On Friday Feb. 12, about 5,500 athletes from more than 91 countries will take part in the opening ceremonies of the 21st Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.
With events ranging from the luge to speed skating to ice hockey to snowboarding, athletes will be competing for the gold medal and their country’s honor.
In the last winter Olympics, which took place in Torino, Italy in 2006, Germany led with eleven gold medals followed by the United States and Austria with nine.
When asked if they would be tuning in for the opening ceremonies, which start at 6 p.m. on NBC, Boston University students responded with enthusiasm.
“I’m enthralled by all the different countries coming together to put on an amazing opening ceremony,” said College of Arts and Sciences freshman Rachael Shanker.
“The Opening Ceremony is our biggest chance to speak to a global audience and tell the story of a contemporary Canada that will inspire the world,” said the CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games John Furlong in a press release on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics website.
The 2010 Winter Olympics, which were organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee, will take place from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28 and will be the third Olympic Games taking place in Canada.
In planning the Winter Games, VANOC made sure to keep sustainability in mind and have had the most ambitious carbon management program for any Olympic Games yet, according to the press release.
VANOC also created the Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Star program, which according to vancouver2010.com, “recognizes initiatives by Games partners, sponsors and VANOC that demonstrate positive and measurable social, economic and environmental impacts.”
On their website, the group also makes a point of saying that they contacted Canada’s indigenous population in both their planning and implementation stages.
First Nations, a term that refers to the Aboriginal people of Canada, is also reflected in the mascots of the 2010 Olympic Games. Miga, Quatchi and Sumi all come from indigenous mythology, states the 2010 Olympic Games website.
The English motto of the Olympic Games is “With Glowing Hearts,” a piece of the Canadian National Anthem and “Des plus brilliants exploits” is the French motto, reflecting the two languages of Canada.
“There’s a champion in everybody and the mottos invite everyone to step up to their own podium and give their very best through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the 2010 Winter Games,” Furlong said in the press release.
Students said they are looking forward to cheering for a variety of different sports in the games.
“I’m excited to watch speed skating and curling because they are unique sports and you don’t get to see them all the time,” said CAS freshman Brittany Yelenik.
“I like skiing, curling, all the exciting sports,” said College of Engineering freshman Dylan Stevens.
For CAS freshman Walter Holohan, watching hockey is the best part about the Winter Olympics.
“The best part is seeing all the hockey players, especially the big rivals, playing on the same team,” he said.
Students said they were particularly anxious to see how many medals the United States will win.
“Whenever the U.S. wins a gold medal and the national anthem plays, I get the chills,” Shanker said.
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