Opening Ceremonies: A Comparative Study

Disclaimer: The contents of these pictures belong to VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee) and LOC (London Organizing Committee), and ultimately the IOC (International Olympic Committee). I took the pictures on the left, but the ones on the right are definitely not mine!

Three things I learned from watching the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games and the 2012 Summer Games:

3.) There needs to be one celebrity singer with either Scottish or Irish roots: Sarah McLachlan vs. Paul McCartney

Their songs will stick in your head for ever!

2.) Every country has pyromanic and narcotic tendencies: Doobies vs. Cigarettes

I can't believe London managed to get all 204 flame petals to go up and Vancouver couldn't raise 5.

1.) On an international stage, go big or go home: Ursa Major vs. Lord Voldemort

In certain situations, both are still very huggable and cute.