Whistler puts on own opening night show (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 13, 2010, 5:54 GMT

Whistler, Canada - Vancouver may have hosted the official opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics, but the mountainous host city of Whistler also offered a colorful show Friday night for young and old, Canadian and non-Canadian.

The celebrations centered around the Village Square in downtown Whistler and featured the Canadian athletes not in Vancouver taking the stage to the delight of the spectators.

Local alpine skier Michael Janyk, who grew up in the Whistler mountains, was thrilled with the spectacle, which drew thousands and included the Whistler Children's Choir singing the Canadian national anthem 'O Canada.'

'I remember standing here seven years ago when we were awarded the Games. I thought this day would never come. But we're here, where I grew up and went to school. This is beyond imagination. Thank you, thank you,' said Janyk.

Among those in the crowd was Australian Natasha Strim, who watched on her six-year-old daughter Georgia sing in the choir on stage.

'This is a great moment for her and all of the children in the choir. She's been so excited. And I am so proud,' said Strim, who has lived in Whistler for 12 years.

Anxiously awaiting the Russian team to be announced from inside the crowd were daughter and father Victoria and Alexander Loginova, who came all the way from Rostov to be part of the action.

'We cannot wait for the Russian team. But Canada are a great team too,' said Victoria Loginova, who was sporting a Russian national team hockey jersey of Alexander Ovechkin and along with Canadian Logan Swayze plans on watching events in biathlon, luge, bobsleigh as well as the Russia-Slovakia ice hockey match.

Impressed with Whistler's festivities was Tucker T Thompson, a Salt Lake City native who volunteered at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Games in Utah and Turin.

'This whole show is a great time. And it's a great idea to bring the athletes to the people. And they deserve it after braving these uncomfortable conditions,' said Thompson, who is just visiting the ski resort this time around.

Elsewhere in Whistler, the three cousins Jacob Hogger, 9; Liam Brumley 9; and Aiyana Brumley, 6; from near Seattle on visit were among the excited fans who watched as the Canadian athletes walked through the town.

'I like it here a lot. Because I like the team,' said Aiyana, whose visit Friday night also included sitting in a bobsleigh in downtown Whistler.

Vancouver native Rick 'Flex' Feliks has lived in Whistler for 25 years and loves to see the town full of passionate visitors and locals.

'What can you say? It's great for the place. And now we get to show the world what a great place this is,' said 'Flex' just outside his favorite watering hole Tapley's Bar.

There were also quiet locations in Whistler during the opening ceremony. Sales persons Martin Pisano and Mariah Hayward took turns of leaving The Whistler Clothing Co. to get a feel for the commotion outside the empty store.

'It's great to be hosting such a big event like this. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. And we look forward to being part of it all,' said Pisano in his warm, well-lit store with jazz music by Patricia Barber.

But besides all the jazz Whistler was also quietly mourning the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili as a small memorial was beginning at the Olympic rings in downtown of the ski resort town.

Unknown persons placed five bouquets of flowers and a number of candles in front of the rings as well as a photo of the 21-year-old Kumaritashvili, who died earlier Friday in a crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre.