Road to Torino

Much as expected, athletes marched (or sauntered in some cases), dignitaries speechified, athletes celebrated, the Italian president declared the games open -- and the fat man (aka Pavarotti) sang.

One surprise: The much-anticipated identity of the person chosen to light the Olympic cauldron. It was rumored for months to be Alpine ski great Alberto Tomba. Tomba was among the final group of athletes to carry the flame but the final honor went to a different Italian skier, cross-country legend Stefania Belmondo.

NBCOlympics.com had the same idea I had and have been really live-blogging the Opening Ceremony on their Torino Tracker blog.

You can't watch it on NBC till tonight, but there's loads of photos coming in of a very-festive looking Opening Ceremonies in Torino:

Flagbearer Chris Witty leads in the U.S. team


Prince Albert of Monaco, looking distinctly un-regal

America's princess, Michelle Kwan
 

Power ladies: Cherie Blair, wife of Tony; Laura and Barbara Bush

The delegation from that hotbed of winter sports known as Brazil

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