Vancouver opens in spectacular style and Sportsworld are there!

What a show Vancouver put on at the Opening Ceremony for the XXI Olympic Winter Games on Saturday- a taste of what lies ahead for all over the next two-weeks.

News on the ground from the Sportsworld Vancouver office and the 200 Sportsworld staff who are out in Vancouver and Whistler delivering a fantastic experience for all our guests is that the atmosphere is simply amazing! Everything is going to plan (apart from the weather!) where we're looking after over 2,000 guests from public tours to hospitality and sponsor programmes for clients Samsung, BCLC, 3M and Epcor who are all enjoying the daily festivities, sporting prowess and celebrity after parties!

The show begins
The excitement in Vancouver began early on Friday with the synonymous Torch Relay taking place through the streets of Vancouver as thousands of people gathered on surrounding sidewalks and street corners, most to watch and enjoy as the torch was carried by Hollywood star, and now California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012. Afterwards Coe said: "Being passed the flame by the Terminator? That's something to tell the kids about!".

The torch then went on to light the cauldron in front of a 60,000-crowd at BC Place Stadium later in the day at the opening ceremony of the Games. This was a spectacular event, despite the ceremony being tragically overshadowed by the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili earlier in the day.

The stunning visual ceremony started with every Olympic fan within BC Place donning a white cape, to transform the crowd in to the background of the ceremony, as well as given an electronic candle, torch and drum beater to create an interactive experience that rewarded the faith Canadians have shown in their home Games. Jeff Hunter, Sportsworld Group Operations Director who was there said: "The atmosphere was electric. Everyone was so involved and all our guests were engaged by the mesmeric light show put on by members of the crowd themselves".

What then took place was one of the most innovative ceremonies on this scale to ever have been staged; a snowboarder jumping through the Olympic rings, the Olympic flame jointly lit by four Canadian sports heroes including all-time hockey great Wayne Gretzky and a giant, sparkling polar bear rising from the stadium floor. Team GB entered the party led by proud flag bearer Shelley Rudman, our only medal winner in the skeleton bob at the last Olympic Winter Games in Turin in 2006.

To watch the countdown to the start of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games at the city's BC Place, click here.

View more images of the Opening Ceremony and what's going on on the ground with Sportsworld staff!

To read all about Team GB, where our best bets for medal places are and when to watch on TV or online, read our 'Follow Team GB' news story here.

Come back soon to read more news on what the Sportsworld Vancouver Team are getting up to and how Team GB are getting on in their quest for medals!