# Torino 2006: Closing Ceremonies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209 "2006-02-26T19:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/1 "2006-02-26T19:54:44Z")
Just couldn’t get into the clown/fairy tale thing. Maybe if it hadn’t been a couple of decades since I’ve watched a Fellini film. The athletes have been parading in for a bit, to the accompaniment of of schmaltzy Dean Martin-esque Italian music. So far, pretty dull. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/2 "2006-02-26T20:13:35Z")
Okay, the parachute guys are pretty cool. I’ve always wanted to do that. Don’t they have one of those in Las Vegas? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/3 "2006-02-27T03:59:11Z")
I couldn’t believe I heard this. Or maybe I mis-heard it. The CBC reporter said something like, ‘It is ironic that the Winter Olympic flag is being passed to the worst skier in Vancouver.’ Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan became a quardiplegic after a skiing accident when he was 19. Did I hear that right? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/4 "2006-02-27T04:15:00Z")
If the reporter did say it, he was just ripping off a line from the mayor himself. I read [this](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_vancouver_s_mayor_1) article a few days ago. The guy sounds pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/5 "2006-02-27T04:18:02Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > If the reporter did say it, he was just ripping off a line from the mayor himself. I read [this](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_vancouver_s_mayor_1) article a few days ago. The guy sounds pretty cool. Ah. I thought it was a weird (read: insensitive) thing for her to say. But it does sound as if she got it from Sullivan, and that he’s cool with it. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/6 "2006-02-27T04:27:54Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Ah. I thought it was a weird (read: insensitive) thing for her to say. But it does sound as if she got it from Sullivan, and that he’s cool with it. I heard the mayor say it on CBC Radio on Friday morning during an extended program on high performance disabled athletes that was hosted by a disabled athlete. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/7 "2006-02-27T11:47:23Z")
Anyone else recognize the band playing Joe South’s “Games People Play”? Anyone else wonder what the hey they were playing it for? Ricky Martin? Why? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/8 "2006-02-27T12:07:35Z")
i couldn’t figure out the ricky martin thing either. the brides were a bit odd. the dresses of the flag escorts were fun. they kinda grew on me after i figured out they were alps. i liked the little trees. ---
**Author:** ![Werd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Werd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werd)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/9 "2006-02-27T14:50:25Z")
I felt sad that the Olympics were ending. I enjoyed the comfort of watching competition every night for the last few weeks. I think I feel like this every time the Summer or Winter Olympics ends. Am I the only one? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/10 "2006-02-27T15:14:58Z")
> [@Werd](#): > > Am I the only one? ☹ It’s always a little sad when the Games end. But end they must. Now we can look forward to the Summer Games, and then the next Winter Games. 🙂 I hope to still own my house in 2010. (I might move back to SoCal, depending on the job situation.) If I do, it will be very handy for the 2010 Winter Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/11 "2006-02-27T16:30:27Z")
So was that hovering thing as dangerous as it seemed? It looked like they could easily lose control, get some accidental lateral speed, and end up hitting the ground hard out past the cushoins. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/12 "2006-02-27T18:02:01Z")
Well it started out with the Italian x-country skier winning gold, and getting his medal in front of 35,000 people, and receiving it from the Olympic member who just happened to be his sister, touching moment. I liked it generally, I just wish the announcers had shut up every now and then so you could hear what was going on, but explaining the symbolism was nice. I loved the clowns, especially when they started doing the YMCA dance. I wish Bocelli had sung in Italian rather than English, but can you do better than Pavarotti and Bocelli bookending the ceremonies? Ricky Martin? I went to bed when he came up. Avril Lavigne wasn’t as bad as I heard she is. Shaun White seems to be the coolest one there. When they segued into the Canada part was really done well, ie) the ice cracking and such. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/13 "2006-02-27T18:52:55Z")
I thought Avril looked good (and sounded adequate). I think awarding the 50km medals at the closing cermony (like they do with marathon in the summer games) is good idea. Wonder why they haven’t done that before. Of course having the home team win was a very nice touch. Brian ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/14 "2006-02-27T19:47:40Z")
What was the reason for that weird historical interlude on the NBC coverage? About that black WWII US Army officer that faced discrimination? That was sandwiched in between the cross-country marathon ski race, and the closing ceremony? what did that have to do with the olympics? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/15 "2006-02-27T20:56:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What was the reason for that weird historical interlude on the NBC coverage? About that black WWII US Army officer that faced discrimination? Black History Month? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/16 "2006-02-27T21:46:43Z")
Black History Month, coupled with the fact that he did earn his Medal of Honor in the Torino area, coupled with the increased viewership, presumably, by the black community watching Shani Davis skate. It’s a great story, but it didn’t really seem to fit that well. According to Canadian friends, we missed a good half the pageantry. I can’t say I was sorry to find out. Every time, the opening and closing ceremonies seem to have weirder and weirder stuff in them. And I’m also always a bit sad when the Olympics come to an end. The good part is that each time, although I’m completely glued to my TV set the whole time to watch everything I can (I want a 24-hour Curling Channel!), about three days before the conclusion I suddenly realize that it’s been enough for this go-round. So I’m sad but relieved at the same time, if that makes any sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/17 "2006-02-27T21:51:56Z")
I watched 15 seconds of the closing ceremonies – just enough, as it happens, to see that interloper come onto the stage and get tackled by security. Anyone know the story with that? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/18 "2006-02-27T21:56:48Z")
I wish the Olympics would go back to four-year cycles. It seemed like more of a big deal then to me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/19 "2006-02-27T22:02:52Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > I watched 15 seconds of the closing ceremonies – just enough, as it happens, to see that interloper come onto the stage and get tackled by security. Anyone know the story with that? A recurring character was ‘The Rose Seller’. They mentioned that there’s barely a plac in Torino where, while you’re enjoying your dinner, you won’t have someone coming up to you offering to sell you roses. He was portrayed as a bit of an annoying character who gets chased away and finally gains redemption. If there was an actual interloper, I guess I missed him. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209/20 "2006-02-27T22:23:51Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > I watched 15 seconds of the closing ceremonies – just enough, as it happens, to see that interloper come onto the stage and get tackled by security. Anyone know the story with that? I looked away as he ran out and so missed him entirely, but my husband later told me that he heard the guy was trying to promote an online gambling site. Sheesh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-closing-ceremonies/346209.md?page=2)