Let The Games Begin

Yuri Chechi, an Olympic gymnast from Italy, starts the ceremony by pounding an anvil during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

Sophia Loren leads Chilean writer Isabel Allende, Susan Sarandon, Nobel prize winner, Wangari Maathai of Kenya, three Olympic gold medal winners, Nawal El-Moutawakel of Morocco, Manuela Di Centa of Italy, Maria Mutola of Mozambique and Cambodian human rights activist Somaly Mam during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 in Torino, Italy.

Giorgio Armani designed the sparkling white, floor-length gown worn by supermodel Carla Bruni as she carries Italy's flag during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 in Torino, Italy.

A dancer appears from beneath the skirt of another performer during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

A dancer performs during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

Performers are seen during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

A performer floats under a balloon during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

Prince Albert of Monaco plays with a flashlight that was given to spectators during opening ceremonies for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. The woman at his right is not identified.

Fireworks light up the stage during opening ceremonies for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

German athletes wave their national flags as they make their way around the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10. 2006.

The United States Winter Olympic team, lead by flag-bearer Chris Witty, a speedskater, enter the stadium during the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, in Torino, Italy. More than 200 U.S. athletes, wearing white coats and hats of blue and red, waved and blew kisses to the cheering audience. Giant video screens showed first lady Laura Bush smiling broadly.

U.S. Figure skater Michele Kwan waves as she walks into the stadium for the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10. 2006.

First lady Laura Bush, center, stands and claps for the U.S. Olympic team as Cherie Blair, left, wife of Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, looks on during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

The Italian team celebrates during the opening ceremony for the Torino 2006 Winter Olympic Games Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 in Torino, Italy. As host country, the Italian athletes, dressed in fur-trimmed coats, appeared last and brought down the house.

Passion was the show's theme and passion was what poured from the audience, right up to the arrival of the Olympic torch, carried by Alberto "La Bomba" Tomba, who ran up the stage steps and handed it off to a succession of Italian medal winners, Feb. 10, 2006, in Torino, Italy.

Stefania Belmono, a three-time Italian cross country gold medalist, lights the flame with the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

Fireworks erupt after the lighting of the Olympic flame to mark the beginning of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Friday Feb. 10, 2006. Behind the scenes, 6,100 volunteers helped stage the event, for which they had practiced an estimated 10,000 hours. The cost of both the opening and closing ceremonies: $34 million.

The Olympic flame glows after being lit during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. An estimated crowd of 35,000 watched the ceremony at Olympic Stadium.

Performers climb a wall during the opening ceremony for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

Fireworks erupt over the Olympic Stadium at the conclusion of the opening ceremony for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006.

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