Vancouver Sea to Sky City is a Vancouver blog so when assessing the spectacle of the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games I thought it would be a good thing to read the words of those that are not locals. I checked out the New York Times and found a fair review…but I will give some local flavour…yes we say flavour not flavor…we also say colour not color…we speak Canadian…By the way as I am in British Columbia on the west coast (also called the wet coast or left coast) I looked to New York not evil Toronto….
I watched the Opening Ceremonies on TV as I would not spend a thousand dollars to be there in person...instead my wife and I went to London in September for 7 days (flight and accommodation included). I do not regret that decision.
It was classy the way the ceremony repeated mention of the horrible tragedy of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who died that day on a practice run. The minute of silence was tasteful and poignant.
The visual effects were spectacular even on TV. The moments of solitary figures on the grand stage had impact that throngs of people can often lack. It also spoke of the integration of individualism and community at the heart of Canadian culture and history.
Speaking of culture poet Shane Koyaczyn provided one of the highlights with his description of Canada the nation of “please and thank you…Canada is the ‘what’ in ‘what’s new’…the surprise the world has in store for you” Here is a similar version of his presentation…
The integration of aboriginal peoples within the spectacle was I am sure impactful for a world audience and was also done in a tasteful way. After awhile I was thinking that most people watching on television may think Canada is entirely aboriginal then IOC President Jaques Rogge spent an eternity speaking in French…Canada is officially bilingual but very few people in Metro Vancouver (or British Columbia and western Canada) speak French (Chinese or Punjabi would be much more popular). The Canadian TV network did not provide subtitles which left one wondering if he was telling those in Quebec to separate…
Governor General Michaëlle Jean looked gorgeous as usual (the best looking GG in the world) but for some reason seemed to be in long sessions of meditating eye closed navel gazing…She is the representative of our Queen that lives in a different country so why all the atonements of sleepiness…a word alone please * Michaëlle were you suffering from jetlag?*
I have to admit that one of the things I dislike about the Olympics is when they spin the yarn about sports changing the world like it is a miracle elixir… John Furlong chair of VANOC did a great job spinning his story of sport but honestly this whole sports changing the world thing is pathetic…the same thing happens at music awards…music will change the world…yeah right…
Nikki Yanofsky’s version of our national anthem “O Canada” was unfortunately horrid…don’t get me wrong she is a very pretty and has a great voice but it is a national anthem not a death dirge or suicidal recital…We have a pretty good anthem if I may say so but she just killed it…A word alone with Nikki please *Nikki please stop doing this style of the anthem its humiliating…now please carry on and have a wonderful career*
The moment of lighting the Olympic cauldron was a disaster…sure not a Haiti-like disaster but still an Opening Ceremonies disaster…and it was not the fault of those carrying the flame…
Canadian hero Rick Hansen rolled into the stadium in his wheelchair to thunderous applause (three Paralympic gold medals and the man that encircled the globe in his wheelchair race logging over 40,000km raising $26 million for spinal cord research). The man in motion an inspiration to all, he then lit the torch of another Canadian hero Catriona LeMay Doan. I have had opportunity to spend time with Catriona and she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met….Genuine humility living in the person of a true champion (two Olympic gold medals, one bronze, and five world championship gold in speed skating). Shocking beautiful on the outside and inside…
The speed skating titan then lit the flame of Steve Nash NBA superstar (two times NBA MVP) and Canadian summer Olympian (a local and global hero). He then lit the flame of Nancy Greene (Olympic gold and silver, gold World Champion in Alpine skiing…plus Canadian Senator). Nancy is a genuine BC hero who has made wonderful contributions to her province…Suspense then hung in the air as everybody wondered who the final torch bearer would be…
Thankfully the wise choice was made…Wayne Gretzky the Great One…the Greatest Canadian athlete of all time…the Greatest hockey player of all time…and perhaps the Greatest athlete of all time…He rewrote the record book in goals and assists…has displayed amazing classy leadership…He fundamentally changed his sport…when you breath the word hockey embedded within it is the Great One…
These five Canadian icons of sport then awaited with their flames alit the raising of the massive torch columns to light the inside cauldron…alas that of Catriona LeMay Doan lay dormant in the floor of the stage suffering from hydraulic failure…After what seemed an eternity the other arms standing they were lit and Catriona stood on guard by hers…
Then Wayne Gretzky runs from the stadium with his torch leaving to light the outside cauldron…a long ride in the back of a pickup truck (very Canadian) with adoring fans running in the streets behind him…Alright I have to say I thought this was ridiculous…just plain silly…
Now this morning after the Opening Ceremonies I hear on the radio that approximately 200 rogues are running through Metro Vancouver’s downtown core wearing masks, kicking in shop windows, spray painting busses and cars and terrorizing people…The radio called them protestors…I call them criminals…this is not freedom of speech it is criminal...this is not freedom of speech it is criminal anarchy…A member of the “Olympic Resistance Network” then comes on the radio defending these actions! Freedom of speech does not allow for destruction of others property…or terrorizing people…
Welcome to Vancouver…
2 Comments: Leave a comment click here:
Hey LS I will put you in my reader for this blog. Hope you are enjoying Olympics like us here watching them all the time, including Matthew walking around and saying 'Olimpics, olimpics' lol. Anna :)
The Vancouver Olympics are my favorite but when it is in winter, I would like to see them.
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