2010 Winter Olympics Parade of Nations

During the Parade of Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, held beginning at 6:00 PM PST on February 12, 2010, 82 athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations led their national delegations as they paraded into BC Place Stadium in the host city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1]

Athletes entered the stadium in an order dictated by tradition. As the originator of the Olympics, Greece entered first. Canadian delegates entered last, representing the host nation. The names of the nations were announced first in French and followed by English, the official languages of the Olympics, which also happened to be the official languages of the host nation. The nations entered in alphabetic order of their country names in English because it is the more dominant of the two languages in Vancouver and in the province of British Columbia.

Delegations from North Korea and South Korea marched in separate delegations, unlike in the 2006 Winter Olympics when they marched together.[2]

Of the flag-bearers who led their respective delegations, all but one were athletes, the exception being Fuad Guliyev, a skating official from Azerbaijan. The sport which was most represented among the flag-bearers was alpine skiing, as alpine skiers led 26 delegations. Only one delegation was led by a short track speed skater, Hong Kong, led by Han Yue Shueng.[1] Marjan Kalhor, an alpine skier and the flag-bearer for Iran, was both the first female flag bearer from her country and the first female athlete from her country to participate in the Winter Olympics.[2] It was erroneously pointed out by a Canadian TV commentator that Tomomi Okazaki was the first female flag bearer for Japan. This title goes to Seiko Hashimoto in Calgary 1988. Other prominent flag bearers included Canadian speed skater and five-time Olympian Clara Hughes, American luger Mark Grimmette, who had helped carry the American flag during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and Czech hockey player Jaromír Jágr. Hughes is the only Olympian ever to win multiple medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.[3]

Iason Abramashvili, flag bearer for Georgia, along with the other members of his delegation, wore black armbands during the march and received a standing ovation in memory of Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luger who was killed in an accident during a training run earlier in the day.[4]

Parade of Nations

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The Czech flag being carried by Jaromír Jágr.
 
The Finnish flag being carried by Ville Peltonen.
 
The Georgian flag being carried by Iason Abramashvili. In this picture the flag has a black ribbon.
 
The German flag being carried by André Lange.
 
The British flag being carried by Shelley Rudman.
 
The Russian flag being carried by Aleksey Morozov.
 
The Slovenian flag being carried by Tina Maze.
 
The Swedish flag being carried by Peter Forsberg.
 
The Canadian flag being carried by Clara Hughes.
Order Nation Flag bearer Sport
1   Greece (GRE) Athanassios Tsakiris[5] Biathlon
2   Albania (ALB) Erjon Tola Alpine skiing
3   Algeria (ALG) Mehdi-Selim Khelifi Cross-country skiing
4   Andorra (AND) Lluis Marin Tarroch[6] Snowboarding
5   Argentina (ARG) Cristian Javier Simari Birkner[7] Alpine skiing
6   Armenia (ARM) Arsen Nersisyan[8] Alpine skiing
7   Australia (AUS) Torah Bright[9] Snowboarding
8   Austria (AUT) Andreas Linger & Wolfgang Linger Luge
9   Azerbaijan (AZE) Fuad Guliyev (Fuad Quliyev)[10] Skating official
10   Belarus (BLR) Oleg Antonenko[11] Ice hockey
11   Belgium (BEL) Kevin van der Perren[12] Figure skating
12   Bermuda (BER) Tucker Murphy[13] Cross-country skiing
13   Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) Žana Novaković[14] Alpine skiing
14   Brazil (BRA) Isabel Clark Ribeiro Snowboarding
15   Bulgaria (BUL) Aleksandra Zhekova[15] Snowboarding
16   Cayman Islands (CAY) Dow Travers Alpine skiing
17   Chile (CHI) Jorge Mandrú Alpine skiing
18   China (CHN) Han Xiaopeng Freestyle skiing
19   Colombia (COL) Cynthia Denzler Alpine skiing
20   Croatia (CRO) Jakov Fak Biathlon
21   Cyprus (CYP) Christopher Papamichalopoulos Alpine skiing
22   Czech Republic (CZE) Jaromír Jágr[11] Ice hockey
23   North Korea (PRK) Ri Song-Chol Figure skating
24   Denmark (DEN) Sophie Fjellvang-Sølling Freestyle skiing
25   Estonia (EST) Roland Lessing[16] Biathlon
26   Ethiopia (ETH) Robel Teklemariam Cross-country skiing
27   Finland (FIN) Ville Peltonen[17] Ice hockey
28   Macedonia (MKD) Antonio Ristevski[18] Alpine skiing
29   France (FRA) Vincent Defrasne[19] Biathlon
30   Georgia (GEO) Iason Abramashvili Alpine skiing
31   Germany (GER) André Lange[20] Bobsleigh
32   Ghana (GHA) Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong Alpine skiing
33   Great Britain (GBR) Shelley Rudman[21] Skeleton
34   Hong Kong (HKG) Han Yue Shueng Short track speed skating
35   Hungary (HUN) Júlia Sebestyén[22] Figure skating
36   Iceland (ISL) Björgvin Björgvinsson Alpine skiing
37   India (IND) Shiva Keshavan[23] Luge
38   Iran (IRI) Marjan Kalhor Alpine skiing
39   Ireland (IRL) Aoife Hoey[24] Bobsleigh
40   Israel (ISR) Alexandra Zaretsky[25] Figure skating
41   Italy (ITA) Giorgio Di Centa[26] Cross-country skiing
42   Jamaica (JAM) Errol Kerr Freestyle skiing
43   Japan (JPN) Tomomi Okazaki[27] Speed skating
44   Kazakhstan (KAZ) Dias Keneshev[28] Biathlon
45   South Korea (KOR) Kang Kwang-Bae Bobsleigh
46   Kyrgyzstan (KGZ) Dmitry Trelevski Alpine skiing
47   Latvia (LAT) Martins Dukurs[29] Skeleton
48   Lebanon (LIB) Chirine Njeim[30] Alpine skiing
49   Liechtenstein (LIE) Richard Wunder[31] Bobsleigh
50   Lithuania (LTU) Irina Terentjeva Cross-country skiing
51   Mexico (MEX) Hubertus von Hohenlohe Alpine skiing
52   Moldova (MDA) Victor Pinzaru[32] Biathlon
53   Monaco (MON) Alexandra Coletti Alpine skiing
54   Mongolia (MGL) Erdene-Ochir Ochirsuren Cross-country skiing
55   Montenegro (MNE) Bojan Kosić Alpine skiing
56   Morocco (MAR) Samir Azzimani Alpine skiing
57   Nepal (NEP) Dachhiri Sherpa Cross-country skiing
58   Netherlands (NED) Timothy Beck[33] Bobsleigh
59   New Zealand (NZL) Juliane Bray[34] Snowboarding
60   Norway (NOR) Tommy Jakobsen[35] Ice hockey
61   Pakistan (PAK) Muhammad Abbas Alpine skiing
62   Peru (PER) Roberto Carcelén[36] Cross-country skiing
63   Poland (POL) Konrad Niedźwiedzki[37] Speed skating
64   Portugal (POR) Danny Silva Cross-country skiing
65   Romania (ROU) Éva Tófalvi Biathlon
66   Russia (RUS) Aleksey Morozov[38] Ice hockey
67   San Marino (SMR) Marino Cardelli[39] Alpine skiing
68   Senegal (SEN) Leyti Seck Alpine skiing
69   Serbia (SRB) Jelena Lolović[40] Alpine skiing
70   Slovakia (SVK) Žigmund Pálffy[11] Ice hockey
71   Slovenia (SLO) Tina Maze Alpine skiing
72   South Africa (RSA) Oliver Kraas Cross-country skiing
73   Spain (ESP) Queralt Castellet Snowboarding
74   Sweden (SWE) Peter Forsberg Ice hockey
75   Switzerland (SUI) Stéphane Lambiel[41] Figure skating
76   Chinese Taipei (TPE) Ma Chih-hung Luge
77   Tajikistan (TJK) Alisher Kudratov Alpine skiing*
78   Turkey (TUR) Kelime Aydın[42] Cross-country skiing
79   Ukraine (UKR) Liliya Ludan[43] Luge
80   United States (USA) Mark Grimmette[44] Luge
81   Uzbekistan (UZB) Oleg Shamaev Alpine skiing
82   Canada (CAN) Clara Hughes[45] Speed skating
  • Kudratov carried the flag even though he wasn't scheduled to compete.

See also

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References

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Specific

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  1. ^ a b "Complete list of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic flag-bearers". The Vancouver Sun. 2010-02-12. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  2. ^ a b Chase, Chris (2010-02-11). "Eleven things to watch for during Vancouver's Opening Ceremony". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (2010-02-13). "Olympics opening ceremony dedicated to Georgian luger". McClatchy. Archived from the original on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  4. ^ Shipley, Amy (2010-02-13). "Vancouver Games get off to somber start following luger's death". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  5. ^ Greek Olympic Committee naming Tsakiris being named flagbearer for 2010 Winter Olympics. Archived 2010-02-15 at the Wayback Machine - accessed 11 February 2010.
  6. ^ Tarroch named 2010 flagbearer. - accessed 11 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Google Translate: Argentine Olympic Olympic Committee". Translate.google.ca. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  8. ^ ":: Armenpress ::". 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-02-14.[dead link]
  9. ^ Marsi (2004-02-26). "The Red And White Chronicles: Breaking News!". Marsiatthegames.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  10. ^ "Skiers compete for Azerbaijan in winter Olympics". News.Az. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  11. ^ a b c "Ice Hockey News - 2010 Winter Olympics - CTV Olympics". Ctvolympics.ca. 2010-02-10. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  12. ^ News of van der Perren named flagbearer. Archived March 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine(in Dutch) - accessed 11 February 2010.
  13. ^ "The Royal Gazette". The Royal Gazette. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2010-02-14.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ Vancouver Sun (2010-01-29). "Complete list of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic flag-bearers". Vancouversun.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  15. ^ "Bulgaria Vancouver Olympic Team Given President Send Off: Bulgaria Vancouver Olympic Team Given Presidential Send Off - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  16. ^ 4 February 2010 Estonian Olympic Committee announcement of Lessing named flagbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Archived 2010-02-12 at the Wayback Machine(in Estonian) - accessed 11 February 2010.
  17. ^ "Leijonien mitalirohmu kantaa Suomen lippua avajaisissa | Jääkiekko | Lajit | Vancouver 2010 | YLE Urheilu". yle.fi. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  18. ^ "Google Translate". Translate.google.ca. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  19. ^ French Olympic Committee announcement of Defranse named flagbearer.(in French) - accessed 11 February 2010.
  20. ^ Lange named flagbearer for German team[permanent dead link] (in German) - accessed 11 February 2010.
  21. ^ "Shelley Rudman to carry GB flag at Vancouver 2010 opening ceremony". The Guardian. London. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  22. ^ "Sebestyén viszi az olimpián a lobogót". Blikk.hu. 2010-01-06. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  23. ^ Shiva Keshavan to be flag-bearer of 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, February 12, 2010
  24. ^ Irish Olympic Committee 9 February 2010 announcement of Aoife Hoey selected as flagbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. - accessed 11 February 2010. Archived February 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "XXI Winter Olympic Games – Vancouver, Canada, Feb 12-28 | Israel Ice Skating Federation". Iisf.org.il. 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  26. ^ Gallery of Di Centa being named flagbearer for Italy at 2010 Opening Ceremony.(in Italian) - accessed 11 February 2010.
  27. ^ Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched
  28. ^ [1] Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "MARTINS DUKURS BŪS KAROGNESĒJS OLIMPISKO SPĒĻU ATKLĀŠANAS CEREMONIJĀ" (in Latvian). 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010. Latvian Olympic Committee article on Martins Dukurs named flagbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
  30. ^ "Utah skier heads to Olympics for third time". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2010-02-14. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  31. ^ "Topics > Liechtenstein". USA Today. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  32. ^ Social Print this story. "Moldovan Olympic competitors head for Vancouver - Moldova Azi". Azi.md. Archived from the original on 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  33. ^ Beck draagt Nederlandse vlag
  34. ^ "More penalties likely for a while yet". Radio New Zealand. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  35. ^ "Jakobsen blir norsk flaggbærer | TV 2 Sporten". Msn.tv2sporten.no. Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  36. ^ Brewer, Jerry (2010-02-03). "Jerry Brewer | Peruvian cross-country skier Roberto Carcelén reaches Olympic dream | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  37. ^ "Polski Komitet Olimpijski". Olimpijski.pl. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  38. ^ "Alexei Morozov will carry Russian flag at the Olympics opening ceremony - Russia at Olympics in Vancouver news, interviews, quotes, videos". Russianhockeyfans.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  39. ^ "Google Translate: The cons of condolences for the death of Georgian in Vancouver Kumaritashvili". Translate.google.ca. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  40. ^ "Google Translate: Great atmosphere in the Serbian team". Translate.google.ca. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  41. ^ "Sport - Lambiel porte-drapeau à Vancouver". tsr.ch. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  42. ^ "Anadolu Ajansı - SIX ATHLETES REPRESENT TURKEY IN VANCOUVER 2010 WINTER GAMES". Aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  43. ^ "Lilia Ludan to carry Ukraine's flag during 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver / News / NRCU". Nrcu.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  44. ^ USALuge.org article on Grimette carrying the US flag for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine - accessed 11 February 2010.
  45. ^ Craig, Lindsey (2010-01-30). "Vancouver Now - Hughes named Canada's Olympic flag-bearer". Cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-14.

General

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