2010 Opening Ceremony at BC Place -

On February 12, 2010, the world will turn its attention to Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium for the Opening Ceremonies of the XXI Olympic Winter Games.

For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games will be held indoors. The ceremony will welcome the Olympic family and visitors to Canada and give Canadians a chance to present who they are in front of 60 000 live spectators and a worldwide television audience of three billion.

The Government of Canada has announced $20 million (CAD) for the Olympic Opening Ceremony, which is sure to be a truly memorable and historic event for the Games. BC Place Stadium is the ideal location to realize this goal as it is equipped with state-of-the-art sound, lighting, projection, and special effects technologies.

The Olympic Games are mandated by the International Olympic Committee to promote international understanding, to honour the world’s greatest athletes, and to celebrate humanity.

The Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be a living representation of this nation’s diversity and highlight Canada’s linguistic duality as well as Canadian Aboriginal culture. Drawing on a wealth of symbols, stories, and themes which represent Canada, the Opening Ceremony will feature a rich tapestry of both national and international talent.

In order to maintain the element of surprise traditionally associated with the Opening Ceremonies, the program will not be released prior to the Games. As such, all Olympic spectators will be able to share in their awe and excitement as a global community.

The Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games will be held on March 12, 2010, also at BC Place Stadium and is guaranteed to be a dazzling spectacle of pageantry and colourful performances.