Answers revealed in the comments. Also other notes about the questions…
GAME 1
According to Google’s “Year in Search” for 2017, which found search terms with a high spike in traffic compared to 2016, two of the top three “How to” searches in the U.S. were related to the same event. Name that event.
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Solar Eclipse
GAME 2
A speed skater finished eighth in the 500m event in 1984, before returning to win the gold medal in that same event in each of the next three Winter Olympics. Name that athlete.
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hebspeaks 
Game one answer: Solar eclipse
Game two answer: Bonnie Blair
Our bar’s questions differed slightly from these. In question one, we were given the word “topic” instead of the word “event.” In question two, we were not given the clue that the correct person was a speed skater.