The 2010 Vancouver Olympics began with a ceremony to remember on February 12th. Athletes from all over the world were welcomed by Native American tribes portraying their heritage through dance. With thousands of athletes in their seats the magic of the Olympic Games started. Music, dance, special effects, and even poetry glorified cultures from every corner of Canada. All of the athletes were affected by the death of the Georgian luge athlete in a training run earlier that day. In his honor a moment of silence spurred emotion in BC Place. The moment of silence was followed by a welcoming speech by the Prime Minister of Canada, and the opening ceremony ended traditionally like all past ceremonies: with the lighting of the Olympic flame. The rumor for weeks before was that Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One”, would have the honor. But after the longest torch relay in history humanitarian and activist Rick Hansen, speed skater Catriona Le May Doan, basketball star Steve Nash, skier Nancy Greene, and hockey star Wayne Gretsky were all a part of the honor. With the five outstanding Canadian athletes in place to give light to the Olympic flame a malfunctioning door held BC Place in suspense for four long minutes. Finally overlooking the only mistake in the night, three of the athletes ignited the symbol of the beginning of the Vancouver Games. “The Great One” then carried the Olympic Flame to an outdoor cauldron for the entire city to see for seventeen days of world competition.

The first medals were awarded just 12 hours after the lighting of the torch. Fifteen medals were distributed by the end of February 13th. The 1500m short track had a very exciting, unexpected finish. The Korean team was set to sweep the podium with Apollo Anton Ohno and J.R. Celski in fourth and fifth, but in the last turn things changed. Two Koreans ended up in a tangle which caused them to fall to the ice. The fall allowed Americans Apollo Ohno and J.R. Celski to take silver and bronze. Apollo went on to earn his seventh Olympic medal, becoming America’s most decorated winter Olympian. The podium for Ladie’s moguls was controlled by two Americans and a Canadian; Americans Hannah Kearney and Shannon Bahrke took gold and bronze and Canada’s Jennifer Heil received Canada’s first medal of the 2010 games. Canada was hoping to break their gold medal drought in this event, but Hannah Kearney didn’t allow this to happen.
Alexandre Bilodeau ended the drought when he took gold in men’s moguls the next day. He dedicated his win to his brother who suffers from cerebal palsy, a tear jerking story. On February 23rd figure skater Joannie Rochette again brought tears to viewer’s eyes when she earned her personal best score in the short program, despite her mother’s sudden death two days prior to the event.

Lindsey Vonn, the best female alpine skier America has ever produced, suffered from a severely bruised shin coming into the Olympics, causing her dreams of Gold to be blurred. She overcame the pain and won gold in her downhill event. Bode Miller, who did not medal in Torino despite his fame, proved his ability when he won a medal in each of his first three events in Vancouver. Another American favorite, Shaun White, defended his superiority as reigning world champion and dominated the snowboard half pipe, landing tricks never done in competition. USA continued their success when the men’s hockey team defeated Canada in a widely watched, suspenseful game. The US women’s hockey team has controlled the ice in all of their games, leading them to the gold medal game. The US men’s Nordic Ski team made history, when they won a silver medal in the 4×5km relay.

The Olympics is a time when athletes bring together all people and countries as one global community. A philosophy that we wish could spill into politics throughout the world and so we all could work together for a common good.