The theme of Vancouver’s segment of the Turin 2006 Games Closing Ceremony is “Come Play With Us In 2010”, as announced by the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee Thursday.
Featured in the eight-minute segment, which follows the official handover of the Olympic flag to the Mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan and a unique First Nations Ceremony, will be internationally acclaimed opera star Ben Heppner singing Canada’s national anthem, and rock star Avril Lavigne.
The Olympic Flag will be transferred from Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. Rogge will present the flag to Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan.
Sullivan has used a wheelchair since he broke his neck in a skiing accident when he was 19. He told a news conference, “some have questioned the wisdom of Vancouver sending its worst skier to Torino”.
While addressing reporters Sullivan drove his modified motorized wheelchair from behind the speakers’ table to the front of the stage to exhibit a custom-designed attachment with a metal cylinder into which IOC President Jacques Rogge will insert the flag.
Sullivan plans to manoeuvre his wheelchair briskly enough so that the motion makes the flag flutter. He said, “the worst case scenario – the flag blows in my face and I fall of the edge of the stage”.
Following the formal handover and a special ceremony to honour Canada’s First Nations, the celebration of Canada’s passion for winter sport and teamwork will begin.
The handover will be broadcast on a large-screen TV in Vancouver and another screen in Whistler’s Village Square.
A countdown clock in Vancouver will begin marking off the 1,500 days until the Vancouver Games begin. The Olympic flag will be raised at Vancouver City Hall on Tuesday.
The Vancouver 2010 Games are being held from February 12-28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.
