Passion Ignites the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony
The world came together at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in the spirit of peace, brotherhood, unselfishness and determination. Performers danced in the formation of a beating heart while "The Flames of Passion," rollerbladed around the arena with fire raging from their helmets.
The Italian flag - its colors representing faith, hope, and charity - yielded to Olympic rings. One of the five ring colors appears in every flag of every nation represented at the games.
This is the world united. The best athletes from around the globe excite the best in all of us. This is the Olympics.
The 2006 Olympic theme is "Passion", and rightfully so. No other event brings together so many people of differing political and religious backgrounds like the games. Tolerance, harmony and fair play bind competitors while they strive to become the best in their sport.
Only in the Parade of Nations do North and South Korea march together, turning their backs for a moment on the demilitarized zone that violently separates their two homelands. There is even talk of them competing as one country in the next Olympics. In Torino, passion for athletics breeds a commonality that encourages healing and, hopefully, peace.
Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance, man's renewed interest in knowledge, art, science and literature. The people of the Renaissance embodied passion in everything from their clothing style to their pursuit of understanding and portrayal of the ideal human condition. Figure skating sweetheart Michelle Kwan says she's always emotional at the Olympics because it's such a beautiful and awe-inspiring event.
What brings a USA-based Venezuelan professor or the Virgin Islands' "Grandma Luge", both 52 years old, to the icy sled runs in the Italian Alps? What gave US Olympic speed skater medalist Chris Witty the courage and platform to overcome and speak out against child sexual abuse? An indomitable determination pushed a Kenyan long distant cross-country skier across the 2002 finish line in twice the time of the gold medalist. The champions stood with supporters from around the world, cheering for him at the finish line.
An Olympic passion for excellence was archived in the movie, "Miracle," when Disney reminded us how the 1980 USA hockey team's gold medal restored hope to a weary nation. The power of the human spirit lifted four battered Jamaican bobsledders in 1988 and gave them the courage and strength to hoist their sled in the air and carry it to the finish line.
Olympic Skier Bode Miller says, "You push yourself. Your success comes from knowing that you pushed yourself harder than any body else could or would."
Since 1924, the Olympic Winter Games have personified Passion. Athletes overcome odds to reach not only their own personal bests, but also the highest level humanly possible.
The torch is the symbol of passion and pursuit of excellence. The torchbearer is defined as the person who carries the Olympic flame, the most recognizable symbol of the games. It beckons to the athlete and people of the world to carry the torch.
The torch passionately embodies ideals of unity, peace amongst the nations, and allegiance in the name of fraternity. The spirit of the Olympics spreads like a wildfire, lighting the world in peace and brotherhood, if only for a few weeks, once every four years.
