2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

In the half-century of televised Olympics, NBC's coverage of the Opening Ceremony from Vancouver was the MOST WATCHED EVER for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics with 67.5 million total viewers, 17 million more than Torino in 2006 (50.2 million) and six million more than the tabloid-fueled 1994 Lillehammer Games (61.7 million) which stood for 16 years as the most-watched Opening Ceremony for a non-U.S. Games.

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on NBC averaged 32.6 million viewers, more than 10 million more and 47 percent higher than Torino (22.2 million) and earned a 17.3/30 national rating for an increase of 35 percent over Torino in 2006 (12.8/21).

The 32.6 million average viewers is the most for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in 16 years - just below the 33.8 million for the tabloid-fueled Lillehammer Games in 1994. The 17.3/30 national household rating is also the best for a non-U.S. Winter Games since Lillehammer.

The Washington Post said that "the Winter Games got off to a splendiferous start with the Opening Ceremony - with images that rivaled that of 'Avatar.' -- All of it was rendered splendid by NBC's HD cameras and enhanced by discreet commentary from the anchors."

NON-U.S. WINTER GAMES OPENING CEREMONY TOTAL AUDIENCE:

1. VANCOUVER - 2010 - 67.5 Million
2. *Lillehammer - 1994 - 62.0 million
3. Nagano - 1998 - 52.4 million
4. Torino - 2006 - 50.2 million
5. Albertville - 1992 - 46.7 million

*Fueled by the tabloid coverage of the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal.

NBC Universal, broadcasting its record 12th Olympics the most Olympics broadcast by any network, will present more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - representing the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics, more than the last two Winter Olympics combined, and the most live hours ever for a Winter Games.

The Vancouver Games are the first Winter Olympics to be presented entirely in high definition.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was held on February 12, 2010, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. The ceremony showcased Canada's history, culture, and natural beauty through a variety of performances, including music, dance, and multimedia displays.

The ceremony began with a traditional First Nations welcome, featuring the Four Host First Nations, who are the indigenous peoples of the Vancouver area. This was followed by a parade of athletes, with teams from over 80 countries entering the stadium to the cheers of the crowd.

The highlight of the ceremony was the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, which was located outside the stadium in Jack Poole Plaza. The cauldron was lit by four Canadian athletes, representing different regions of the country: Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene, Steve Nash, and Catriona Le May Doan.

Other notable moments from the ceremony included a tribute to Canadian music, featuring performances by Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, and k.d. lang, and a segment celebrating Canada's natural beauty, which included a simulated whale migration and a performance by Cirque du Soleil.

Overall, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was a spectacular event that showcased Canada's unique culture and spirit to the world.

 

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
Most-Watched Opening Ceremony Ever For Non-U.S. Winter Olympics