling, while sons Alexandre (Sacha), 2, centre, and Justin, 4, seem content to watch the crowd, in Montreal on July 24, 1976. THE CANADIAN PRESSThe Olympic flame burns at Olympic Stadium in Montreal as athletes compete at the 1976 Summer Olympics. THE CANADIAN PRESS
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