LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky set the Olympic flame burning above the Vancouver skyline on Friday at the end of the ceremony opening the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
A lavish display in front of a crowd of 60,000 concluded with four top Canadian athletes - 1968 Olympic ski gold medalist Nancy Greene, double gold medalist speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan and basketball star Steve Nash - helping hockey's "Great One" light the temporary cauldron within the BC Place stadium, before Gretzky took the flame outside the arena to light the permanent cauldron, which will burn until the Games end on February 28.
OLYMPICS BEGIN WITH TRAGIC DEATH
Experts from the International Luge Federation have concluded that there was nothing wrong with the track where a Georgian luger died in a training accident, saying the crash was the athlete's fault.
Nodar Kumaritashvili died on Friday after coming off the track at the Whistler Sliding Center near the end of the run and flying into a metal pole at 140 km/h (90 mph).
After Canadian coroners and police finished their investigation of the tragedy, International Luge Federattion (FIL) officials carried out their own probe, and following a physical inspection of the track concluded that the Georgian athlete was responsible for his fatal crash.
GEORGIAN TEAM MOURNS DEAD ATHLETE AT OPENING
Georgia's team was wearing black bands and scarves at the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver to mourn the death of their national, luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.
Kumaritashvili died after a crash at Whistler Sliding Center during a practice session on Friday.
The audience and honorary guests, including International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, stood up to welcome the Georgian team.
WEATHER CONDITIONS POSTPONE EVENTS
The men's downhill scheduled for Saturday has been indefinitely postponed due to heavy rains and snow destroying parts of the track. The men's event may be held on Monday, when Vancouver expects colder weather.
The women's super combination to be held on Sunday has also been postponed due to track conditions.
