Vancouver welcomed the world in grand fashion Friday – a day marred by the tragic death of an athlete in Whistler – as the Olympic cauldron was lit and the 21st Winter Olympiad declared open.
The crowd of 60,000 at B.C. Place roared as the flame — carried by Rick Hansen and Catriona LeMay Doan, and lit by Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, and Nancy Greene — zipped up three crossed support beams to ignite the sparkling cauldron. (The hydraulic arm that was to lift the fourth beam, which LeMay Doan was supposed to light, failed to rise.)
From there, Gretzky carried the torch out of B.C. Place and transported it in the back of a pickup to light the external torch at the Athlete’s Village.
The spectacular three-hour-plus Opening Ceremonies carried a sombre undertone, however, as only hours before its start, Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed following a luge accident during a training run at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
“At these Games,” VANOC CEO John Furlong said to the athletes during his opening speech, “you now have the added burden to shine and be united around your fallen colleague Nodar.
“May you carry his Olympic dream on your shoulders and compete with his spirit in your hearts.”
The ceremonies were dedicated to Kumaritashvili and included a moment of silence, with the Canadian and Olympic flags at half-mast, in tribute.
The Georgian athletes, who received a standing ovation during the Parade of Athletes, wore black toques and scarves. Their flag bearer, alpine skier Iason Abramashvili, held the flag still during their slow lap around B.C. Place.
The U.S. team also received a warm welcome and the crowd roared to its feet to welcome the large contingent of Canadian athletes.
Furlong invited the estimated three billion viewers from around the world to share and experience what it feels like to be a proud Canadian.
“Tonight, here, in the glow and wonder of the Flame, we can all aspire to be Olympian.
“From whatever continent you have come we welcome you to Canada, a country with a generous heart. We love that you are here. You are among good friends.”
The ceremonies, which included some amazing projections – like orcas swimming across the floor of B.C. Place – included performances by Canadian talents Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan, and a haunting version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah by k.d. lang.
Aboriginal participation in the ceremonies was a strong theme and included dancers from First Nations from across Canada beating a massive drum in the middle of the floor. Athletes also received an official welcome by the Four Host First Nations in the shadow of four massive ‘ice’ figures that were raised from the floor.
