WHEN CHILDREN RULE THE WORLD ... TONIGHT! Let this be your first reminder that Friday night, we will be providing full live team coverage to the Vancouver Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies. As a bonus, unlike the Grammy Awards livecast this is something for which we actually know more than a little something about the subject matter, given that Friday night will require a deep knowledge of Canadian pop stars, symbology, ritual, fun facts about Alphabet of Nations as the delegations enter the arena, and rampant speculation as to who will be chosen as Canada's Greatest Athlete to light the torch. (Elizabeth Manley? Jamie Salé? Brian Orser? Mike Sharpe?)
The Jamaican bobsleighers won't be there, but American speedskater Shani Davis sure will be -- and he's still, um, difficult. Or compelling. I'm not sure.
Isn't Gretzky the clear choice to light the torch?
ReplyDeleteNever competed in the Olympics -- was executive director of the 2002 and 2006 men's hockey teams. (Believe me, that was the first name I checked.) Now, Martin Brodeur, however ...
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ReplyDelete<p>Mmmm, Jamie Sale...
</p><p>Even though it's winter, Donovan Bailey should be in the running. So to speak.
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Okay, I'm calling it: Rick Hansen. I'll take him against the field.
ReplyDeleteIs that a "Whistle Down the Wind" reference? Wow. Hard core.
ReplyDeleteYes, but even harder core: as used in the 1998 Nagano Opening Ceremonies. FF to about 3min in:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/v/15D20tY0wus" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
Hey, is the alpahebet of nations going to be in English or in Quebecois?
ReplyDeleteAlas, Joseph, the IOC's official languages are already English and French (and ceremonies are announced in English, French, and the local official language), so there would be no difference from any other opening ceremony.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...never competed, but as the "GM" of that 2002 team, was as much the face of that team as any player. I remember him burying the Loonie at center ice on U.S. soil. Could that count?
ReplyDeleteI mean in terms of the order of the nations entering in the Parade of Nations. There's not many differences in order, but Germany would enter as l'Allemagne and Central African Republic is under R for la République centrafricaine , for instance (feel free to correct if I'm remembering this wrong, and I'm sure they're going with English order anyway).
ReplyDeleteI just saw that Lemieux did play in the Olympics. My gut says it has to be a hockey player. Or a curler, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming that because we're in BC, Canadian English applies. Also, I don't believe the CAR has a delegation.
ReplyDeleteS'alright, I'm not 100% convinced the CAR still exists. (checks) Yep, it does.
ReplyDeleteI hope Robin Sparkles performs. She's a Canadian pop star.
ReplyDeleteIt's not Rick Hansen. He's been announced already as participating in the torch relay. Gretzky's dad is also one of the final torchbearers, but no official word on the Great One himself. That 2002 team, though, was Gretzky's team. He didn't play on it, but make no mistake, that was HIS team.
ReplyDeleteThere's very little French out in BC, so I would be shocked if the alphabet of nations is in French.
And I'm totally hoping to see Robin Sparkles.
There's no reason why Hansen can't do it twice -- I'm pretty sure that's happened before. Thing is, I don't think they can do the entire 2002 team, just b/c Salt Lake City 2002 had the whole US 1980 team.
ReplyDeleteIt's bobsleighers, not bobsledders? I missed that!
ReplyDeleteNot the whole 2002 team, just Gretzky. He WAS that team, anyway.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the IOC (and the ALOTT5MA Style Guide), it's bobsleigh.
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