Opinions on the 2010 Opening Ceremonies?

[Otis]

Just finished watching the Vancouver Olympic ceremonies. I fully expected to see opinions already posted here but I couldn't find any!

Here are my thoughts:

1) HATED that version of Oh Canada ... what's wrong with the original?

2) Thought the cultural component was slightly boring. I looked at the wife and said, "Hey, you, settle down now eh ... we're Canadian, you don't want to get too excited. I also wondered what culture "punk" fiddlers were supposed to represent?

3) Kinda disappointed in the nonfunctional couldrun at the end and ripped off that we'd all heard that Gretzky wasn't gonna be 'the guy' to light the thing and then he was! And really? 20 minutes of watching Gretzky try to hang on in the back of a pickup truck? (OK, I guess that IS kinda Canadian, but only if you're drinkin' beer and bettin' on whether or not he'll fall out!)

Having said that ...

1) Kinda proud of the way the First Nations were represented

2) Thought the opening snowboarder ROCKED! Through the Rings? Priceless!

3) KD Lang was cool ... but I wondered if the rest of the planet wondered if ALL Canadian Men sounded like women... don't get mad, I like KD, but you have to admit she looked like a guy in that suit with her short hair ... sounded like an angel as always though.

4) Thought all of the VIP representation of Canadians was awesome ... young, old, male, female, Able-bodied and Physically challenged ... very inclusive, very Canadian.

5) Thought all of the tribute stuff to the Georgian Luger was very classy, very appropriate, made me proud of the way he was recognized tastefully without marring the entire ceremony but without making light of the tragedy.

Anyone else have thoughts?

 

[Remius]

Yeah, agreed about the anthem.  I barely recognised it.  Too slow to even slow march to it...

 

[Kat Stevens]

It would have been nice if Brian Williams could have kept his squeal hole shut for some of it, especially when it came to pointing out malfunctions and errors.  Nobody would have noticed if he'd have just STFU.  Every time a camera covered the GG, she seemed to be copping some Zeds (not Zees).  I liked the poet dude at the end, far superior to the Molson's "I am Canajan" rant.  Overall, not bad, a definite contrast to the clockwork precision of the Beijing games.

 

[jeffb]

I 100% agree with the O Canada thing. Frankly, I found it awkward.

I also think it was great how much First Nations representation there was but I wish there was more overt mention of Canada's other founding culture, French. It seemed like a lot of it was portrayed as "there's First Nations and the rest of us".  Symbolically, this was represented to me at the end of the First Nation's greeting when the performers were surrounded by a bunch of people  dancing like idiots in matching white clothing. To me, it would have been much more meaningful if after the First Nations performance, the ceremony moved into a display of Francophone culture, followed by English and then a tribute to the whole host of other cultures that make up Canada.  :2c:

I also thought that cultural portion was way to artsy fartsy for me and didn't really portray anything related to Canadian culture as I understand it.

I guess it wasn't horrible but I think it was an opportunity lost to showcase the best of aspects of Canada at the expense of an over the top artistic display.

 

[Franko]

The National Anthem was butchered, plain and simple.

Now onto the venue itself...nothing but rain, technical problems of all sorts and the snow conditions and it's getting major attention worldwide. What did they expect? Sunshine and cold temps on the Pacific West coast?

Loved this one:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4906756

Have a strange feeling that Vancouver is not going to be able to pull off what the IOC and VANOC pledged.

I'm not even going to get into the medal hopefuls.        :

Regards

 

[Scott]

What with all of the stunning visual effects I was strongly supporting the thought that Betty Fox would be the last torchbearer and run beside Terry. I read where someone else stated that there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house and have to agree with that sentiment. Don't get me wrong, every choice was great, I just have this wee soft side of me that thought that would have been unforgettable.

I was quite taken with Donald Sutherland's reading during the acts.

And the poetry bit was done very well. Nice to see a Canadian not all made up and such.

 

[Antoine]

Congrats  , we just won our first gold medal of the game , thanks to Alexandre Bilodeau, great job.

Cheers

 

[Retired AF Guy]

It would have been nice if Brian Williams could have kept his squeal hole shut for some of it, especially when it came to pointing out malfunctions and errors.  Nobody would have noticed if he'd have just STFU.  Every time a camera covered the GG, she seemed to be copping some Zeds (not Zees).  I liked the poet dude at the end, far superior to the Molson's "I am Canajan" rant.  Overall, not bad, a definite contrast to the clockwork precision of the Beijing games.

Actually watched the show on NBC: pretty well the same show as CTV with a one minute time delay and fewer commercials. Also thought the national anthem was bad, not sure who is responsible. Other than than that thought they were great. The participation of the different native groups was great and really enjoyed the young acrobat from Montreal and the wire act. The light show was fantastic.

Unfortunately, the opening was overshadowed by the death of the young Georgian luge racer. I had watched the accident at a local bar just after it happened and when you saw the body drop after hitting the pillar you knew was pretty bad.  The bartender told me that the shot was on youtube within minutes of the accident happening - modern technology for you.

 

[vonGarvin]

I turned off the TV during the national anthem: first time in my life.  It was "ghettoed up" in my opinion, and the arrangement was horrible.  Ask my kids: what was otherwise a fantastic opening ceremony (My kids LOVED the snowboarder and the first nations coming in, as did I) was completely soured by the "Soul Train" version of O Canada.  Horrible.


:threat:

 

[George Wallace]

I missed the opening ceremony and the National Anthem so I went looking for it.  "YouTube - Nikki Yanofsky Sings O CANADA at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics" has been removed as "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by International Olympic Committee. ". 

On the same topic, it looks like the IOC is coming down on quite a few YouTube posts for the same reasons.

 

[vonGarvin]

On the same topic, it looks like the IOC is coming down on quite a few YouTube posts for the same reasons.

George
I've noted that as well.  They are very tight on the videos of the games.  CBC has only stills (from what I've seen); however, ctv, as the host nation broadcaster, has videos.  I'm pretty sure that NBC would have some as well.

 

[PMedMoe]

Yes, you can watch the opening ceremony in its entirety at CTV:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/video/collections/collectionid=40427/index.html

I agree with the comments about the anthem.  Sounds like something Celine Dion would have done.  :

 

[kratz]

Yesterday CBC.ca reported criticism from Heritage Minister James Moore, along with Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser and Quebec Premier Jean Charest complaining there was not enough French during the opening ceremonies.

 

[OldSolduer]

I thought the young ladies that lead the athlete's contingents in were the highlight!! ;D

 

[PMedMoe]

Yesterday CBC.ca reported criticism from Heritage Minister James Moore, along with Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser and Quebec Premier Jean Charest complaining there was not enough French during the opening ceremonies.

Give me a freakin' break!  I was wondering (as I watched the first few minutes) why the announcements were made in French before English.  It would  be one thing if the Games were being held in Quebec......

 

[Kat Stevens]

I may be misremembering this due to advancing age, but I don't recall an overabundance of English at the opening ceremonies at Montreal in 76, either.

 

[George Wallace]

George
I've noted that as well.  They are very tight on the videos of the games.  CBC has only stills (from what I've seen); however, ctv, as the host nation broadcaster, has videos.  I'm pretty sure that NBC would have some as well.

Saw the CBC News last night, for some strange reason.......Probably nothing on at the moment.  Was interesting to see Peter Mansbridge and crew slagging CTV and the copywrights that they had paid for--outbidding CBC for the rights.

PMedMoe

Thanks for the link.  I was just watching that and was going to post the link, but you beat me to it.

 

[vonGarvin]

French and the Olympics

Sorry, folks, no conspiracy.

 

[Antoine]

I didn`t want to start a new topic for the following, but I was visiting my family in Quebec. I made a skating trail in shape of the Olympic rings !

 

[stealthylizard]

I quite enjoyed the punk fiddler, Ashley McIssac (sp?).  I think it was supposed to represent the Maritimes.  They should have included some seal clubbing though.