2010 Olympic Winter Games - Mixed emotions as games went under way
Last updated 13/02/2010 17:46:08
2010 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony
On a night of mixed emotions for the Olympic family, Shelley Rudman flew the British flag for Team GB, at the glittering and often thrilling Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Most of Team GB's 52 athletes were at the ceremony, joining the traditional Parade of Athletes around the stadium, and then taking their seats to watch the official opening of these Games.
The ceremony was dedicated to Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who lost his life in 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. They received a standing ovation from the 60,000 capacity crowd.
Great Britain entered the stadium soon afterwards with Rudman, the 2006 Olympic skeleton silver medallist, leading the team out.
She said: "It's a great honour, a really special privilege and a once in a lifetime opportunity."
The Best of British athletes paraded alongside less well established winter sport nations including India, Ethiopia and the Cayman Islands as well as traditional winter Olympic powers such as Germany, USA and Norway, before host nation Canada were the final country to enter the arena to a predictable reception.
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 in a spectacular performance.
John Furlong, Chief Executive of the Vancouver Organising Committee addressed the 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.
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, 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 completed its epic journey of 45,000 kilometres, visiting all corners of Canada. As the flame entered the stadium it was passed between a number of famous Canadian sportsmen and women including basketball player Steve Nash, before ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky – considered by many the greatest player in the sport's history - was handed the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron.
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