4. The innovations

Image: The Walt Disney Family Museum

True to Disney's style, he introduced a lot of really innovative, game changing ideas that would change the Olympics themselves forever. Here are some of the things introduced at the 1960 Olympics, many thanks to the contributions of Walt Disney and friends.

• Previously, Olympic athletes and guests stayed in local hotels and homes. That wasn’t possible in Squaw Valley because of its remote location, which required the building of the first ever Olympic Village.

• So much new technology was used at the 1960 Olympics that The Walt Disney Family Museum described the Games as “EPCOT on ice.” Artificial ice was first used there, they used new timekeeping equipment, and for the first time waste heat from the refrigeration plant heated the buildings.

• Television rights were sold for the first time, to CBS for just $50,000.

• Walt Disney came up with the idea to plant thirty steel poles for the flags of all the nations participating in the Squaw Valley Olumpics. Each was sponsored by a company included a plaque from Walt thanking them for their contributions. The flagpoles were sold from a range of just $500 to $600. This was the first time corporate sponsorship was utilized at the Games.

5. The Disney magic

Image: Disney

The opening and closing ceremonies were widely acclaimed, thanks to the work of Walt Disney and friends. At one point Olympic officials protested the high costs of his very elaborate plans, but Walt declared, "Either we're going to do it the right way or Disney will pull out.” Everyone who was there to experience those ceremonies and everyone who watched on television is surely grateful that the officials gave in so that we got a very special piece of Disney history.