The opening weekend of the Vancouver 2010 Games was not without controversy. International Heads of State and a Cabinet Minister were thrust into the spotlight to deal with Games related controversies.
Friday’s opening ceremonies were overshadowed by the tragic death of a Georgian luger. This unfortunate event prompted a range of emotions from Games officials, athletes and Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili who spoke courageously on behalf of his country.
VANOC officials amended Friday’s opening ceremonies to include a touching moment of silence for the Georgian luger as part of a two and half hour spectacular that was generally well regarded by most media outlets and the public. My colleague @anna_lilly described her thoughts via Twitter stating she felt the opening ceremonies were “spectacular.” I chimed in via my Twitter account @stickney saying they were “surprising & inspirational.”
The Hon. James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage opted for a more traditional media approach to share his thoughts on the ceremony. Moore was quoted saying he felt “disappointed, there wasn’t as much French as we were expecting, as we were told that there was going to be.”
Moore is perhaps a touch too sensitive these days because of the criticism the Canadian Pavilion has received, a story covered earlier here, by one of my colleagues. Moore’s mood likely improved by late Sunday evening once Montreal’s Alexander Bilodeau claimed Canada’s first gold medal of the games and became the first Canadian athlete to win gold at home.
Earlier in the day, the spotlight had shifted to the American delegation and visiting Vice President, Joe Biden. Biden’s entourage, which included former US Olympic athletes managed to involve themselves in a minor car crash, en route to watch the US women’s hockey team take on China. Biden and his entourage managed to escape the crash without any serious injuries.
Meanwhile across town, in the spirit of non partisanship, and in support of Canada’s athletes, the current Prime Minister and the “Little Guy from Shawinigan” managed to get together for a photo opportunity.
As the media focus shifts to the athletes and daily competitions, politicians will take a back seat. The Prime Minister has focused his attention back to devastation caused by the Earthquake in Haiti. He departs today for Haiti and will be the first world leader to visit the country since the disaster took place.