Canadian actors Michael J. Fox, William Shatner and Catherine O'Hara also represent their country during finale.
By Eric Ditzian
Michael J. Fox speaks during the 2010 Winter Olympics
Photo: Adrian Dennis/ AFP
With Olympic revelers still amped up following Canada's epic overtime win over the United States in the gold-medal hockey finale, the 2010 Winter Games came to an end in Vancouver on Sunday (February 28) during a music-filled closing ceremony.
Though many athletes had long since left Olympic village, American gold medalists like skier Lindsay Vonn and figure skater Evan Lysacek stuck around till the very end. The evening featured performances from Neil Young, Michael Bublé and rock band Inward Eye, as well as appearances by Michael J. Fox and William Shatner.
Inward Eye got the festivities started with a rendition of their song "Day After Day." Later, Young took center stage with just his guitar and harmonica to croon "Long May You Run" as snow fell from above and the torch flicked overhead. "With your chrome heart shining in the sun," the Canadian-born Young sang. "Long may you run."
Later, Michael Bublé appeared dressed as a member of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police -- complete with red uniform and wide-brimmed hat -- to sing "The Maple Leaf Forever," before ripping off the getup to reveal a white tux.
A string of Canadian actors -- William Shatner, Catherine O'Hara and Michael J. Fox -- took turns poking fun at the Olympics and their national heritage. "We are a people who know how to make love in a canoe," Shatner said.
O'Hara entered with the assistance of some vigorous sweeping from two curlers for a send-up of Canadians' oft-mocked politeness and how all Olympic visitors had worn out their welcome. "I don't care what language you speak. When you pee your name in the snow, we know who you are," she joked.
Fox received by far the biggest applause of the night as he introduced himself and announced he would always root for Team Canada. "If I'm watching the U.S. and Canada play hockey, I'm sorry, I'm wearing a Maple Leaf on my sweater," he said.
Earlier, a trio of young Canadians -- pop star Nikki Yanofsky, singer/songwriter Derek Miller and "Canadian Idol" winner Eva Avila -- joined together to perform "Let's Have a Party," a song written especially for the games.
The ceremony got off to an amusing start with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the botched opening ceremony, when one of the pylons that made up the Olympic flame failed to deploy. This time, a clown crawled out of the floor after "fixing" the problem, allowing the pillar to rise and light up the sky.
The evening veered off into some downright trippy territory at time, from a video teaser for the 2014 Sochi games that called to mind Tim Burton's aesthetic for "Alice in Wonderland" to an orchestral-backed interpretive dance featuring "Tron"-like characters encased in huge bouncing bubbles. While the ornate Russian ballet told us little about what the Sochi games will be like, the spectacle was certainly something to behold.
Moments of seriousness cropped up during the night. Organizers paid tribute to Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvil, who died during a training run before the games began. And following the 8.8 earthquake Saturday in Chile, that nation's team returned home before the closing ceremony. But one athlete, Noelle Barahona, could not get a flight out and decided to stay. She was seen entering the stadium proudly waving the Chilean flag.
Before Young, Bublé and Fox made their appearances, IOC President Jacques Rogge made clear that the Vancouver adventure had come to a close. "And now, in accordance with tradition, I declare the 21st Olympic Games closed," he said.
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