# Torino 2006 Opening Ceremonies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887 "2006-02-10T18:27:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/61 "2006-02-11T22:51:47Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > Well, that’s probably true, but I still think it’s wrong, and yesterday’s ceremonies didn’t even try to hide that the torch was rigged. C’mon, this is the freakin’ Olympics; the athletes don’t get do-overs. Suck it up and light the torch with the real flame. There’s got to be a cool way to do it. Nah… the way they did it was 10 times cooler ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/62 "2006-02-11T22:58:46Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Yes, the OC was way lame, but aren’t they _supposed_ to be? Spectacles of corny pop symbolism with a cast of thousands and lots of ooos and aaas? Yeah, but the Alpine segment was lame in the kind of almost deliberate way it would be in something like a Ben Stiller movie. The old men pretending to play fake alpenhorns, the children solemnly unfurling national flags that just happen to be rigged up so they look like the staves are tied to the alpenhorners’ backs, the big fake painted plastic cows on wheels being pulled around like a giant-size Fisher-Price Little People Barnyard Playset, the dancers in their Gateway-sponsored wardrobe…the whole thing had this surreal Zoolander kind of vibe to it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/63 "2006-02-11T23:14:17Z")
I know others have mentioned this, but WTF were they thinking with that “poem” that Yoko Ono recited? It was so awful, I was actually embarrassed to be watching. OTOH, Sophia Loren was . . . WOW! I can’t believe that gorgeous woman is in her 70s!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/64 "2006-02-12T12:58:49Z")
Those who have already noted: the archer torch-lighting was Barcelona. Amazing how your memories will change things on you, isn’t it? _hangs head in shame_ ---
**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 12, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/65 "2006-02-12T15:36:26Z")
One thing I liked was when the dancers made the ‘XX’ to represent the 20th Winter Olympics. See, they were in a circular arena and there was an arc of lights at the top of the screen. It looked like a face with the top of the head at the bottom of the screen, exes for eyes indicatiing a dead person, and a frown. And then the arc of lights became a circle of lights, so it looked like a dead person with his mouth open. ---
**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 12, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/66 "2006-02-12T17:30:54Z")
The songs that were chosen were chosen by the countries themselves. I believe the US song was about freedom, had it in the lyrics anyway, since we’re obviously the only country in the world that is free. I loved the little 4th grader singing the Italian anthem, those boots and hat were adorable. Not too many 9 year olds sing for a half billion or so people. It’s hard to satisfy everyone, but what I saw I liked. I didn’t make it to the end, fall asleep just after 10:30. Thanks NBC for showing yet more of Bode Miller and others practice their skiing instead of putting this on at a normal hour. That dancer is a big name over there, but that really didn’t showcase him well. And only Italy would put a ferrari on a sheet of ice and spin donuts. I heard he was trying to do the Olympic rings?? not really sure though. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/67 "2006-02-12T17:39:40Z")
So long as it was the flame itself that set off the pyrotechnics (by a fuse, for example, as opposed to, say, a man behind a curtain), I see nothing wrong 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 20, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887/68 "2006-02-20T01:30:02Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Aw, no Jamaican bobsled team this year. ☹ Lascelles Brown, of the 2002 Jamaican bobsled team just won silver as brakeman for the Canadian two person team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torino-2006-opening-ceremonies/343887.md?page=3)