Winter Olympic Games

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The Turin opening ceremony

It was a star-studded opening ceremony to the 20th Winter Games. The two-and-a-half hour show was opened by Italian gymnastics legend Jury Chechi.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge made his address, urging "Athletes, you are role models, your conduct will inspire and motivate future generations. Please compete in a sprit of fair play, mutual understanding and respect and, above all, compete cleanly by refusing doping,"

Some of the highlights of the show were:

• inline skaters with red flames darting from their helmets, representing the frenetic speed of everyday life that Italians love
• white-clad dancers wearing balloon-like giant bubbles. Spectators were kitted out with torches and white ponchos with hoods.
• a giant sun and moon floated over the stage to represent the quest for knowledge.
• a very modern symbol of Italy - and representing Turin's car-manufacturing past - was a Ferrari Formula One car bursting onto the stage before disappearing in a cloud of burning rubber.
• a tribute was paid on the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death, with a call for peace from his widow Yoko Ono. Peter Gabriel sang Imagine, while 28 acrobats formed a white dove above the stage.

Italy's most decorated winter Olympian, Stefania Belmondo, was bestowed the honor of lighting the cauldron in front of 35,000 spectators inside the Stadio Olimpico. The 36-year-old Belmondo, won 10 medals in her career including two gold.

The ceremony was capped with an emotional rendition of ' Nessun Dorma' by Luciano Pavarotti.