POSTED: February 13th 2010
NewsUpdate
Vancouver crowd hails Georgian team at Games' Opening Ceremony
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
VANCOUVER: Georgia’s team received a standing ovation from the 60,000 capacity crowd as the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony was dedicated to luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who had died after a training accident earlier in the day at the Whistler Sliding Centre. A minute’s silence was observed in his honour, while the Georgian team wore black armbands as they marched.
Canada’s aboriginal first nations played a central role in the ceremony, which was held indoors for the first time in Olympic history. Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado, among others, provided musical entertainment to accompany the exuberant dancing and visual storytelling.
John Furlong, ceo of the Vancouver Organising Committee, addressed an estimated worldwide television audience of three billion as he encouraged the athletes to “seize the moment and inspire the youth of the world with your heroic efforts”.
The Olympic Flag was carried into the stadium by a group of distinguished athletes, artists and campaigners, including the film star Donald Sutherland and the racing driver Jacques Villeneuve.
Official declaration
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, then invited Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean to declare the Games of the XXI Olympic Winter Games officially open. The athletes’ oath was taken by the Canadian ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser.
Finally the Olympic Flame entered the stadium in relay between various Canadian sportsmen and women including basketball player Steve Nash and ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. A tension-racked brief delay, as one of the torch pillars failed to rise, preceded the eventual lighting ceremony.
Watched by a Canadian record TV audience of 13m, the Games were under way.
Keywords · 2010 Winter Olympics · Vancouver · Georgia · Rogge · Gretzky
For more information contact:
Laura Walden ()
All original materials contained in this section are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Sports Features Communications, Inc the owner of that content. It is prohibited to alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
