Vancouver 2010: David Atkins speaks about the Opening & Closing Ceremonies

[xXdenee]

you know ladies and gents, these games were just splendid. sure we had glitches and flaws, and a death, but no olympics are perfect. Future olympics learn from the previous olympics mistakes, but they're goin to have problems anyway.  so what, i thought the ceremonies were.. above average, but hey, how many times do you see killer whates spouting or beavers, not much if you're from a another country, cause you can only find it in Canada.

Proud to be Canadian :D

[rschnaibs]

it was supposed to be a joke. The Closing ceremonies were supposed to show how Canadians don't take themselves too seriously. Pull the broomstick out and don't be afraid to laugh.

[AmyyDanielle]

The closing ceremony was soo,....stereotypical.

Instead of showing the world who we are, we showed them what they expected of us.

The part with the mounties & lumberjacks & giant moose and beavers was just embarrassing.

Such a disappointment

[FearOfTheFlesh]

They were supposed to be a joke, where they put out all the Canadian stereotypes to show that we can make fun of ourselves and have fun at the same time...I think you missed the point..

[tsjrlover]

@AmyyDanielle I coudn't agree with you more. I think the whole closing ceremonies made us look like a bunch of hicks. Made us look like we don't have any class at all. Especially when you compare them to past ceremonies from other countries, so elegant and all. I was embarrassed as well.

[dustymiller65]

To all of our Guests who came from different countries around the world to attend the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games: THANK YOU! To all of our other Guests that "came" by television, radio, the internet, and all other media: THANK YOU! On behalf of my fellow Canadians, please come back to visit us, not just only at Olympic events, but at anytime; you are always welcome here! Au Revoir, Farewell, and have a safe trip home. P.S. Thanks for putting up with our "Hockey Crazy" attitude too. ;o)

[Reelbigearth]

Canada...Congrats on hosting a fantastic olympics, we and the whole world are grateful for everything you did for us.

On that note, What in the world was with the closing ceremony!?!

I expected something grand and fantastic to end on. Instead, we get a rock concert and...what's that in the wing...inflatable beavers and moose held to the ground by plaid wearing lumberjacks.

Beijing eat your heart out.

[chairde]

The closing ceremonies were mind numbing to watch. An endless line of Canadians talking about Canada. The Olympics should be a world event that celebrates the young athletes not a jingoistic display of Canadian blather. Why did the Canadians have the goose stepping Mounties and dinosaur size beavers march across the stage. I felt sorry for the athletes who had to wear the white hospital gowns and endure this maple leaf torture.

[fuzzybearblog]

You have left this comment a few times on different videos - not sure why. Over here in the UK we thought the Canadians did really well with their Olympics (they are coming to London in 2012 - so we were watching how to do it!), much better than the Lake Placid games I thought in my opinion.

[chairde]

In future winter games they need to line the sides of the sled paths with plexiglass so no athlete ends up slamming into an iron i-beam. That is the only complaint I have about the games themselves. My complaints are with the closing ceremonies.

[Reelbigearth]

@chairde

yeah...

...I still get nightmares from that.

[tsjrlover]

@chairde I'm from Canada, and I totally agree with you. The opening ceremonies were awesome, but when they were saying "You thought the opening ceremonies were something? , just wait till you see the closing", I was expecting something incredible, (it would have had to be to top the openings), but instead, all we basically got was a rock concert. And none of the legendary Canadian performers were there. Like Anne Murray, Rita McNeil, The Rankins. I was really disappointed.

[djcesare]

Anne Murray??? Eata Big meal Mc Neil???? THE RANKINS???? lol OK. not saying i wanted to hear avril or simple plan they sucked too but someon Michael Buble was solid, CHad Krouger kicked ass! that old dude with the guitar and harmonica you had to have appreciated that.. but anne murray?? go kill your self stop complaining!

[djcesare]

@tsjrlover .... yes ;O)

[Norb1t9]

@chairde OMG you took the words out of my mouth! Now I'm wondering if they have any cultures at all. Sorry Canada, the games were awesome but the closing ceremony sucks.

[Reelbigearth]

@Norb1t9

That's harsh.

Canada DOES have culture, it's just we americans don't poke fun at ourselves as much as Canadians.

...And in this case however, you poked yourself with a steel sword a hundred times.

[Norb1t9]

Oh shut the hell up! It is what it is okay. There is nothing there at the closing ceremony. The only highlight in that was the closing part where the lights went out.

[tsjrlover]

@Norb1t9 I agree 100% although the games themselves were awesome. (except for the lack of snow, which if anyone knows B.C. knows that it rains there a lot), As a Canadian, I'm sorry to say that I for the most part was embarrassed by the closing ceremonies.

[dustymiller65]

To all our Guests from different countries around the world who came to Vancouver: "THANK YOU!". To all our Guests from around the world who "came" to Vancouver by television, radio, the internet, etc.:"THANK YOU!". On behalf of my fellow Canadians, it has been our pleasure to host the whole world at the 2010 Winter Olympics. You are all most welcome to come back and visit, not only at Olympic events, but at anytime! Please have a safe trip home; Au Revoir and Farewell! ;o)

[svoteary]

@dustymiller65 Speaking for yourself one would hope

[aviator158]

I was in the closing ceremonies! They were awesome!

[rapjaddseo]

You want to see every game on live from the comfort of your home ? watch them here

watch?v=0mqgQliWK1I

[Robopencil]

Looks like Robert De Niro.

[tybaltsmom]

gokory....I hope you and your Dad take the money and run!....as far away from BC as possible. After all you wouldn't want to live alongside the growing number of poor, sick, unemployed and homeless that will populate Vancouver after the Bill for all this is presented to the taxpayers. Party now, pay later, but we will pay.

[schloss11]

was kind of let down,I remember calgary way better!

[norm58]

Canada should as for a refund!!! What a disaster!

[Chippy7070]

I have to agree with AveAugustus. The opening ceremony was just terrible aside from a few points. Spending $40 million on that was just dumb.

Hopefully we won't see a repetition of this for the closing ceremonies.....

[josny1]

This the same guy that did Sydney AND that Cauldron also had a malfunction. And a Roof? big no no, should be open air. And that Poet was boring, was not needed. Doubt Canada will host again.

[Robopencil]

@josny1 Open air so that the crowd can get rained on, that's great.

[josny1]

Boo hoo, get an umbrella. Also why have Winter Olympics where in the Winter the weather is mosty rain ? Like I said , get an Umbrella and deal with it, or if cold, wear a coat and hat. Ya aint ginna melt LOL

[stringuy1]

I am disappointed. It did suck. However, it's about the athletes. I wish them all the best of luck.

[tybaltsmom]

as a Vancouverite upset by the amount of money ($8 billion) spent on the games, and the $40 million spent on the opening ceremonies, in spite of myself I was amazed and filled with pride while viewing it. To AveAugustus, you are obviously unaware of our culture up North......it's not all about T&A and schlock, like the UC...it's about decent music, dance, poetry and pride. BTW, the "othert guy" was kd lang..... lyrics by Leonard Cohen, one of our best poets. Pls do some research. GO CANADA !

[SuperColossal33]

most of that $8 billion fund-raised and paid for by sponsors.

[tybaltsmom]

SuperColossal33.....then why is BC releasing its Throne Speech full of budget cuts and restructuring, the day before the games began. Since we "won" the Olympic bid, BC's education, health, children's and social program services have spiralled downwards with cutbacks, privatization and PPP's. Sponsors and "fund raising" will not cover all the taxpayers' debt. Do you really believe VANOC and the IOC..... or Gordon Campbell. If you do, I'm sorry but you are deluded.

[STEVEDIGIBOYtv]

@SuperColossal33

and Olympic Inc. makes millions off our sacrifice o the crown of the IOC. They cut school programs like PE get a grip man, does every kid in public school have a computer on their desk? even a $400. one? a fraction could have done that and we would have a world class majority workforce not just skimmers and minimum wage labor.

300 000 work everyday for below poverty line income, that makes every sector cost more. FACTS not "Lets Party" boozer logic.

[josny1]

And whay were they doing an Irish Jig?

[AveAugustus]

WOW. That opening ceremony just tanked. All the singers aside from Sarah McLaughlin were just plain bad, the fiddlers? Like wtf?! And the guy with his Canadian Manifesto? The other guy singing some crazy song with Halleluja and lyrics like "tied to chairs" and to cap it off the lift arm on the flames fails. EPIC FAIL.

No. I am sorry as a Canadian I feel ashamed. Aside from a few points, this was a total disaster.

[josny1]

I agree. Would have been better if no roof and if Cauldron worked. Simple is fine and refreshing but this did not do it for me too much.

[wl03bu]

Good Luck, David!

Yes, we have VERY high expectations :-)