The Olympics Opening Ceremony In Vancouver

[JAS_Photo]

Was awesome! Despite the tragedy that preceded them and the non opening of the last pipe on the cauldron, it had some awesome moments!

1. Our atheletes looked great when they came into the stadium. We looked ummm, Canadian. The wave of our flag(I think we had a bigger one, ha!) as they entered was a sight to set the old patriot heart a flutter

2. The set design, the cool icy colors, the little lights the crowd had all made for an impressive show. Other highlights -the huge lighted bear balloon, the ice-like totems.

3. The lighting design. Woah! Unbelievable. I think the whale segment would be the highlight, though throughout it was impressive even on the small tv at work.

4. The dancing. I love jazz/expressive ballet but man the tap/country dancing and fiddling segment was mesmerizing.

5. The singers. They were all good but who can hold a whole stadium of 66k plus people in awe like kd lang? Absolutely phenonemal. I said it before and will again, absolutely no one can match her rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah"

6. Narration by Donald Sutherland.

7. The Olympic flag bearers Betty Fox, Hockey great Bobby Orr, singer Anne Murray, racecar driver Jacques Villeneuve, gold medallist figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, Sen. Romeo Julie Payette and Emmy Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland rounded out the group.

8. The five chosen to bring in the flame to the cauldron, Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene, Catriona Le May Doan Steve Nash and Rick Hansen.

9. Watching Wayne Gretzky in the truck on his way to light the outdoor cauldron as all the events sink in.





A pano of the stadium

Some highlights

[Michaelaw]

Cool panno...Room mate just told me that rioters are smashing windows out in downtown stores, the games have begun! Whether one agrees with the Olympics or not the time for rioting has passed IMHO. There are a great many people who feel this event is the greatest thing in the known universe, they should be allowed to have their day! When the carnival has finished then we can discuss what happened, what could have been done better. I hope the stupidity stops with the rioting. My work life has flat lined because of the Olympics, I'm going to loose two thousand dollars in wages alone but it is what it is and smashing windows won't change the facts.

[JAS_Photo]

Sorry to hear you will lose work, Michael. Man, considering you are a lighting/ sound tech(?) you would have liked the complexity of this show, though.

I was just looking at Iputts photos of the "Ninja" protesters. Oh yeah, hide your identity, make yourself look all omninous and scary and smash in a few windows and you will gain public sympathy for sure.

[Michaelaw]

Sorry to hear you will lose work, Michael. Man, considering you are a lighting/ sound tech(?) you would have liked the complexity of this show, though.

For seven billion dollars it had better be a complex show!

I was just looking at Iputts photos of the "Ninja" protesters. Oh yeah, hide your identity, make yourself look all omninous and scary and smash in a few windows and you will gain public sympathy for sure.

Kicking and spray painting cars and buses along with intimidating local pedestrians was high on their list also.

[Marko]

I caught part of the opening ceremony as well. it was excellent.

Although I appreciate the spirit of the olympics, it's a big burden on the host city financially and taxpayers eat all the overspending. It's just not worth it imo.... I'll watch some of it tho.
The rioting is just stupidity...

[AntZ]

A photographic perspective
Opening Ceremonies for Vancouver 2010 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

[JAS_Photo]

Those are great, Antz! I loved the Cirque de Soliel acrobatics they had in there as well. And that snowboarder coming through the rings was pure genius.

[Kawarthabob]

I don't understand why the protesters are smashing store windows. I would follow them home with camera in hand and give the pics to the cops. Thats just plain ignorant. I beleive in the right to protest but not to destroy others property.

[JAS_Photo]

2010 Olympics Flash Mob - dancing in the streets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUZyX8qQgvE

[Greg_Nuspel]

Just think the additional financial burden they are causing due to the rioting. Peaceful protests are fine but now they are criminals with no rights, except for the right to be jailed. They have stop most sympathy for their cause because they are morons.