It's hard to believe the Olympic Games are almost half over.

 

Time flies when you're having fun. Go Canada Go.??

 

Many of the people I have spoken to said they had a wonderful time visiting the various Olympic venues in Vancouver. Well, you never get a second chance to make a first impression and the opening ceremonies last week did just that.??

 

The audience of 60,000 strong at BC Place and 3.5 billion viewers from around the globe watched possibly the show of their lifetime. Some broadcasters referred to as the best Winter Olympics opening ceremony ever.

 

??There hasn't been a more proud moment in our nation's history to wave our mighty flag as Canada hosts its third Olympic Games.??

 

The promising day was filled with tragedy when an Olympian lost his life earlier in the day at Whistler, but the sense of hope and spirit was felt throughout the opening.??

 

There were many special moments. For example, Yellowknife's Shane Koyczan's poem 'We Are More' captured the hearts and souls of Canadians as he read: "We are young; we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry. And the design is what makes us more than the sum totals of our history. We?are an experiment going right for a change."??

 

A commentator also noted during the show that Canada could be one of the most diverse nations to hold such Games. Diversity is Canada's strength and we have collectively proven not only to ourselves, but to other lands that everyone has a place. Until I came across this. Reading an article by Alden E. Habacon in the Georgia Straight, he said it fails short of being multicultural.??

 

To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised myself.??

 

After the ceremonies, I was wondering where were the Bhangra dancers? Did I miss something? Everyone loves Bhangra.??

 

Some of the French-Canadians were also muttering about the lack of their culture in the program. It would have been nice to see more Chinese, French and South Asian content to bring an accurate cross- representation of Canada's and B.C.'s population.??

 

Don't get me wrong. First Nations, along with the many other performers, did a first-class job. Just equal partnership would of been multicultural.

 

??Keith and Kelley Chalmers of Mission attended the opening and shared these words: " The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was sensational, we felt very blessed to be at B.C. Place for such a moving event. Perhaps the best part was the Four Nations Aboriginal dancers that performed throughout the 82?Country introductions. The crowd at B.C. Place enthusiastically took part by wearing white smocks to allow the audience to be painted by lights creating various visual effects while they were also beating drums and shining special flashlights to create thunder storms, and the Northern Lights."

 

??We should all be proud of what we have accomplished. We showcased ourselves to the world and our family, along with many others will never forget this event, said Chalmers.

 

 

??Kulwinder Herar is a columnist for the Abbotsfor & Mission TImes.