Tracy's World

Tonight, Friday, Feb. 12, with seven years of planning in the rear view mirror, the lights will dim inside Vancouver’s BC Place. Nearly 55,000 people in attendance, and hundreds of millions more watching on televisions around the world, will wait eagerly in anticipation. What can we expect from the first Opening Ceremony to be held indoors? That is any one’s guess! Despite 4,000 volunteers, the Ceremony is still a secret.

“Officials promise that the performance will unite passionate Canadians, thrill the world’s best winter athletes and bring hope to the world over,” said John Furlong, the head of Vancouver’s organizing committee in an NBC interview.  “The Opening Ceremony is our biggest chance to speak to a global audience and tell the story of a contemporary Canada that will inspire the world.”

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will join the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, and Furlong. Each will have an opportunity to speak, thus beginning the Opening Ceremony.

Traditionally, the world’s best winter athletes will then enter to greet a roaring crowd during the parade of nations. Many veteran Olympians say that nothing replaces this feeling. Then,one athlete from each country will be honored as the flag bearer. Each delegation will  enter in alphabetical order, with two exceptions. Greece, by tradition, always enters first and the host country, Canada, will enter last.

Each contingent will be dressed in its official uniform. Only those athletes participating in the Games, and no more than six officials, are permitted to march.

Another important aspect of the Opening Ceremony is the Olympic Oath, which will be taken by one athlete and one official.

To the strains of the Olympic hymn, the Olympic flag will be brought into the stadium and raised. Anticipation will be building once again for a tradition that first started in 1936 during the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – the lighting of the Olympic flame.

2010 Olympic Torch

Who will light the flame? After more than 100 days of criss-crossing Canada, the Olympic torch will arrive inside the stadium. Typically the torch will then pass to several people in a relay before it’s taken to the cauldron. Only three people are thought to know who will perform the honorable task of lighting the flame.

As you see, we are in for an amazing night of entertainment and awe. Tune in tonight as the world comes together in the 2010 Olympics Opening Ceremonies.