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Torino 2006 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
Carnevale came to the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics during the closing ceremonies. Clowns pranced around to the song "The Games People Play", acrobats tumbled and once again people on the field pantomimed along with "YMCA".
The closing ceremonies are always less somber than the opening ceremonies and the Italians took full advantage of the opportunity to end with a big party.
The athletes started their final parade behind women once again wearing dresses with tiny Italian alpine villages sculpted into the bottom. Rather than playing American pop songs from the 1970's athletes paraded out to the old Italian standards "Volare" and "That's Amore"
Keeping with the spirit of the night many athletes wore the red clown noses they were given before the event - they wore them on their noses, on top of their heads and tied to their hats.
The red Ferrari from the opening ceremony was replaced by small Fiats from the 1950's that drove around shooting sparks from their tailpipes while a vertical wind tunnel blowing air at 120 miles per hour kept acrobats afloat high above the stage. These flying humans wore skis and snowboards as they floated on the blast of air.
While acrobats tumbled and athletes marched, confetti, an Italian invention, flew through the air. The only somber note of the evening came when the Olympic flag was lowered in the presence of representatives from some of the many branches of the Italian military and police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Famous Italian athletes then took the flag from the stadium.
There was a choir of angels (children with wings and halos) and 400 brides carrying torches. Isolde Kostner a retired Italian Olympic skier was the lead bride. As the flames on the bride's torches were extinguished so was the Olympic Flame. Just to let everyone know that the party was not over yet fireworks were set off all around the stadium.
Not even the appearance of an intruder during Valentino Castellani's speech was able to marr these Olympic Games. There is some debate as to what the intruder was trying to promote. NBC reported that he was promoting an online gambling service. In any case, credit mus be given to Mr. Castellani, the organizing committee chief, for not missing a beat while security staff hustled the intruder away.
Perhaps the most moving part of the ceremony was the presence of Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. Mayor Sullivan has been a quadriplegic since breaking his neck in a skiing accident at 19. The Olympic flag was placed in a holder on the mayor's wheelchair and he spun the flag with great enthusiasm.
The Torino 2006 Winter Olympics are over and Vancouver, Canada is now getting ready to welcome the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Grazie Italia, grazie Torino for welcoming the world to an exciting 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
Posted by Jackie on February 27, 2006
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