Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games - Winter Edition!

[Zombie Acorn]

We were watching the CTV (may their technicians be licked by amorous camels!!) online coverage.... no cable here at home... and CTV cut the feed right as the pillars were popping up at the end... who the was final torch bearer???? I can't believe CTV cut the coverage right at 9pm! To go to their news feed, starting with the days events....

Gretzky. It's Canada, who else would it be?

Actually all 4 were supposed to be the "final torch bearer". The last pillar didn't come up, so they went with three and those three torches united in the middle at the same time to light the main cauldron. Pretty awesome if it would have worked.

 

[Jaro65]

Actually all 4 were supposed to be the "final torch bearer". The last pillar didn't come up, so they went with three and those three torches united in the middle at the same time to light the main cauldron. Pretty awesome if it would have worked.

Yeah, I know. I was soooooo hoping that the fourth pillar is going to come up while they were obviously waiting. Oh well.

But still, overall, what a great show!

 

[Surely]

I enjoyed the whole ceremony. There were a few too many clever or sarcastic toned comments from Costas, et. al. for me though.

The Canadians put on a great show. Nobody can beat the Chinese for what was done, considering the budget. But I think it demonstrated Canada's diversity very nicely.

Now, on with the games!

I agree with everything above.

I would have loved to watch it on a Canadian network instead of on NBC. Plus, I would have liked to watch it live instead of watching it 3 hours later. I mean, it's happening on the West Coast, can't we watch it live too? WTF NBC?

It was a nice ceremony. A little long.... but, these things alway are. I enjoyed it

3. Nothing more Canadian than a hockey player with the torch in the back of a pick up truck!

Atta-boy Wayner!

 

[-aggie-]

Three things.

1. Best rendition of O'Canada I've ever heard. I can't believe she is only 16.

Wow! Only 16!! I guess I didn't catch that.

 

[Surely]

Wow! Only 16!! I guess I didn't catch that.

Montreal seems to breed them.... she'll be the second coming of Celine Dion......

 

[rasmasyean]

I would have loved to watch it on a Canadian network instead of on NBC. Plus, I would have liked to watch it live instead of watching it 3 hours later. I mean, it's happening on the West Coast, can't we watch it live too? WTF NBC?

It's prolly because they have some rights and they also need to uphold contracts with advertisers. They wan't you to watch it on TV because that's where they can show you like massive amounts of ads that they charge advertisers for.

Same with the online. If it's on TV, it's prolly not going to post as a live Silverlight feed. Or it will be delayed by quite a bit. On the bright side, they can't show everything on TV so the "less popular" ones might be live online.

It might depend on your location too and stuff like that. They can tell where you are watching from I think so the web page and player menus change depending on geography.

 

[Surely]

It's prolly because they have some rights and they also need to uphold contracts with advertisers. They wan't you to watch it on TV because that's where they can show you like massive amounts of ads that they charge advertisers for.

Same with the online. If it's on TV, it's prolly not going to post as a live Silverlight feed. Or it will be delayed by quite a bit.

It might depend on you location too and stuff like that. They can tell where you are watching from I think so the web page and player menus change depending on geography.

No, I could have watched it live online on NBC's website if I wanted to. I just preferred to watch it on my big screen HD LCD TV, so I waited. Not a huge deal, but it meant that I just had to avoid news and sports websites for a few hours. We went out for dinner, PVRed it, and watched it after dinner and skipped the commercials.

I understand why they did it, I just don't like it. They do the same thing with the Oscars, even though they take place right here in LA.

 

[Jaro65]

Was it just me, or did the sound keep going out for a few seconds while watching NBC? I get the cable from Comcast, so I'm not sure where the issue was, but it was pretty annoying.

Looking forward to hockey, skiing, and figure skating!

 

[rasmasyean]

Was it just me, or did the sound keep going out for a few seconds while watching NBC? I get the cable from Comcast, so I'm not sure where the issue was, but it was pretty annoying.

Looking forward to hockey, skiing, and figure skating!

I FF'ed through most of it but I do remeber a scene where they talked to Shaun White on the street or something and you couldn't here what he said. I thought it was one of those live feed glitches.

 

[yg17]

Actually all 4 were supposed to be the "final torch bearer". The last pillar didn't come up, so they went with three and those three torches united in the middle at the same time to light the main cauldron. Pretty awesome if it would have worked.

There are 2 cauldrons. One inside BC Place and one outside. After the inside one was lit (where the pillar didn't come up), Gretzky carried the flame to the outside cauldron to light it.

 

[snberk103]

Actually all 4 were supposed to be the "final torch bearer". ....

Aaahh! Should have predicted the perfectly Canadian solution to "who lights the Cauldron" when we have half a dozen people who are equally worthy... You let them all do it! Rick Hanson brings the flame in (nod to mobility challenged) and then you let entire short list light the cauldron. It's a compromise....

Actually, I was more impressed with who they picked to carry the Olympic flag in. Can you imagine a dinner party with that group around your table?

 

[Surely]

Actually all 4 were supposed to be the "final torch bearer". The last pillar didn't come up, so they went with three and those three torches united in the middle at the same time to light the main cauldron. Pretty awesome if it would have worked.

It was still a little awesome.

I guess technically, Gretzky was the true final torchbearer because the real Olympic Cauldron is the one that is outside. According to Olympic rules, you have to be able to see the Cauldron from around the city throughout the games.

The one inside was just a part of the pageantry.

 

[Jaro65]

Aaahh! Should have predicted the perfectly Canadian solution to "who lights the Cauldron" when we have half a dozen people who are equally worthy... You let them all do it! Rick Hanson brings the flame in (nod to mobility challenged) and then you let entire short list light the cauldron. It's a compromise....

Actually, I was more impressed with who they picked to carry the Olympic flag in. Can you imagine a dinner party with that group around your table?

Yes, that was a good group! I was pleasantly surprised to see Donald Sutherland there. He is a pretty classy guy. And I liked the way they selected people with different backgrounds, as it made it appealing to a broader audience.

 

[joepunk]

Lovely Opening Ceremonies

I loved watching the opening ceremonies and was hoping that the fourth pillar would rise at the last possible moment. Maybe I might take the train from Seattle area to Vancouver to see the Olympic Sites in the next 2 weeks.

Too bad I had to watch it via NBC and their pre-recorded coverage. I'm just north of Seattle, living in the PNW and I still can't watch it live on TV I miss the CBC coverage (I have to live right near the boarder to get CTV). Oh, and can't NBC not cut to commercial breaks during the Opening Ceremonies. Really ruins the show for me when sponsorship gets in the way of a beautiful ceremony.

 

[Surely]

Yes, that was a good group! I was pleasantly surprised to see Donald Sutherland there. He is a pretty classy guy. And I liked the way they selected people with different backgrounds, as it made it appealing to a broader audience.

I met Donald Sutherland last summer (or the summer before that?) on Santa Monica beach. My wife and I were walking along the beach path, and all of a sudden, this little yapper dog runs out from between a couple of the beach houses and starts barking at us. It was on a leash, and holding the leash was Sutherland.

It was a little strange, because it was summer time, it was hot, and he was wearing a full trench coat with a shirt and tie underneath (and perhaps a suit jacket) to walk his dog on the beach. He apologized for the barking, we chatted for a couple of minutes, and that was it. He was friendly.

I was happy to see Bobby Orr there!

If there's a goal that everyone remembers it was back in ole' 72,
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger,
And all I remember was sitting beside you.
You said you didn't give a f*** about hockey,
And I never saw someone say that before.
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr.

 

[Jaro65]

I met Donald Sutherland last summer (or the summer before that?) on Santa Monica beach. My wife and I were walking along the beach path, and all of a sudden, this little yapper dog runs out from between a couple of the beach houses and starts barking at us. It was on a leash, and holding the leash was Sutherland.

It was a little strange, because it was summer time, it was hot, and he was wearing a full trench coat with a shirt and tie underneath (and perhaps a suit jacket) to walk his dog on the beach. He apologized for the barking, we chatted for a couple of minutes, and that was it. He was friendly.

I was happy to see Bobby Orr there!

If there's a goal that everyone remembers it was back in ole' 72,
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger,
And all I remember was sitting beside you.
You said you didn't give a f*** about hockey,
And I never saw someone say that before.
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr.

Cool! I would have loved to meet the guy. One of the advantages you have living where you do....

 

[Zombie Acorn]

There are 2 cauldrons. One inside BC Place and one outside. After the inside one was lit (where the pillar didn't come up), Gretzky carried the flame to the outside cauldron to light it.

Forgot about that part, it was heavily overshadowed by the awesome pillar scene (even if it didn't work it was pretty cool).

 

[NathanCH]

I know I'm going to get heck for saying this, but I think the NBC coverage was comparable to the CTV coverage. Besides the HORRIBLE delay, it really wasn't bad.

CTV had a lot better camera work, but NBC had a lot better commentary. NBC explained the meaning of each stage, and talked about the performers. For example, did you know the poet was actually a guy from youtube they found? NBC also explained David Atkin's vision for the ceremony. He said he wanted to focus more on the individual instead of the group (like beijing).

NBC was quick to cut to commercials which sucked, but it really wasn't terrible (if you were on the east).


I've been reading a lot of forums and seems like people have mixed reviews about the O'Canada at the beginning. In my opinion, it was brilliant. It's not a hockey game, we're not just going to all sing a long.

 

[yg17]

Forgot about that part, it was heavily overshadowed by the awesome pillar scene (even if it didn't work it was pretty cool).

Yeah, the cauldron was awesome. Very creative.

 

[snberk103]

Forgot about that part, it was heavily overshadowed by the awesome pillar scene (even if it didn't work it was pretty cool).

Yeah, the cauldron was awesome. Very creative.

Does anybody know of a video link to the final moments of the ceremony, with the pillars and cauldron? As state earlier, we were watching the online CTV coverage - may the CTV technicians be covered in honey and staked to an anthill - when they cut to the 9pm Olympic news desk with literally just minutes to go. The last we saw of the ceremony were the 4 torch bearers waiting for the pillars to fit into place. Sigh.

 

[Zombie Acorn]

Does anybody know of a video link to the final moments of the ceremony, with the pillars and cauldron? As state earlier, we were watching the online CTV coverage - may the CTV technicians be covered in honey and staked to an anthill - when they cut to the 9pm Olympic news desk with literally just minutes to go. The last we saw of the ceremony were the 4 torch bearers waiting for the pillars to fit into place. Sigh.

Im not seeing any on youtube or off a search of google, im wondering if the news stations shut them down if posted.

 

[rasmasyean]

How much delay was the CTV? Were they starting the event at like 8PM or something?

 

[rasmasyean]

Im not seeing any on youtube or off a search of google, im wondering if the news stations shut them down if posted.

Try this link.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/as...ntext=ceremonies#encore+opening+ceremony+part

If you have to go to the DVR thingy. It will be under...
"Ceremonies"
"Encore: Opening Ceremony, Part 3"

1:19 is when the wheelchair guy comes out and brings the torch.

 

[rhett7660]

After watching the opening ceremonies for the summer games in china, others have seemed to fall short. The china summer games opening ceremonies were incredible in my book.

The winter games were ok. Not to bad and not to good IMHO. They were nice!

 

[rasmasyean]

After watching the opening ceremonies for the summer games in china, others have seemed to fall short. The china summer games opening ceremonies were incredible in my book.

The winter games were ok. Not to bad and not to good IMHO. They were nice!

They said that China's Opening Ceremony was $300 million dollars.
Canada's was $30 million.

I'd have to say that Canada did a good job with a "low budget" however. They made pretty good use of technology and visuals considering they spent less.

One thing I didn't know about Canada was that they had indians. I alway's thought they are like Eskimos. lol