As has become an Olympic tradition, the 2010 Winter Olympics began with an elaborate opening ceremony. The ceremony was held on February 12, 2010, at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia and featured, among other events and performances, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

The ceremonies began at 6:00 p.m. PST (9:00 p.m. EST) and were broadcast live on NBC (CTV in Canada), as well as many other networks across the world. Both NBC and CTV offered live online streaming of the opening ceremonies and most other Olympic events via their official websites.http://www.nbcolympics.com http://www.ctvolympics.ca/

Opening Portion

• The Canadian flag was carried into BC Place by eight members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• Canadian jazz singer, Nikki Yanofsky, whose Olympic theme I Believe became a huge hit, sang the "O Canada," the Canadian national anthem
• Four large "welcoming poles" representing Canada's aboriginal nations were erected. Representatives of each tribe welcomed the world to the Olympics in their native language, as well as English and French. Traditional first nations dancing followed
• The Olympic athletes entered the arena. In accordance with Olympic tradition, the Greek competitors led the pack, and the remaining countries entered in alphabetical order, with the exception of Canada, whose athletes came last
• The Georgian athletes wore black armbands in honor of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died in an accident on the luge track during practice just hours before the ceremony. The audience responded with a standing ovation
• Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado performed an Olympic tribute song entitled "Bang the Drum"

Cultural Component

• This portion of the ceremony began with an abstract reenactment of the early peoples of Canada intended to demonstrate how the climate and landscape shaped Canadian culture. Other highlights included:
• A 20-meter LED-light covered spirit bear puppet
• Sarah McLachlan performing her song "Ordinary Miracle" while members of the Alberta Ballet danced among a set of false Douglas Fir trees
• Hundreds of fiddlers and folk and tap dancers performed during a segment dedicated to Canadian autumn. Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac performed the finale of the segment
• A segment entitled "Peaks of Endeavor," which featured skiers and snowboarders suspended from the ceiling and images of Olympic events projected on a screen-covered replica of the Rocky Mountains. Red and white skaters sporting lights on their suits circled the mountains
• Canadian slam poet Shane Koyczan recited a piece about what it means to be Canadian entitled "We Are More"

Speeches and Official Opening

• IOC President Jacques Rogge acknowledged the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili and expressed sympathy for his family and teammates
• VANOC CEO John Furlong and Jacques Rogge each delivered a speech of welcome and thanks
• Michaelle Jean, the Governor General of Canada, announced the official opening of the 21st Winter Olympic Games
• k.d. Lang sang the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah." The audience members waved LED flashlights shaped like candles
• The Olympic Flag entered BC Place, carried by Betty Fox, Donald Sutherland, Jacques Villeneuve, Barbara Ann Scott, Anne Murray, Romeo Dallaire, Bobby Orr and Julie Payette
• Measha Brueggergosman sang the Olympic anthem
• A minute of silence was observed for Nodar Kumaritashvili
• Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser took the Olympic oath on behalf of the athletes and Michel Verreault took the oath on behalf of the officials
• French Canadian singer Garou performed "Un Peu Plus Haut, Un Peu Plus Loin"

The Lighting of the Cauldron

• Paraolympic gold medalist, humanitarian and activist Rick Hansen carried the Olympic flame into the building. He passed it along to two-time Olympic gold medalist Catriona Le May Doan, who passed it to British Columbia-born basketball player Steve Nash. Nash passed the torch to "Canada's Female Athlete of the 20th Century," former Olympic skier Nancy Greene, who then passed it to Canadian hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky
• A problem with the hydraulic system temporarily delayed the Olympic cauldron from taking its designated place in the center of the arena.
• Three pillars came up from beneath the stage and Olympic cauldron rested at the apex of the three pillars. Gretzky, Nash and Greene each lit the bottom of a spire while Le May Doan watched, and the flame traveled up the spires to light the cauldron
• Gretzky was transported to Jack Poole plaza to light the second external Olympic cauldron. Poole, the founding chairperson of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, was instrumental in bringing the Olympics to Vancouver, but died of pancreatic cancer on October 23, 2009, the day after the Olympic torch was lit in Greece