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 15-year-old Zack Beaumont of Delta had the honor of lighting the final Cauldron in B.C. Place. The Flame was brought in by Terry Fox's parents Betty and Rolly during opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Mar 12, 2010. (CARMINE MARINELLI, 24 HOURS) |
A lone Canadian Forces trumpeter heralded the start of a two-hour celebration of ability as a cast of 5,000 singers, dancers, acrobats and athletes opened the 2010 Winter Paralympics in B.C. Place Stadium on Friday.
Hundreds of children in green, blue and white surrounded Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean in the shape of a maple leaf in the same stadium that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies last month. Sumi, the thunderbird and black bear hybrid mascot of the Paralympics, flew over the pompom-waving crowd of more than 55,000 people before athletes from 44 countries rolled and walked across the floor during a half-hour parade.
American Paralympic sprinter Aimee Mullins and Canadian wheelchair athlete Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal told the story of the Paralympics in English and French as historical images of previous Games were projected throughout the stadium. Dal Richards, the 92-year-old Vancouver big band leader, and pianist Michael Kaeshammer offered a musical tribute to Paralympians.
Quebec singer Martin Deschamps entered on a three-wheeled Harley-Davidson. Wheelchair rugby and basketball players clashed while amputee skateboarders and a deaf motocross rider did stunts. Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham completed an awe-inspiring 360-degree flip among dancers, fireworks and flames.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper looked on while Jean declared the Games open. Canadian Forces Sgt. Karen McCoy, who lost a leg to cancer, and Cpl. Mike Trauner, who lost both legs and use of his right arm to a bomb attack in Afghanistan, raised the IPC flag.
A video of the late Toronto jazz pianist Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom” preceded a segment honouring Terry Fox that was introduced by wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen and CTV anchor Lloyd Robertson. Images of Fox were projected around the stadium while Yukon singer Manfred Janssen performed “Highwind” for Fox’s parents Betty and Rolly.
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Daniel Wesley, a Paralympic wheelchair racer and alpine skier, passed the Paralympic flame to the torch of wheelchair basketball player Marni Abbott-Peter and finally 15-year-old Tsawwassen, B.C. child amputee Zach Beaumont. Beaumont lit the cauldron inside B.C. Place while outdoor cauldrons near the Vancouver Convention Centre and at the Whistler Medals Plaza simultaneously blazed back to life after they were extinguished when the Olympics ended Feb. 28.
Competition begins Saturday morning when defending gold medalist Canada meets Italy in sledge hockey. The closing ceremony is March 21 in Whistler.