Thursday Thirteen - 146 - 13 Insider Views at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies

My good friend at work - Debbie - has a daughter living in Victoria who attended the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics last Friday.





That's Debbie standing beside me, with our team member Janet, at the reception desk when Janet's beautiful Christmas cactus bloomed last year.














I asked Debbie's daughter Brenda if I could share her marvelous photos with all of you. Let's go to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver!


- 1

Brenda and her husband have our tickets.

Thanks for bringing us along!











- 2

The interior of BC Place, frosty white and cool blue.


- 3

We need to wrap ourselves in white so that the broadcast can project images over the crowd. And we've got our drums and flashlights ready for the interactive evening.



- 4

The art work of Canada's First Nations ushers in the ceremony.



- 5

The four host First Nations - the Squamish, Musqueam, Lil'wat and the Tsleil-Waututh, whose traditional territory is home to all the Games venues - welcome the world to the games.



- 6

Northwest, Pacific, Northern Woodlands, Great Lakes and Atlantic First Nations were joined by Inuit and Métis, and their performers danced for over an hour as the athletes paraded into BC Place. Astounding.



- 7

The mourning Georgian team parade stoicly, wearing black armbands. Instead of becoming still, the First Nations dancers become more energetic, gesturing towards the Georgians with great intensity.



- 8

The Canadian team enters!



- 9

The camera crew, also in white.



- 10

Spirit Bear rises up, a rare sighting which speaks of harmony and peace. Everyone in the audience becomes stars twinkling.



- 11

The glorious moon and my favorite season - Fall - bring images of The Land of the Maple Leaf along with crazy fiddlers and step dancers.



- 12

k d lang performs a goosebump-inducing version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.


- 13

Speed-skating gold medallist Catriona Le May Doan stands resolutely without being able to join the others as they light the cauldron. Her crystal arm malfunctions and refuses to rise from the floor. However, NBA star Steve Nash, skier Nancy Greene Raine and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky touch their torch flames to the crystal arms that do assemble, and the flames race up to light the cauldron for the 21st Olympic Winter Games.

All Olympic photos by Brenda Fancey.

Debby says Awesome pics. Loved the opening ceremony. So proud of our country.

Paige Tyler says Very cool! Great pics, too! We didn't watch the opening ceremonies, but we are watching the games!

Susan Helene Gottfried says I've got it on my TiVo... need to finish watching. I got a bit sidetracked by my snowboarders.