Grazie Torino, Grazie Italia!!!

Grazie Torino, Grazie Italia!!!

Thanks for a wonderful 2 weeks of fun, sports, and a celebration of humanity at its greatest!

The 2006 Winter Olympics at Torino came to a close last night at the Stadio Olimpico. And what a closing ceremony it was.

We had ‘Pagliacci‘ Clowns in a Carnival atmosphere, Italian Opera with Human Tarot Cards, dancers, Andrew Boccelli , Avril ‘call-me-sweetheart-and-I’ll-kick-your-ass’ Lavigne, [not forgetting] Ricky Martin shaking his ‘bon-bons, vintage Fiats, flying performers, and top top it off, fireworks that lit up the Torino night sky.

IOC president Jacques Rogge’s closing speech was briefly interrupted by an intruder who went up to the podium and shouted, “Passion lives in Tornio.”

The following are pictures from last night’s closing ceremony (pictures courtesy of NBC, click to enlarge pictures):

An aerial view of Stadio Olimpico

A Carnival atmosphere

Remember these ‘Spaks of Passion’ performers?

Clowns on parade

What’s an Italian Celebration without Italian Opera?

More Italian Opera

Human Tarot Cards

A Vintage Fiat

Snowboarder suspended in midair

The Mayor of Torino passing the Olympic Flag to the Mayor of Vancouver, Host City of the next Winter Olympics. The Mayor of Vancouver is paraplegic (he broke his neck while skiing at the age of 19). Waving the Olympic Flag would be a terrible burden for someone in his condition, but not for him.

A Proud Canadian Delegation

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Logo

Andrew Boccelli, Ricky Martin, and Avril Lavigne mesmerizing the crowd

The Olympic Flame extinguished

Fireworks lit up the Torino night sky

See you again at Vancouver in 2010!!!