Gretzky lights the cauldron

The 21st Winter Olympics was opened by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge in Vancouver on Friday in a ceremony overshadowed by the death of Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili earlier in the day.

Rogge wore a black tie for the proceedings and both the Canadian and Olympic flags were lowered to half-mast in honour of Kumaritashvili, who died following a crash on a training run at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

The Georgian flag, carried by 21-year-old skier Iason Abramashvili, included a black fringe and their team members wore black stripes. The Georgian National Olympic Committee had earlier confirmed their seven athletes would compete at the Games.

Large screens declared that the ceremony would be dedicated to Kumaritashvili, and the Georgian team members were given a standing ovation when they marched into the stadium.

Mr Rogge prefaced the traditional opening speeches by saying: "It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the tragic loss of Nodar Kumaritashvili of the Georgian team, who passed away this morning in a training accident on the luge track.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, team-mates and country."

Flame

A snowboarder had slid down a specially designed ramp and jumped through the Olympic rings to herald the start of the ceremony at the 60,000-capacity BC Place.

But the underlying tone remained one of sadness and uncertainty.

John Furlong, chief executive of the Games organising committee, Vanoc, said of Kumaritashvili: "May you carry his Olympic dream on your shoulders and compete with his spirit in your hearts."

Canadian Paralympian Rick Hansen carried the torch into the stadium at the end of a record-breaking 30,000-mile, 106-day trip across the country and four athletes, including ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, lit the flame simultaneously.

Gretzky then carried the torch outside for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, with big screens projecting the image back to those inside the stadium.