I am saddened that they are starting out with tragedy (the luge accident).

Oh dear ... there was a luge accident?  I better go watch the news ... that sounds awful.

Yes, Namaste, I was thinking of you this morning ... wondering how it was going!  Glad to hear you're in the spirit & taking advantage of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  Do keep us posted.

I'll be watching lots on TV!! 

Yep Olympic fever around here. We walked over to Broadway Ave last evening to watch the torch relay. There was a large festive crowd. I also had to go downtown yesterday morning to pick up some event tickets I had ordered on line. Other than the one hour wait in the rain in line for the tickets, it was good to be a part of the celebration downtown. Namaste, I had lunch beside a couple of Russian athletes. And so many people from all over out and about everywhere.

And yet the shock and sadness of the Georgian luger who died earlier sobers the moment. We have been shedding tears in our home today watching about it, so tragic. I can't imagine how hard the opening ceremonies and games will be for his family, team mates and the whole community.

More as the games progress.

Please keep me updated I love hearing your stories! It's wierd being over here during all of this it seems as though the UK doesn't really even acknowledge the winter olympics.

The luge accident is so very sad and I feel for Nodar Kumaritashvili's family, friends, teammates and all luge athletes. Losing someone on that track and knowing you're going to have to go down it yourself must be nerve racking to say the least.

Not knowing anything about this team I must say it made me think of Eddie the Eagle at the Calgary Games and how everyone held their breath when he jumped. His skill level was far below the other athletes and there was a debate in the papers about whether he should be allowed to jump.

Others do say that this track is very fast....

I really liked the opening ceremonies.....can't imagine being there inperson, though, we got the closeups!

The mix of music, the variety of presentation, the story, all made me smile.

hah, good point, northwind....he didn't seem to mind though, his smile was pretty darn big.

I am enjoying listen to more of that slam poet...glad I went over & watched it with my parents.

Wasn't he wonderful!  His name is Shane Koyczan and the poem's title We Are More.

I wasn't going to watch the ceremonies.  My partner demanded control of the clicker - and since he rarely ever does who was I to argue - he wanted to know who was going to light the flame.  I was so very glad he did.

The welcome from the Four Host Nations and all the aboriginal dancers from across the country was fantastic.

And how could I not enjoy the cultural segment - quotes, fiddlers including Ashley MacIsaac, slam poetry and k. d. lang singing Leonard Cohen. 

Kudos to whoever put that together it showed the world we are a grand diverse country and it made this little Canadian very proud.

LB

let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you'll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn't pack for the first time
but don't let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
      Shane Koyczan, We Are More

It made me very proud to be Canadian.

I loved the drums and the music chosen and the poet.

I wish Harper could look  like he  was  having fun but I guess it isn't in his nature.

Good job - well done Canada.

You know Frog, you are not funny. In fact, the world thinks you are not funny. If you want to be funny, start a funny thread and then you can entertain yourself. POOF!!!

frog is just kidding, guys... he knows that what he is saying is ridiculous. he told me personally that he thought kd langs rendition of 'hallelujah' was brilliant.

Well they said on tv that it was meant to be the story of a young girl living on the prairies. I thought she looked rather masculine.

that hallelujah moment, of crossing the line....that is what it is about match3 frog.

that time when you just go "yes"...that song applies to mathematicians...cracking a code, or builders ..

UUUUGH  does anyone know where or how or if it's ever going to be possible to see the ceremonies online? I couldn't watch it last night and I'd really like to now but I can't find it ANYWHERE! They're my fav part of the olypmics and not being able to see the ones from my own country is starting to really upset me

i'm going to rain on the parade here, but i just have to say this...

i just can't watch this.  i tried last night, and it was POURING RAIN... there isn't any snow in sight.

today, the mens downhill has been postponed due to fog created by the warm weather at whistler...

i'm sorry, but am i the only one who thinks that this whole soggy mess is more of a wake up call that global climate change is now a reality, rather than a celebration of athletic excellence?? 

normally, i love the winter olympics... i am a huge fan.  the summer olympics bore me, and you never know who wins until the drug tests come in anyways.  the winter olympics are just great.  but not this year.

this year, all i can think of as i watch it is that this is my country, and my country has an environmental problem that needs to be addressed, and our PM doesn't feel that it is important at all.

for the first time ever, i can hardly wait until the winter olympics are over, and i can just not have this constant reminder of our climate woes staring me in the face.

The gender rucus flying over the wheat fields can be laid on the doorstep of the broadcaster.

W. O. Mitchell's Who Has Seen the Wind was about the story of a prairie boy's initiation into the mysteries of life, death, God, and the spirit that moves through everything: the wind.

(the Canadian Encylopedia).

Although one would have hoped that nobody cared what the individual looked like.

LB

A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a man of wit,

and a pebble in the hand of a fool.      Joseph Roux

Yes, thank you sighs, I understand the 'hallelujah' part and why it would be chosen. I'm really talking about the rest of the lyrics which actually sound somewhat blasphemous to me, calling into question the existence of God. Why is it important to have that as a part of the opening ceremonies which have already championed other religions? It's really an insult to everyone in Canada and around the world who believes in the God of the Bible.

Match3Frog, it appears we do not share the same language.

I've read the lyrics - several times now - and I do not see or hear words "calling into question the existence of God."

Perhaps it is a matter of interpretation.

LB

I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
     Leonard Cohen

Well, sometimes life is about questioning God.

Perhaps you meant to quote the entire verse:

You know, guys, Frog by all his names has spoiled many threads for me by being so  negative. i wanted to celebrate canada and diversity. Frog wants to pick. He did it on the secret Santa Thread as well.

If he doesn't like the words of the song, then start a new thread, and people would debate the words. Not Here. I am a bit tetchy ( stayed up too late watching the opening)

Or maybe he is trying to get an award on the Fundies.

Ah, the Opening Ceremony was put together by David Atkins, an Aussie, who made this little Australian very proud.    

It was pure magic - and I can't wait till I see your great country for myself.  

On a more sombre note, I noticed how little it takes for ecstasy to turn to sorrow. It must have been difficult for the Georgian team to participate on the night.

i always thought that the part about the 'cut your hair' was a reference to samson and delilah.

'love is not a victory march'... well, it isn't.  whats your problem with that one??

'maybe theres a god above'...  i dont' read that as questioning gods existence, frog... i see it as questioning the belief that god is a spirit in the sky kind of thing.  for some people, god is the big guy in the clouds with a white beard.  i think that is what it is questioning.

i guess if you are REALLY LOOKING for some kind of blasphemy at the opening ceremonies you MIGHT have misinterpreted that lyric, but you are really stretching there.

besides, its leonard friggin COHEN, man... the guy has more deep intelligent thoughts pumping gas into his car than you or i will have in a lifetime.  if you really think that you can interpret one of his lyrics with any kind of accuracy, i have a bridge in saskatoon to sell you.

I hear a while ago, there was some rioting going on downtown Van ... breaking windows at The Bay ... haven't heard anything since ... updates anyone?  Stay safe wonderbuddies!

Sighs...

1.) Why would Samson be saying "Hallelujah" after Delilah stripped him of his God-given strength? You do realize he next had his eyes gouged out. 

2.) Since when is praising God a cold and broken thing to do? It is most certainly not in my estimation. Someone said the song is to describe the feeling of the athletes when they are victorious, but yet love is not a victory march, so...?

3.) "Maybe there's a God above" does draw into question the existence of the God of the Bible. This lyric has no place at an international event such as the Olympics as it insults Canadians and others around the world who believe in the traditional view of the Lord.

its not samson saying hallelujah though, frog... he is referring to the person in the song who said hallelujah. 

come on, did you read the lyrics yet??

transcend with me here, frog... have you ever suffered a really bad breakup??  when someone walks all over you, and you feel that pain, then you know that love is not a victory march... at that point, love is like loosing a marathon, falling during a triple axel, wiping out at the finish line....

not at all, frog... as i said, it isn't questioning the EXISTENCE of god... it is questioning WHERE GOD IS.  

if you REALLY want to feel insulted, i would refer you to harper... he is representing canadians, and he had all the emotion of a lego action figure.  what the heck was THAT about??