The torch has been lit and the...

The torch has been lit and the XV Winter Olympic Games are under way in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

For the next two weeks, ABC will be providing extensive coverage as athletes from around the world compete in such Olympic winter sports as bobsled, luge, ski jumping, Alpine skiing, speed skating, figure skating and hockey.

ABC paid a record $309 million for the broadcast rights to carry these Games, and has scheduled 94 1/2 hours of coverage, most of it in prime time.

Veteran Olympic anchorman Jim McKay (seen on the cover) will be in his anchor role again, with Frank Gifford, Keith Jackson, Al Michaels, Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, Bob Beattie, Mike Eruzione, Eric Heiden and Donna de Varona assigned to various venues.

The competition continues through Feb. 28, when the Winter Olympic torch will be extinguished and thoughts will turn to the Summer Games coming up in September from Seoul, Korea.