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![\"2010](\"http:\/\/www.triplefstudio.com\/yokoso\/images\/olympicopen.jpg\")
Source: Associated Press<\/p>\nI watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics today. I missed the procession of the athletes because I was a lazy bum and slept really, really, really late. I needed to, as I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get much rest during the week. Of course, I think the world is saddened by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili. I have refused to watch any footage of his crash, but it seems all outlets are quite keen to show it.
\n Source: Associated Press<\/p>\n
I joined when In general, I found the opening ceremonies a little boring. I was fascinated by the lighting though, and how they were able to accomplish the effects on the floor of the stadium. That was most impressive.<\/p>\n I found it intriguing that Donald Sutherland, Bobby Orr, Anne Murray, and Jacques Villenueve were part of the ceremony, carrying the Olympic flag with an astronaut, an 81 year old former gold medalist, Terry Fox’s mother, and a military guy. The highlights for me were the performances of the opera singer Measha Brueggergosman<\/a> and k.d. lang<\/a>. Wow, that was a fantastic performance of Leonard Cohen<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hallelujah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already purchased it on iTunes. It brought tears to my eyes. Kudos to the organizing committee, in a show featuring diversity of the country, to put a suit-wearing rather butch out lesbian in such a spotlight! Apparently she gets more grief for being a vegetarian.<\/p>\n I could not find any pictures of the Celtic group that fiddled and tap-danced their squishy tattooed bodies for what seemed like 30 minutes. That was probably the low point of the ceremony for me.<\/p>\n So now it is time for the Japanese coverage of the Olympic games. This is the third Olympics for me in Japan. I was here in 2004 and 2008 for the Summer Games. We get the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153up close and personal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d approach as well, with basically the hopes of the entire country on the shoulders of just a few people. I think that is one reason why you see so many emotional Japanese athletes. While American athletes represent their country, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got to think they are really doing what they are doing for their own glory. But Japanese athletes must really feel the pressure of the whole country on them. During the summer games, Kitajima<\/a> was a big focus. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad he won the gold.<\/p>\n This year, there is the 15 year old women\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s speed skater, Miho Takagi<\/a>, the women\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mogul skier, Aiko Uemura<\/a>, the men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s figure skater Daisuke Takahashi<\/a>, and women’s figure skaters Mao Asada<\/a> and Miki Ando<\/a> that I know about already. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure there are more. So we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll get focused coverage on those events and spotty coverage of others. And even though snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo may challenge for a medal, it seems he’s taking full snowboarder attitude lessons<\/a> from the Americans. Dude.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel any different. For me the Olympics is just another snowboarding event. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no big deal,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Kokubo said.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI am concerned with my own my performance and nothing else,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 said Kokubo.<\/p>\n From Japan Today<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And, importantly, this year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Japanese NHK Olympic song is sung by L\u00e2\u20ac\u2122arc En Ciel<\/a>. In 2004 it was Yuzu<\/a>. I think it might have been Mr. Children<\/a> for 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics today. I missed the procession of the athletes because I was a lazy bum and slept really, really, really late. I needed to, as I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get much rest during the week. Of course, I think the world is saddened by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili. I … <\/p>\nRyan Adams<\/del> Bryan Adams cut me like a knife. I was happy that the sound was messed up for his performance. Not because I wish him anything thing bad, I just don’t really like his songs. As soon as any English commentary would start, it would immediately be covered by simultaneous translation in Japanese. Luckily I discovered espn.com<\/a> was doing a running chat commentary so in between their snarky comments, I was able to get an idea of what was going on.<\/p>\n![\"k.d.](\"http:\/\/www.triplefstudio.com\/yokoso\/images\/kdlang.jpg\")
Photo credit: Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times<\/p>\n