2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony

The 2010 Paralympic cauldron, lit by Zach Beaumont, 15, from Delta.

2010 Winter Paralympics
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The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympics, or the X Paralympic Games were held on March 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST (02:00 UTC, March 13) at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The opening ceremony's theme was "One Inspires Many", and featured over 5000 local performers. The 2 hour long ceremony was produced by Vancouver-based Patrick Roberge Productions Inc

The event was officially opened by Governor General Michaëlle Jean,^[1] representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.^[2]

Programme

National anthem

Canada's national anthem, "O Canada", was performed by singer Terry Kelly, a blind former Paralympian. Mari Klassen signed the anthem in American Sign Language (ASL). Hundreds of children stood in the shape of a maple leaf in a formation.^[3]

Parade of the Nations

The participating countries marched in, with Andorra coming first, and the nations entered in alphabetical order of their country names in English, and ending with the host nation, Canada. Canada has the greatest number of athletes with 55.

Betty and Rolly Fox, the parents of Terry Fox, carried the Paralympic torch into the stadium.

Artistic section

• Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli
• Dal Richards and his orchestra, and Michael Kaeshammer^[4] Joined by trumpet player Bria Skonberg and saxophonist Evan Arntzen.^[5]
• Martin Deschamps
• Fefe Dobson performed the songs "I Want You" and "Watch Me Move". Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, Nikki Yanofsky and others performed.

Entry of the Paralympic Flag

The flag was carried into the stadium. It was then transferred to members of the Canadian Forces' Soldier On program: Sgt. Karen McCoy, and Master Cpl. Mike Trauner, who then raised the flag.^[6]

Paralympic Oaths

Canadian ice sledge hockey player Herve Lord took the athlete's oath as a representative of each of the participating Paralympic competitors.^[6] Canadian curling official Linda Kirton took the official's oath on behalf of each officiating Paralympic referee or other official.^[7]

Lighting of the Cauldron

The final torch bearer was 15-year-old snowboarder Zach Beaumont, who is an amputee.

Dignitaries and other officials in attendance

• Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
• Jean-Daniel Lafond, Viceregal consort of Canada
• Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
• Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, and his wife Nancy Campbell
• Sam Sullivan, Canada's Paralympic Ambassador, former Mayor of Vancouver
• Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee
• Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee

60,000 spectators in blue, white and green plastic ponchos, waved lighted pom-poms.

Media coverage

Live broadcast:

•  Canada: CTV Vancouver
•  South Korea: SBS
•  Spain: TVE
•  France: France 2
•  New Zealand: Sky Sport
•  Sweden: SVT

The ceremony was aired live on ParalympicSport.TV, and approximately two hours after it ended, it became available as Video on Demand (VOD).^[1]

Delayed coverage:

•  Russia: RTR
•  Norway: NRK
•  Ukraine: NTU
•  Canada: CTV (full coverage)
•  United States: NBC
•  Australia: ABC

Originally, the host nation's TV broadcaster, CTV, did not plan to air the opening ceremony live. After receiving criticism on the decision, CTV changed its mind and decided to air the ceremony live in Vancouver region. But regions outside of Vancouver continued to air the ceremony tape delayed.^[8]

See also

• 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

References

1. "ParalympicSport.TV to Broadcast Opening Ceremony LIVE". March 11, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
2. "Role of the Governor General". Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG). Retrieved 13 February 2010.
3. "One Inspires Many: a celebration of ability, courage and the human spirit at Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games", newswire.ca, March 12, 2010
4. Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games officially opened at B.C. Place, March 12, 2010
5. Okay, this is getting better, The Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2010
6. Paralympic Games kick off in Vancouver, National Post, March 12, 2010
7. Abby curl official to read Paralympic oath, AbbyNews.com, March 8, 2010
8. "CTV Vancouver To Air Paralympic Opening Ceremonies". The Sports Broadcasting Magazine. March 12, 2010.

External links

• Official Website of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
• Paralympic Sport TV, web-TV channel of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)