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.