Skiers and snowboarders suspended from the ceiling came down the scenic prop mountains to flip and dive through the air as the audience looked on with amazement, all with huge grins and eyes full of surprise and wonder.

A montage of athletes was displayed on the fabric mountains as the athletic acrobats dangled and a troop of glowing red and white rollerbladers circled the stage.

The Canadian tribute continued with a discussion about how Canucks say Please, Thank You and You're Welcome, and the difference between saying zed and zee. Was it a shot at other nations? Who knows, but the crowd cheered when the differences were pointed out.

After the flashy and colourful performances it was time for the formal business with John Furlong, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee and Jacques Rogge president of the International Olympic Committee. Rogge paid tribute to Georgia's Kumaritashvili, while Furlong welcomed dignitaries, athletes and visitors to Vancouver.

Rogge stepped back to the podium to thank all corners of Canada for support and dedication to make the Games happen. Speaking in English and French, Rogge's speech was lined with the crowd banging drums as an instrumental form of applause.

Rogge introduced Canada's Governor General Michaëlle Jean who formally declared the Games open, at which time a barefooted k.d. lang dressed in a crisp white suit rose from the centre of the arena to pretend to sing Hallelujah as the audience waved lighted candles.

The Olympic flag was brought in by Terry Fox's mom Betty, actor Donald Sutherland, Formula 1 winner Jacques Villeneuve, legendary figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, singer Anne Murray, humanitarian Romeo Dallaire, hockey player Bobby Orr and astronaut Julie Payette.

The five-ringed flag was raised by Mounties to fly opposite the Canadian flag as the Olympic Hymn was sung.

After the haunting operatic number closed, a moment of silence honouring Georgia's Kumaritashvili saw B.C. Place fall quiet for the first time in several hours.

The Olympic Oath on behalf of all athletes was taken by Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser and by Michel Verrault on behalf of all officials.

Moments later the trumpets flared, the snow began to fall and the rowdyness continued as the Olympic torch was wheeled in by paralympian gold medalist Rick Hansen. Hansen handed the flame to two-time Olympic gold medalist Catriona Le May Doan, who passed the flame to basketball legend Steve Nash. Nash ran the flame to ski champion Nancy Greene.

Continuing the lap around the arena, Greene passed the flame to hockey great Wayne Gretzky who, in days leading up to the opening ceremony was rumoured to not be participating in the lighting of the cauldron. Gretzky stood centre stage as the torchbearers surrounded him during an awkwardly long technical difficulty when a hydraulic lift failed to raise giant torches.

The music had run its course only to restart again as the massive torches slowly emerged, but instead of four pillars circling a centre torch, only three rose from the ground. The bright burning flames of the pillars glowing saw camera flashes in the background while a magnificent red fireworks display was set off outside B.C. Place.

Gretzky ran from the building with the flame to light the external Olympic cauldron. Police escorted Gretzky through the rain as he hopped into the back of a vehicle to get to the harbourfront to complete the flame's journey. As revellers chased the convoy, rain continued in downtown Vancouver but it didn't dampen the spirits of the proud Canadians running alongside the Great One.

When Gretzky finally reached the waterfront, eyes welled up as people were moved to see the external cauldron finally lit. Fireworks brightened the night sky as Canadian pride continued throughout the streets of Vancouver.