4 Armenian Athletes Take Part in 2010 Winter Olympics
Tert.am
12:54 – 13.02.10
The opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver took
place on Friday, but the ceremony was overshadowed by the death of
21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who crashed at high
speed at Whistler Sliding Centre during training just hours before the
Games opened, according to the official Olympics website.
Under the tune of `Fire on the Peak,’ written by David Pierce, the
ceremony was officially opened by Governor General of Canada Michaëlle
Jean, while the Olympic flame was jointly lit by four Canadian
athletes.
Canada’s Aboriginal communities were also highlighted with the four
chiefs of the First Nations, whose traditional native territory
overlaps the Olympic region, part of the official delegation at the
ceremony.
The Georgian team, wearing black armbands, was given a standing
ovation at the ceremony. The ceremony was a spectacular sight with a
snowboarder jumping through the Olympic rings.
And despite the luge tragedy, which was marked by observing a minute
of silence, flags flying at half mast and the ceremony dedicated to
him, there was a festive mood inside BC Place Stadium.
As soon as the Canadian anthem was played, in accordance with a
long-standing tradition, the audience welcomed the Greece national
team with the Canadian one to close the opening march ceremony.
More than 60,000 spectators witnessed 2,500 athletes from 82 nations
march in the parade. The welcoming ceremony included many of Canada’s
best-known musical stars – Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado and k.d. lang.
The Olympics in Vancouver will last 7 days with 86 medals waiting for
their winners in 15 types of sports competitions, namely biathlon,
bobsleigh, Alpine skiing, nordig combined, curling, cross country,
luge, speed skating, skeleton, sky jumping, snowboard, figure skating,
freestyle skating, ice hockey, and short track.
The Armenian delegation includes only four athletes this year.