Vancouver .... Winter Olympics 2010

As the 2010 Winter Games opened in Vancouver last night, the spectacular ceremony was overshadowed by the death of 21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, whose fatal high-speed crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre happened just hours earlier.

A snowboarder got the show underway with a jump through the Olympic rings and later a huge, glittering polar bear lit up the stadium as 60,000 spectators packed into the stadium to witness the 2,500 competing Olympians from 82 nations parade.

ut the booming fireworks and dazzling light shows were tempered by a minute's silence for Kumaritashvili, the sight of the Olympic flag flying at half-mast and the Georgian team, who were given a standing ovation, wearing black armbands.
The cauldron containing the Olympic flame, which will burn throughout the 17 days of competition, was lit by Canadian ice-hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, while the host team were led out by Clara Hughes, the defending 5000m speed skating champion

Great Britain's flag-bearer was skeleton slider Shelley Rudman - the team's only medallist at the 2006 Winter Olympics.



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MrsH wrote:As the 2010 Winter Games opened in Vancouver last night, the spectacular ceremony was overshadowed by the death of 21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, whose fatal high-speed crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre happened just hours earlier.

A snowboarder got the show underway with a jump through the Olympic rings and later a huge, glittering polar bear lit up the stadium as 60,000 spectators packed into the stadium to witness the 2,500 competing Olympians from 82 nations parade.

ut the booming fireworks and dazzling light shows were tempered by a minute's silence for Kumaritashvili, the sight of the Olympic flag flying at half-mast and the Georgian team, who were given a standing ovation, wearing black armbands.
The cauldron containing the Olympic flame, which will burn throughout the 17 days of competition, was lit by Canadian ice-hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, while the host team were led out by Clara Hughes, the defending 5000m speed skating champion

Great Britain's flag-bearer was skeleton slider Shelley Rudman - the team's only medallist at the 2006 Winter Olympics.



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I saw that on the news last night .Thats very very sad isnt it ,someone being killed at sport is very tragic because they are pushing the limits which will bring danger,but its very sad when it happens

lets hope there are no more xx