Tonight marked the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver British Columbia. A city that has been described by some as one of the most livable cities in the world.
An evening that was supposed to be a festive celebration took on a somber mood as the Republic of Georgia lost one of its young athletes. Twenty one year old Nodar Kumaritashvili (1988-2010) tragically lost his life on a trial run at what is widely known as the worlds fastest and most dangerous luge tracks at Whistler Mountain. As the athletes were visibly shaken, K.D. Lang sang Hallelujah. Her singing came from the heart and may go down as one of the best performances in Olympic opening ceremony history. It moved the audience and the 100′s of millions of people around the World that had the privilege of witnessing the historic event. Although the song was part of the original plan, it certainly took on different meaning in light of today’s tragedy.