Opening Ceremonies at The Vancouver Winter Olympics 2-12-10

Parade of Nations

2,500 athletes from a record 82 countries are participating in the games, vying for medals in 86 events — including the newly added ski-cross competition. First-time Winter Olympic participants include the Cayman Islands, Columbia, Ghana, Montenegro, Pakistan, Peru and Serbia.

Here are some of my observations:

These events are limiting because some nations don’t have winter climate or winter sports terrains. In fact, several of the participating athletes where raised in the US or came here for college and returned to represent their mother countries.

Several countries entered only ONE athlete including: Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Andorra, Ethiopia, Algeria, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Ghana

I always marvel at how Brazil, which is more than half Black, typically features all-white athletes in prestigious world events.

Speaking of race, there is a noticeable lack of “color” in the competitions.

No South American country has ever won.

Iran entered its first woman athlete and she carried the national flag in the parade.

The Jamaican bobsled team did not make the cut this time.

38/82 competing nations this year have never won a medal at the Winter Olympics.

A 51-year old (Mexican of European aristocratic descent) is the oldest competitor.

Canada never won a gold medal when they hosted the Olympics.

It was conducted in French followed by English. Many believe that is because Canada is bilingual. That is NOT why. The official languages of the Olympics are French and English - French is primary as the headquarters of the IOC are in Switzerland. Thus when announcements are made at the Games, they are made in French, English, and the language of the host country (if it differs).

The Show

After Beijing’s magnificent Opening Show at the 2008 Olympics, I thought no country could measure up.

I was pleasantly surprised with the visual artistry

Canada’s show was a feast for the eyes! It was visually breathtaking and combined live dancers, spectacular electronic images, and lighting & technological prowess (except for that last caldron lighting glitch) with a varied cultural and entertaining experiences.

Highlights were killer whales swimming through the stadium, fiddlers and river/tap dancers, spoken word poet, the boy floating over the amber waves of grain, audience participating in lighting up the stadium when it was in darkness, the skiiers, snowboarders and ice skaters descending the Canadian Rockies, and totem poles that morphed into trees.

The cultural segment of ceremony featured many of Canada's best-known musical stars — including Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang.

It also highlighted performers and traditions from Canada's aboriginal communities. And the highest-ranking official delegation at the ceremony — amid dignitaries from around the world — included the four chiefs of the First Nations whose traditional native territory overlaps the Olympic region. Importantly, the members of these groups remained on the floor, dancing for more than ONE hour, during the Parade of Nations!

They aknowledged that the First Nation was and is the real Canadaian

Several well-known Canadians received the honor of carrying the Olympic flag at a high-profile moment near the end of the ceremony. Among them were hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, singer Anne Murray, race car driver Jacques Villeneuve and Betty Fox, mother of national hero Terry Fox.

The death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21-yr old luger, hung over the usually festive first day of the games. Inside BC Place Stadium, the ceremony was punctuated by somber pauses, sorrowful speeches and flags lowered to half-staff. The 21-year-old slider's grief-stricken teammates marched with black armbands and scarves. (With hours to go before the opening ceremony, a luger from the nation of Georgia was killed after he lost control of his sled on the infamously fast track at Whistler and crashed into a steel pole.)

The flame reached the stadium after a 106-day torch relay across Canada, passing through more than 1,000 communities in every province and territory.

This was the first time the Olympics are being broadcast simultaneously in 22 languages, including aboriginal languages (Canadian and American).

The overall favorites include Germany and the United States — which finished first and second four years ago in Turin — and also Canada, a best-ever third in 2006.

Here is a link to the article most posted on Twitter: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/opening_ceremonies_for_vancouv.html

Kumbh Mela-World's Largest Religious Gathering

HARIDWAR, India — Thousands of Hindu holy men, some naked and smeared with ash, took dips in the chilly waters of the Ganges river while surrounded by cheering, dancing supporters Friday, one of the most auspicious days of a monthslong festival expected to attract more than 10 million people.

Throughout the day, nearly 2 million devout Hindus – including large groups of sadhus, or holy men – are expected to bathe in the waters, which they consider sacred, said Anand Vardhan, the government official supervising the Kumbh Mela, often described as the world's largest religious gathering.

Thousands of police equipped with closed-circuit television and metal detectors were on alert for terrorist attacks, stampedes and crime among the pilgrims, who will crowd into tents or sleep outside during the more than 100-day festival. Authorities made near-constant announcements on loudspeakers asking people to move in orderly lines to the specially marked bathing areas along the river banks.

"We are keeping an eye on every movement. We are well prepared for this day," said Alok Sharma, the deputy inspector general of police.

The Hindu festival, which is celebrated every three years, rotates among four Indian cities.

On Jan. 13, it began in Haridwar, a temple-filled town at the foothills of the Himalayas where the Ganges river enters the sprawling plains of northern India. The festival ends April 28.

I remember feeling the sacredness of this cty when I was there in 2007. The vendors dont even bargain because they have little concern for the material.

Thousands of pilgrims began taking dips before dawn on Friday with temperatures falling below 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius). Devout Hindus believe bathing in the Ganges will cleanse them of their sins and free them from the cycle of life and rebirth.

"Because of the way the stars are aligned during the Kumbh, all the good things you do get multiplied and your sins are washed away," said Anil Sharma, a lawyer who had traveled to Haridwar from Jaipur in western India's Rajasthan state.

The main bathing areas were vacated for holy men, who started taking dips at about 11 a.m. (0530 GMT; 12:30 a.m. EST), marking the first "Shahi Snan" or Royal Bath.

The Shahi Snans are some of the most important events of Kumbh Mela. Thousands of holy men arrive at their specially designated bathing spots in large processions. Several carry swords and tridents and come riding on horses or being pulled in chariots.

Friday is also Shivaratri, a day devoted to the worship of the Hindu god Shiva.

The Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, derives its name from a mythical fight over a pitcher of holy nectar.

According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons waged a war over the nectar they needed to achieve immortality and victory. Four drops spilled, landing in the four cities that host the festival: Allahabad, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythic Saraswati rivers; Nasik, in the western state of Maharashtra; Ujjain, in central India, and in Haridwar.

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Associated Press reporter Biswajeet Banerjee contributed to this report from Lucknow, India.

Ban on All Things Red In Saudi Arabia Because of Valentine’s Day

In some Muslim nations, symbols of romance are banned. Read this article to find out where “love is taboo”.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi religious police launched Thursday a nationwide crackdown on stores selling items that are red or in any other way allude to the banned celebrations of Valentine's Day, a Saudi official said.

Members of the feared religious police were inspecting shops for red roses, heart-shaped products or gifts wrapped in red, and ordering storeowners to get rid of them, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Red-colored or heart-shaped items are legal at other times of the year, but as Feb. 14 nears they become contraband in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom bans celebration of Western holidays such as Valentine's Day, named after a Christian saint said to have been martyred by the Romans in the 3rd Century.

Most shops in Riyadh's upscale neighborhoods have removed all red items from their shelves. A statement by the religious police, informally known as the muttawa, was published in Saudi newspapers, warning shop owners against any violations.

"Those who don't comply will be punished," the statement said, without spelling out what measures would befall the offenders.

The Valentine's Day prohibition is in line with Saudi's strict Wahhabi school of Islam that the kingdom has followed for more than a century. The birthplace of Islam also bans several Muslim holidays except the two most important ones because it considers them "religious innovations" that Islam doesn't sanction.

Even birthdays and Mother's Day are frowned on by the religious establishment, although people almost never get punished for celebrating them.

Many Saudis, who still want to mark the popular Valentine's, do their shopping weeks before the holiday.

Each year, the religious police mobilize ahead of Feb. 14 and descend on gift and flower shops, confiscating all red items, including flowers.
Attitudes toward Valentine's Day vary across the Arab world, with devout Muslims opposing the holiday as a Western celebration of romantic love that corrupts Muslim youth.

The Egyptian capital, Cairo, is a sharp contrast to the Saudi restrictions, with shops and restaurants going overboard in red ribbon and heart decorations.

Dubai, a conservative Muslim city-state with a Western outlook, is every year taken over by a Valentine craze. Luxury hotels are draped in red, offering romantic dinner specials. Malls and cafes are decorated with giant hearts and flower shops offer promotional deals on roses and fancy bouquets.

Apparently prompted by the Saudi ban, a group in the Philippines advocating the welfare of Filipino overseas workers – a million of whom work in Saudi Arabia and another million elsewhere in the Middle East – cautioned its countrymen to celebrate Valentine's Day only in private and refrain from publicly greeting anyone with "Happy Valentine's" across the region.

"We are urging fellow Filipinos in the Middle East, especially lovers, just to celebrate their Valentine's Day secretly and with utmost care," said John Leonard Monterona of the Migrante group.

He said the group advised against carrying anything that is red, including toys, hearts, and flowers, or even wearing red dresses or T-shirts. Instead, he urged Filipinos to visit Internet cafes to chat with their loved ones, give them a call or send text messages.

ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI | 02/11/10 01:13 PM |
Associated Press Writers Hrvoje Hranjski in Manila, Philippines, and Barbara Surk in Dubai, United Arab Emirates contributed to this report.

Do You Know The World's Largest Subway Systems?

From The Series: Do You Know? From: karlascottspeaker.blogspot.com

Today’s topic: Worlds biggest subway systems.

Do you know the worlds largest, oldest, fastest, broadest subway systems?

When you're traveling around the world, it's good to know that there are public transit systems available to help you move around the city with ease, safely. Underground subway systems offer the convenience of getting where you want when you want without the hassle of having to flag down a taxi or rent a car. In just about all cases, it's the most cost effective option. In some cases, it is the fastest means of going from A to B.

I look forward to taking subways when I travel because it gives a great snapshot of how the residents live.

Here are the world’s top subways (based upon annual volume of riders) along with commentary.

Beijing
The Beijing Subway is a relatively new subway system that opened in 1969 and serves Beijing and the surrounding suburbs. Its expansion for the 2008 Olympics, catipulted it to the #1 position as it transports 5 billion annual passengers on 300 miles of track.


Moscow
Until Beijing expanded its system to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games, the Moscow subway system had the biggest ridership of all metro systems throughout the world, with 3.2 billion riders annually traveling on 12 subway lines to 172 stations. In total, the Moscow Metro covers approximately 178 miles. On an average weekday, the subway itself carries about 8.2 million passengers. While most of the Moscow trains run underground, some lines cross bridges and provide scenic views of the Moskva River and the Yauza River.


Tokyo
Tokyo’s system, carrying 2.6 billion riders annually, is modern and extremely clean. The rains are on time. The seats are heated. Trains always stop in the same place alongside markers. Subway stops are announced in both Japanese and English.


Seoul
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the most heavily used subway systems in the world with more than 8 million daily trips. It is also one of the biggest subway stations worldwide, running 179.4 miles in length. The trains mostly run underground, but 30% of the system is above ground.


Mexico City
It is the second largest metro system in North America after the New York City Subway, and in 2008 the system served 1.467 billion passengers, placing it as the fifth highest ridership in the world.

New York City
The New York City rapid transit system is one of the most extensive public transit systems worldwide. It has grown from 28 stations when it was founded in October of 1904 to 462 stations presently. Service is 24 hours a day.


Paris
The Paris subway system is the second oldest in the world (the initial system was completed in 1900) and aids roughly 1.365 billion people with their daily commutes. Running over 133.7 miles of track and stopping at 380 stations, it has extensive coverage throughout the city.


Osaka, Japan
Ranks 8th in the world with 125 stations on 8 lines.


London
The London Underground is Europe's largest metro subway system and is the world's oldest underground system (it was inaugurated in 1863). It covers 253 miles of track and transports 976 million people yearly. The Underground is also connected to a variety of rail services to London's surrounding areas (including the Eurostar to Paris).


Hong Kong
The Hong Kong subway, also known as the Mass Transit Railway (which translates to "underground railway" in English), was established in 1979. Despite its relatively small size compared (56 miles) to other transit systems, the MTR transports an average of 2.46 million rides per day. The Hong Kong system is based on a British design. Some characteristics provided by Virgin Air Travel are: efficient and frequent service on high-capacity cars. It is extremely affordable, clean and modern with air-conditioned cars. It uses the Octopus contactless smart card for subway currency, allowing travelers to swipe their card near the turnstile for easy access to train platforms.


St Petersburg
The Saint Petersburg Metro is one of the deepest subway systems in the world and the deepest by the average depth of all the stations. The system's deepest station, Admiralteyskaya, is 105 metres below ground. Serving nearly three million passengers daily, it is also the 13th busiest subway system in the world.


Madrid, Spain
The Madrid Metro is the second largest underground system in Europe and the sixth largest system in the world. It has 141.7 miles of track and an additional 27.5 miles are expected to be completed soon. The Madrid Metro is the densest metro network in the world.

Source: Jane's Urban Transport Systems, and individual subway websites.

5 facts you probably didn't know about Groundhog Day:

1. Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, has not seen it 15 times, and nine years are unaccounted for.

2. The National Climatic Data Center reportedly stated that Phil's prediction's have been correct 39 percent of the time. This number is in conflict with Phil's club, which states he's been right 100 percent of the time.

3. According to the funny website groundhog.org, there's a legend that during Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn't allowed a drink.

4. In the years following the release of Groundhog Day, a 1993 film starring Bill Murray, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney where the ceremony takes place.

5. Though groundhogs typically live only six to eight years, Groundhog Day lore suggests that Phil drinks a magic elixir every summer, which gives him seven more years of life.