2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2010 Winter Paralympics
opening ceremony
| partof = 2010 Winter Paralympics
| date = {{Start date|2010|03|12}}
| venue = BC Place
| Location = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| theme = One Inspires Many
| filmed by = Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
}}
{{2010 Winter Paralympics Sidebar}}
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,{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/Media_Centre/News/General_News/2010_03_11_c.html|title=ParalympicSport.TV to Broadcast Opening Ceremony LIVE|date=March 11, 2010|accessdate=2010-03-12}} representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13288|title=Role of the Governor General|publisher=Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) |accessdate=13 February 2010}}
Programme
File:Paralympic cauldron 2010.jpg
File:Terry Fox's parents carry Paralympic torch 2010.jpg, carried the Paralympic torch into the stadium]]
= 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.[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2010/12/c9560.html "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
=Parade of the Nations=
=Artistic section=
- Luca Patuelli
- Dal Richards and his orchestra, and Michael Kaeshammer[https://theprovince.com/business/Vancouver+2010+Paralympic+Winter+Games+officially+opened+Place/2677520/story.html Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games officially opened at B.C. Place] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316114243/http://www.theprovince.com/business/Vancouver+2010+Paralympic+Winter+Games+officially+opened+Place/2677520/story.html |date=2010-03-16 }}, March 12, 2010 Joined by trumpet player Bria Skonberg and saxophonist Evan Arntzen.[http://communities.canada.com/VANCOUVERSUN/blogs/olympians/archive/2010/03/12/okay-this-is-getting-better.aspx Okay, this is getting better] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523184806/http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/olympians/archive/2010/03/12/okay-this-is-getting-better.aspx |date=2010-05-23 }}, The Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2010
- 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.
=Paralympic Oaths=
Canadian ice sledge hockey player Herve Lord took the athlete's oath as a representative of each of the participating Paralympic competitors.[https://nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2677692 Paralympic Games kick off in Vancouver] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20100322204118/http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2677692 |date=2010-03-22 }}, National Post, March 12, 2010 Canadian curling official Linda Kirton took the official's oath on behalf of each officiating Paralympic referee or other official.[http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/87003992.html Abby curl official to read Paralympic oath] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312090917/http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/87003992.html |date=2010-03-12 }}, AbbyNews.com, March 8, 2010
=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
File:Paralympic 2010 spectators.jpg
- 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
Media coverage
Live broadcast:
The ceremony was aired live on [http://www.paralympicsport.tv/ ParalympicSport.TV], and approximately two hours after it ended, it became available as Video on Demand (VOD).
Delayed coverage:
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportscastermagazine.ca/on-air/ctv-vancouver-to-air-paralympic-opening-ceremonies/1000363892/ |title=CTV Vancouver To Air Paralympic Opening Ceremonies |publisher=The Sports Broadcasting Magazine |date=March 12, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094656/http://www.sportscastermagazine.ca/on-air/ctv-vancouver-to-air-paralympic-opening-ceremonies/1000363892/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218183809/http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/ Official Website of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games]
- [http://www.paralympicsport.tv/ Paralympic Sport TV, web-TV channel of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)]
{{Paralympic Games ceremonies}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2010 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony}}