After 17 days of outstanding athletic achievements, Vancouver bid adieu to the 21st Winter Olympic Games with a fastidious closing ceremony.
The statistics of this Olympic Games are rather astounding: 6,500 athletes and team officials in total out of whom 2,632 were athletes, 50,000 broadcast hours of the Games across all media platforms all around the world, 10,800 media representatives, 3.5 billion estimated worldwide television viewers, 1.6 million tickets sold, 18,500 volunteers, and more than 600 cultural events in two months.
The “radiant, jubilant, spontaneous, peaceful” ceremony started with a countdown and the focus was on talent, humor and innovation, the three most important exports of the hosting country. In the spirit of “one nation of athletes”, the 2,600 athletes processed together and not grouped up according to their country. The event also featured the two most important moments of the ending ceremony. John Furlong (the Chief Executive Officer of this Game) emphasized in his speech the enormous force of the Olympiad to unite people, the importance of athletes, as “best ambassadors we have for a better world” and the shocking, sorrowful death of the young Georgian athlete Nodar Kumartiashvilli . Jacques Rogge, the IOC President expressed his gratitude to Canada: “Thank you to the people of Canada, for your generous hospitality, your warmth, and this unique and joyous celebration of Olympism… Thank you to the thousands of marvellous volunteers. Your competency, your kindness and your smiles are worthy of a gold medal!” The official handover of the Olympic flag by Vancouver Major Gregor Robertson to Andy Pakhomov mayor of Sochi was impressive with an ample show presenting some chief aspects of Russian culture and sport. The later part of the ceremony flaunted extravagant performances from artists as Michael J. Fox, Michael Bublé or Avril Lavigne. As all the Olympic Games, the remarkable show ended with the traditional fire works.
Sochi 2014, it’s your turn!
The “radiant, jubilant, spontaneous, peaceful” ceremony started with a countdown and the focus was on talent, humor and innovation, the three most important exports of the hosting country. In the spirit of “one nation of athletes”, the 2,600 athletes processed together and not grouped up according to their country. The event also featured the two most important moments of the ending ceremony. John Furlong (the Chief Executive Officer of this Game) emphasized in his speech the enormous force of the Olympiad to unite people, the importance of athletes, as “best ambassadors we have for a better world” and the shocking, sorrowful death of the young Georgian athlete Nodar Kumartiashvilli . Jacques Rogge, the IOC President expressed his gratitude to Canada: “Thank you to the people of Canada, for your generous hospitality, your warmth, and this unique and joyous celebration of Olympism… Thank you to the thousands of marvellous volunteers. Your competency, your kindness and your smiles are worthy of a gold medal!” The official handover of the Olympic flag by Vancouver Major Gregor Robertson to Andy Pakhomov mayor of Sochi was impressive with an ample show presenting some chief aspects of Russian culture and sport. The later part of the ceremony flaunted extravagant performances from artists as Michael J. Fox, Michael Bublé or Avril Lavigne. As all the Olympic Games, the remarkable show ended with the traditional fire works.
Sochi 2014, it’s your turn!
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