Opening Ceremony!

What a day!  I have lots of great pictures to share with you today thanks to Dave Arthurs, who somehow - even though we were standing together beforehand - got a front row seat at the opening ceremony today, while I was in the very back.  I guess I need to get myself a press pass.  Or follow Dave more often.  Anyway, many thanks to Dave for sharing. 

The Opening Ceremony was held today at Heritage Park, which is a park celebrating Calgary's early history... which for you folks from far away, wasn't that long ago.  We only became incorporated as a town in 1884, so we're a pretty young city compared to places like London or Rome... where this guy may be from:

Italian paddler or Roman guard? Both?

Also, I need to mention that I love the Italian girls' dresses & matching shoes!  It is so true - Italians are so fashionable!

Here's the always fashionable Team Canada posing for their large group picture:

Good luck finding anyone in this shot.  He's the one in the white cowboy hat....

And here's a lovely gal from Australia with her friend the kangaroo:

Showing off 2012's most coveted fashion accessory - the inflatable kangaroo!

Right... so once things got rolling, it was a fantastic procession of athletes into the event tent. It was so great to see so many people proudly representing their countries.  Like these beautiful women from Fiji:

So lovely! Giving Italy a run for their money!

The huge contingent from New Zealand:

This pic doesn't do it justice. Trust me, there are actually more paddlers here from New Zealand than there are from Canada!

Also with more paddlers than Canada, Team Hawai'i.  Here's a great shot of the group led by Kimokeo:

Different generations of Hawaiian paddlers

But, not to worry Canada.  You're still tops for comedy.  Here's one of our Canucks showing off his canoe tan.  Remember that post a few days ago?  Yeah, showing off tan lines seems to be a theme for the Canadians.

Nice tan!

But it's not always about the big teams.  It's wonderful to see people show up even when they may be the only paddler from their country!  Like this guy from Team Germany:

Looks like  he's been hanging out with Team Great Britain...

And don't forget the people who make it work.  Leading the athletes to the tent were Volunteer Coordinator, Tracey MacNeil and Committee Chair, Kristine Malmqvist. 

These gals are so organized, it's scary.  A good choice to lead the parade!

And then there was volunteer Heather Arthurs directing traffic to the grass next to the tent.

And I award Heather a perfect 10 score for artistic crowd directing.

And of course, overseeing the whole event were the Chiefs of the Treaty Seven First Nations. When I say Calgary is a new city, it's true, but these Chiefs' ancestors have a very long history with this land. Theirs is an interesting history, before and since Europeans came to what's now Canada.  As one said during the ceremony, hopefully visitors will be interested to learn about their people and culture.

Impressive Chiefs of the Treaty Seven First Nations

Whenever I thought I was getting too hot inside the tent, I'd think of these chiefs and how hot they must be in their gloves and headdresses.  Here they are receiving gifts from Team Hawai'i:

Receiving traditional Hawaiian paddles and leis amongst other gifts

Also, we were treated to some great dancing.  There were a few different kinds of dances represented here, such as fancy dancing and hoop dancing.  I will have to ask Brent what they all were called. Stay tuned while I brush up on my First Nations dancing!  Here are some gorgeous pictures from Dave's front row seat.  I especially enjoy the smallest member of the troupe:

We also heard opening comments from the Chiefs and other dignitaries, such as the President of the IVF, Charles Villierme:

And also one of our Calgary 'elders' John Roberts, who I wrote about in a previous blog as the one responsible for bringing the sport of outrigger canoe to Calgary.

John Roberts (centre) with French translator Denis and Kristine valiantly trying to make John stay on script.

We finished off with a water song from one of the Chiefs:

Oh, did I forget something?  No, I was just saving it up.  There were some great gifts presented at this ceremony, such as the ones mentioned already from Kimokeo and the Hawaiian delegation.  There was also a magnificent haka from the Kiwis (sorry, too far for a pic!) and then there was this bit of absolute amazingness from Rapa Nui.  You're all coming to cultural night now, right? 

(*** Note, I've been trying to upload this video for a day now.... Hopefully it makes it, but it might have to end up in the next post! How's that for a big ending?)