Paralympics open with rocking ceremony
Written by on March 12th, 2010 in Latest News.
Canada’s Jean Labonté carries the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic Games. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Through the voices of youth and the voices of history, the tale of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games has begun to be told.
More than 5,000 performers of varying ages and abilities were part of Friday night’s opening ceremonies, dazzling a capacity crowd at BC Place stadium during the two hour show.
“As these 2010 Paralympic Games start, let it not just be about our hard work or for that matter even the athlete achievements that will no doubt be unforgettable,” John Furlong, the chief executive officer for the organizing committee, said in his remarks.
“Let these Games also serve to honour and recognize men and women of sport the world over who have made it their personal mission in life to use sport to build better lives, to inspire children.”
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean officially declared the Games open, the same role she fulfilled for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The energy at the show was just as high as it was then.
Audience members furiously waved glowing pompoms and a cheer squad including rappers from the Yukon and a Francophone DJ welcomed more than 1,000 athletes and officials from 40-plus nations to the Games.
“It’s you who really find the possible, you succeed by focusing your minds, driving your bodies and achieving what many would consider the impossible,” said Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee.
Athletes looked thrilled as they entered to the dancing crowd, each team preceded by a B.C. athlete bearing a placard with the name of their country.
One athlete from Denmark had her white cane topped with a Danish flag, and athletes from Germany and Britain turned the wheels on their wheelchairs into pinwheels festooned with their national colours.
Mexicans shook maracas while American athletes high-fived the children forming a tunnel to cheer them into the stadium.
Hosts enter last
Canada entered last, led by sledge hockey player Jean Labonté waving the maple leaf, the team looking awed by the energy.
Though Canada’s first sledge hockey match was Saturday morning, Labonté said he didn’t reckon being in the ceremonies would affect his game.
“I’ve been pretty excellent so far. I will go through my regular routine,” he said.
“Tomorrow morning is another day, tonight is for celebration.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gamely waved his lit pompom while B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell whipped around the Canadian flag that’s become his constant companion since February.
While it’s the athletes that will tell the tale of the 2010 Games, producers also paid tribute to past Games, using 16 helium-inflated balloons as a projection surface for a collage of images.
The images were accompanied by Canada’s most decorated Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and Paralympic swimmer Aimee Mullins narrating.
“We are here to be inspired by the Paralympians gathered in Vancouver,” said Petitclerc.
King of Swing
Vancouver’s King of Swing, Dal Richards, also made an appearance, leading his huge-band orchestra in a tribute to Paralympic winter sports.
The show is being broadcast live only in British Columbia but the rest of Canada will be able to see the program on CTV Saturday.
“I would have preferred that it was shown all over the country but unfortunately that is not the case,” said Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee earlier Friday.
“One of our core values is equality. If the Olympic Games opening ceremony is shown live so should the Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremony.”
The Paralympics end on March 21.
