Olympic Valley

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English

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WOTD – 26 July 2024

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Olympic +‎ valley, referring to Olympia, in the valley of the Alfeiós River in Greece, where the Ancient Olympic Games were held.

Proper noun

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Olympic Valley

  1. A valley formed by the river Alpheus, Ilia, Greece, site of Olympia.
    Synonyms: Alfeios Valley, Alpheus Valley
Translations
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Etymology 2

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From Olympic +‎ valley, referring to the 1960 Winter Olympics which were held there. The term was coined by the United States congressman from California Bernice Frederic Sisk (1910–1995) in 1958, to distinguish up-and-coming Squaw Valley in Placer County from the more established community of Squaw Valley in Fresno County, which he represented in Congress.[1][2][3] Based on this recommendation, the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decided on August 28, 1958, that Squaw Valley would only refer to the community in Fresno County. This name later gained popularity as an alternative to Fresno's Squaw Valley as the pejorative sense of squaw became more widely recognized. In September 2022, the BGN officially renamed the valley.[4][5]

Proper noun

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Olympic Valley

Olympic Valley, California. U.S.A.
  1. An unincorporated community in Placer County, California, United States.
    Synonym: (dated, informal) Squaw Valley
    • 1960 January 6, George Patterson, “The Stamp Window”, in Paterson Evening News, Paterson, N.J.: News Printing Co., →OCLC, page 11:
      The Eighth Olympic Winter Games, which start Feb. 18 in California's "Olympic Valley," will be marked by a 4-cent commemorative stamp which features the five entwined circles, Olympic symbol, and a snow crystal which fixes the time of the year. […] The stamp will have its first-day ceremony at the "Olympic Valley, California" postal station, set up especially by the Tahoe City Post Office at the site of the games to accommodate athletes and visitors.
    • 2007, “Lake Tahoe”, in Carissa Bluestone, Amanda Theunissen, Paul Eisenberg, Michael Nalepa, William Travis, editors, Fodor’s 07: California (Fodor’s California), New York, N.Y.: Fodor’s Travel Publications, →ISBN, →ISSN, pages 734–735:
      [page 734] The centerpiece of Olympic Valley is the Village at Squaw Valley […] a pedestrian mall at the base of several four-story ersatz-Bavarian-style stone-and-timber buildings, where you’ll find restaurants, high-end condo rentals, boutiques, and cafés. […] [page 735] The best restaurant at Olympic Valley is also the finest in the entire Tahoe Basin, the epitome of discreet chic and a must-visit for all serious foodies.
    • 2010 February 10, Craig Hill, “A sparkling achievement: Vonn, Olympic Valley’s Mancuso finish 1-2 in women’s downhill”, in The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Calif.: McClatchy Newspapers, sourced from The Tacoma News Tribune, →ISSN, →OCLC, image caption, page C1, column 2:
      Julia Mancuso (10), who grew up in Olympic Valley, and Lindsey Vonn celebrate their downhill medals.
  2. (optionally with the) A valley in the Sierra Nevada, Placer County, California, United States, named after this community.
    Synonym: (proscribed) Squaw Valley
    • 1994, Corey Sandler, “Four Fabulous Day Trips from Reno”, in Econoguide to Las Vegas, Stamford, Conn.: Longmeadow Press, →ISBN, part III (Reno, Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe), page 223:
      To go to Squaw Valley, instead of taking Route 267 continue on around the lake a bit to Tahoe City and pick up Highway 89, which will enter the Olympic Valley.
    • 2002 December 1, Ryan Randazzo, “Resort’s president exemplifies what’s right with Squaw”, in Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nev.: Reno Newspapers, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7E, column 2:
      Just about everyone knows the mountains, lifts, snow and sunshine combine above the Olympic Valley to create ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding.
    • 2021 July 24, Scott Sonner, “Critics bid to overturn approval of expansion”, in The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Calif.: McClatchy Newspapers, sourced from Associated Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3A, column 2:
      Opponents say the development will double the population of Olympic Valley. They say 40% of the new traffic generated will travel into the basin, increasing the amount of sediment transported to the lake and raising nitrate emissions—two major threats to Tahoe's world-renowned clarity.
Translations
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References

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  1. ^ “Tug-of-war over Squaw Valley name resolved”, in Auburn Journal, Auburn, Calif.: Gold Country Media, 1958 April 10, →OCLC, page B-4.
  2. ^ [George Paul] Miller (1958 March 13) “Authorizing Certain Activities by the Armed Forces in Support of the VIII Olympic Winter Games”, in Reports and Documents (85th Congress, 2d Session, House of Representatives Report; no. 1499)‎[1], volume 5, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 3.
  3. ^ “Full Committee Consideration of Subcommittee No. 1 Resolutions Relating to National Guard and Reserves, Miscellaneous Real Estate Projects, and S. 3262, Authorizing Certain Activities by the Armed Forces in Support of VIII Olympic Winter Games”, in Hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Eighty-fifth Congress, Second Session Pursuant to H. Res. 67 […], Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1958 March 11, →OCLC, page 5067
  4. ^ Darrell Smith (2022 September 8) “Squaw removed from place names across US, California by feds”, in The Sacramento Bee‎[2], Sacramento, Calif.: McClatchy Newspapers, →ISSN, →OCLC, retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ “Official Replacement Names for Sq___”, in Geographic Names Information System‎[3], Reston, Va.: United States Geological Survey, 2023 January 13, retrieved 13 July 2024

Further reading

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