why is there so much air time for the canadian national anthem lately?”
Vancouver, Feb 13, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was a truly spectacular affair. The flag hosting ceremony was replete with the sounds of Indian drums and dhols. The Canadian National anthem was chanted by over 200 athletes and the team officials also joined in the singing. The weather played the spoilsport with rain and cold air dampening the spirit of the occasion to an extent. However, the Prime minister of Canada was very happy that the odd weather could not dent in the spirit of the athletes and participants in the games. The Indian Luger team participated in the ceremony without worry as they were given uniform by the Indo-Canadian community of Vancouver. Media personalities like Sushma Dutt arranged for a fundraiser for the team. However, the beginning of the Winter Olympics had a sad part as well. Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian slider got killed while training was going on. His body got thrust against a concrete wall which caused
Canada is the national anthem of Canada. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, and the original French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, as a French-Canadian patriotic song for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society. It was first performed on June 24, 1880 at a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet in Quebec City, but did not become Canada’s official national anthem until July 1, 1980. The official English version is based on a poem written by Robert Stanley Weir in 1908; it is not a translation of the French. Changes to the English version were made in 1968 following recommendations made by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The National Anthem Act of 1980 added a religious reference to the English lyrics. “God Save the Queen” was used as a national anthem, prior to the adoption of “O Canada.” It is now Canada’s royal anthem.
