the transfer of the Olympic Flag to the mayor of Vancouver,

hymne canadien-remise du drapeau au maire de Vancouver-jeux olympiques de Turin 2006-Canadian opera star Ben Heppner, himself born in British Columbia, the host province of the 2010 Winter Olympics, sang O Canada to begin the Canadian segment of the ceremonies and mark the beginning of the countdown to the Vancouver Olympic Games in 2010. Heppner sang the formal version of O Canada which is presented in a combination of Canada's two official languages, English and French, which are also the official languages of the IOC. This part of the program culminated in the "Antwerp Ceremony" (so called because the original Olympic flag, which was used till 1988 for transfer of the Summer Games, was first used at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp), which is the transfer of the Olympic Flag from the mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino, to Jacques Rogge, and then to the mayor of Vancouver, Sam Sullivan. The flag will be kept in the Vancouver City Hall during the next four years. With music playing, Chiamparino ran up the steps to the stage, waved the flag the symbolic eight times, handed it to Rogge, who then handed it to Sullivan. Because Sullivan is a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair and has limited use of his arms and hands, the flag was placed in a specially-designed flag holder on his chair. Sullivan then spun his chair back and forth eight times to make the flag wave in the air. The assembled crowd roared in approval and rose to their feet in response.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• canadian
• anthem-transfer
• Olympic
• Flag
• mayor
• Vancouver
• Sam
• Sullivan
• torino
• 2006
• closing
• ceremony

[schmuckcw]

It's a matter of respect. We French speakers are Canadians, founders of the country as much as the English, and even though many of us know English, our nation is bilingual and so is our anthem!

[UzumakiAngelz]

I am Native Canadain and it is true Ive been to other parts of the world and people thought i lived in a IGLOO like come on people. Canada has helped the world in so many ways it is not right the way we're listed at HOCKEY-LOVE'N, BEER DRINKING PEOPLE WHO END EVERY SENTENCE WITH "EH?"

[meg5730]

@JohnFinnigan1 they did mostly to keep the French happy. It's not so much understanding as respecting the fact that we are bilingual and the french should be as strong as the English. Also it keeps them happy so they don't try to separate.

[crazyfoot1]

I really dont understand i am english and we call our lands states canada calls them provinces

[crazyfoot1]

hey canada i visited your country

[xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx]

lol do u rly live in a igloo? xD!!

[xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx]

cuz canadians=indians....???

[canucks16]

lazy bastard didn't even stand for the national anthem!

jk

[gaypanda]

I love it when Eurovision and Olympics clash together.

Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (volare) was sung whilst the Mayor of Turin waved the flag.

[GuardianAngel274]

The olympics were epic! I loved them! Especially when I live in Richmond, where the richmond oval is. :P

[Demifan1689]

Brendanberlingeri

The Reason Why They Letted the Indians introduce because we were on their territory. Didnt You Listen in the beginning of The opening Ceremony when they showed the First nations???

I Really Think The First nations Did And Should Have part in those Ceremonies as much as it is.

[TheJeffYo]

see you in Sochi!