CONFIRMED: Celine WON'T be at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics

[anewdayhascome]

I reallu understand Celine's choice too:)

But in any other case, I would miss her very much.. I mean she is the one and only that combines Canada as one (English and French languages) and her performance would be a true gem but now the only thing I have to say to her is just Good Luck!

[CSCfan]

Dion said no to opening ceremony

 

By Rod Mickleburgh, The Globe and Mail Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 4:28 PM ET

 

French-Canadian songstress Celine Dion was asked to perform in Friday's gala opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but declined, VANOC spokeswoman Renee Smith-Valade confirmed Sunday.

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said Ms. Dion was one of several Quebec performters asked to participate in the Olympics, but all said they couldn't make it for scheduling reasons.

 

She dislcosed the invitations as the organizing committee tried to deflect criticism from Canadian Heritage minister James Moore, who said he was "disappointed" at the extent of French in the gala opening cermony.

Ms. Dion was in hospital at the time of the ceremonies, trying to conceive a second child.

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said a performance by Ms. Dion, who has a world-wide following, would have been in addition to the song in French. Un Peu Plus Haut, Un Peu Plus Loin, performedna by Quebecois artist Garou near the end of the three-hour extravaganza.

 

"She is a very good example of the calibre of French-Canadian performer that would have absolutely loved to have participated in the openng ceremonies, but because of their schedules they were unavailable."

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said Ms. Dion had been "thrilled to be asked. "She was disappointed not to be able to come and we would have loved to have her."

 

"She added that VANOC also approached two other "celebrated Quebec performers", but would not reveal their names "for contractual reasons".

 

As to Mr. Moore's criticism, Ms. Smith-Valade defended the show, pointing to acrobatic activites staged by the Quebec group, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, and the "wonderful performance by Garou".

 

She said his remarks send a message, however, that VANOC perhaps needs to communicate more effectively with "our government partner" about the ceremonies "and the elements that highlighted and celebrated the French language and culture better than we have [communicated]."

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said VANOC has made a strong committment to ensure every aspect of the Games --from signage to French-speaking volunteers -- to ensure the Canada's linguistic and cultural duality is recognzied.

[

SOURCE]

[Davey84]

oh 'damn!!! that's too bad!! I would have LOVED another version of Un peu plus haut.... but it's for a great reason she declined... I do hope she'll record the song for her next french album

[CelineDionFan710]

i knew that she was in the hospital trying to conceive for a long time. but it is sad that she didnt do it. maybe another time.

[zuv]

Les Olympiques des Canadiens Anglais.

Je ne croyais pas dire ça un jour, mais pour la premiere fois de ma vie, je considère devenir Péquiste, Séparatiste, Indépendantiste, Souverainiste.

 

Quelle honte! C'était la plus grande opportunité de montrer sur la scène internationale que le Canada a 2 langues officielles.

Quelle Bévue!

 

Traduction:

 

The English Canadians Olympics Games

I never thought i would ever say that, but for the 1st time in my life i've consider to become a souvrainist, separatist, independantist!!!

 

What a shame! This was the biggest opportunity to show to the world that Canada is bilingial nation!

 

 

FACT: THE NUMBER 1 OFFICIAL OLYMPIC LANGUAGE IS FRENCH (NO MATTER THE COUNTRY)

 

Read René's point of view on the Olympics!

 

Or read it below:

 

Publié le 15 février 2010 à 06h13 | Mis à jour à 06h14

Céline Dion ne chantera pas aux Jeux

(Vancouver) Chose certaine, ce n'est pas Céline Dion qui va chanter à la cérémonie de clôture des Jeux de Vancouver: «Au moins dix personnes liées aux Jeux de Vancouver m'ont appelé pour avoir Céline pour les cérémonies d'ouverture. Et ça s'est rendu tout près du premier ministre Stephen Harper. Et s'ils m'appellent pour la cérémonie de clôture, Céline ne sera pas disponible non plus. Les dates ne fonctionnent pas», dit René Angélil.

Même si Céline Dion avait voulu chanter à Vancouver, c'était impossible. Elle était d'ailleurs à une clinique de fertilité de New York vendredi dernier. Le couple en était à sa cinquième tentative de fertilisation et il n'était pas question de prendre le moindre risque.

«J'ai d'ailleurs regardé les cérémonies à la chaîne NBC. J'ai été estomaqué de voir le peu de place faite au Québec et au français. Même Bob Costas, qui est très bon, a été obligé d'expliquer quand on montrait un canot bleu et blanc que c'était les couleurs du Québec. On a eu droit à un canot», déplore M. Angélil.

L'impresario ne veut pas être «négatif» envers les organisateurs des Jeux, mais il ajoute: «Chose certaine, je n'ai jamais ressenti qu'on avait montré les valeurs du Québec dans ces cérémonies».

Hier, différentes sources affirmaient que les administrateurs de COVAN se penchaient d'urgence sur le scénario des cérémonies de clôture: «S'ils appellent, ils vont avoir la même réponse que pour l'ouverture», a conclu René Angélil

Edited February 15, 2010 at 07:26 PM by pyb

[CSCfan]

Wow, René's opinion is pretty straight-forward.... too bad Céline won't be there for the closing ceremony

[pat200]

well i don't know why she won't be there for the closing ceremonies, but it truly is a wasted opportunity for celine. hey maybe in a few years quebec will host the olympics so who knows...

[zuv]

Wow, René's opinion is pretty straight-forward.... too bad Céline won't be there for the closing ceremony

Yep he is!! and i'm proud of him for saying that!! and sticking to his values!

 

What a bunch of idiots at the organisation of this ceremony!!!

 

40 Millions for that only night!!!! I wonder how much the quebecers paid for this

 

They used OUR legend "La Chasse Galerie"! A pure "Québecoise" legend and they only described it in english

 

In 1976 olympic games in Montréal, i have been told that EVERY WORD was translated to English!

 

EDIT:

well i don't know why she won't be there for the closing ceremonies, but it truly is a wasted opportunity for celine. hey maybe in a few years quebec will host the olympics so who knows...

U don't know why? Because they didn't give a Sh*t about Quebec's Nation and the official French Language!

Edited February 15, 2010 at 07:51 PM by pyb

[CD4ever]

Wow, René's opinion is pretty straight-forward.... too bad Céline won't be there for the closing ceremony

Yep he is!! and i'm proud of him for saying that!! and sticking to his values!

 

What a bunch of idiots at the organisation of this ceremony!!!

 

40 Millions for that only night!!!! I wonder how much the quebecers paid for this

 

They used OUR legend "La Chasse Galerie"! A pure "Québecoise" legend and they only described it in english

 

In 1976 olympic games in Montréal, i have been told that EVERY WORD was translated to English!

 

EDIT:

well i don't know why she won't be there for the closing ceremonies, but it truly is a wasted opportunity for celine. hey maybe in a few years quebec will host the olympics so who knows...

U don't know why? Because they didn't give a Sh*t about Quebec's Nation and the official French Language!

 

Edit: Never mind, I wrote a stupid comment

Edited February 15, 2010 at 10:00 PM by CD4ever

[zuv]

lollll PM me i'm curious. what were u going to say...

[CD4ever]

lollll PM me i'm curious. what were u going to say...

 

I just read your comment too fast and understood it wrong....stupid language barrier LOL

[fabtasticfoo]

As always, I respect Celine's decision, but I don't understand it and I'm disappointed by it.

 

She was asked to appear at the Olympics in her home country, to present her native culture and language to the world, and she turned it down. Apparently the fertility treatments could wait for the Grammy Awards and Oprah. The message is that those were more important. It's so hard to interpret it as anything but a snub.

 

And then Rene complains because of a lack of French content in the ceremonies? I don't even understand...how could he not have known that Garou appeared and sang «Un peu plus loin»? It wasn't the organizers' fault that NBC decided not to carry it. I have no doubt that NBC would have carried it if Celine had been singing the song.

 

Major opportunity lost for everyone.

[Acacia]

^^ It is disappointing and I think a lot of great things could have happened if she performed. However, it wasn't meant to be. I can clearly see why doing the Grammys was so important. Having the opportunity to participate in a tribute for her idol, Micheal Jackson that is a big thing and a opportunity she had to take. The same could be said of the We are the World performance.

 

With Oprah, we don't know what the situation was. That may have been a stop before going to New York for her treatment. We don't know when the organizers asked her to perform. It sounded like the asked her while she was in the hospital for the treatment. At that point it would have clearly been too late. I don't think it was easy for Celine to turn it down, she's very proud of her French roots and would have loved to share that with the world. It just didn't work out with her schedule.

[Celinenvegas]

Dion said no to opening ceremony

 

By Rod Mickleburgh, The Globe and Mail Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 4:28 PM ET

 

French-Canadian songstress Celine Dion was asked to perform in Friday's gala opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but declined, VANOC spokeswoman Renee Smith-Valade confirmed Sunday.

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said Ms. Dion was one of several Quebec performters asked to participate in the Olympics, but all said they couldn't make it for scheduling reasons.

 

She dislcosed the invitations as the organizing committee tried to deflect criticism from Canadian Heritage minister James Moore, who said he was "disappointed" at the extent of French in the gala opening cermony.

Ms. Dion was in hospital at the time of the ceremonies, trying to conceive a second child.

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said a performance by Ms. Dion, who has a world-wide following, would have been in addition to the song in French. Un Peu Plus Haut, Un Peu Plus Loin, performedna by Quebecois artist Garou near the end of the three-hour extravaganza.

 

"She is a very good example of the calibre of French-Canadian performer that would have absolutely loved to have participated in the openng ceremonies, but because of their schedules they were unavailable."

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said Ms. Dion had been "thrilled to be asked. "She was disappointed not to be able to come and we would have loved to have her."

 

"She added that VANOC also approached two other "celebrated Quebec performers", but would not reveal their names "for contractual reasons".

 

 

BUT...does that mean she won't be at the closing ceremony??

As to Mr. Moore's criticism, Ms. Smith-Valade defended the show, pointing to acrobatic activites staged by the Quebec group, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, and the "wonderful performance by Garou".

 

She said his remarks send a message, however, that VANOC perhaps needs to communicate more effectively with "our government partner" about the ceremonies "and the elements that highlighted and celebrated the French language and culture better than we have [communicated]."

 

Ms. Smith-Valade said VANOC has made a strong committment to ensure every aspect of the Games --from signage to French-speaking volunteers -- to ensure the Canada's linguistic and cultural duality is recognzied.

[

SOURCE]

 

BUT...does that mean she won't perform at the closing ceremonies??

Edited February 16, 2010 at 03:57 AM by Celinenvegas

[zuv]

fabtasticfoo : Celine could not do the opening ceremony as she was going to fertility tx. I don't even think she was invited for the opening anyway. But now that we all complained that French was lacking in the opening ceremony, every body, including the Prime minister Stephen Harper, wants Celine to come and perform for the closure....

As if it was Celine's job to repair the unrepairable.

 

Ils la prennent pour un bouche-trou ou quoi?? (sorry i cant translate this expression) You know when you use someone or have a friend because you can't have any other one? Well that would be just like that.

 

I'm glad René said no to those idiots

Edited February 16, 2010 at 04:14 AM by pyb

[DoumDi]

I think she was invited but like last minute thing! Celine is not someone to use as a Plan B! And Fabtasticfoo, the lack of French as on every channel not only on NBC! It was a lack of French and of The unique Quebec culture which is still part of Canad that was almost unexistant in the whole ceremony! Even if French is spoke in minority in our country it's still an official language!

[fabtasticfoo]

fabtasticfoo : Celine could not do the opening ceremony as she was going to fertility tx. I don't even think she was invited for the opening anyway. But now that we all complained that French was lacking in the opening ceremony, every body, including the Prime minister Stephen Harper, wants Celine to come and perform for the closure....

 

Read it again:

 

«Au moins dix personnes liées aux Jeux de Vancouver m'ont appelé pour avoir Céline pour les cérémonies d'ouverture. Et ça s'est rendu tout près du premier ministre Stephen Harper. Et s'ils m'appellent pour la cérémonie de clôture, Céline ne sera pas disponible non plus. Les dates ne fonctionnent pas», dit René Angélil.

 

I think she was invited but like last minute thing! Celine is not someone to use as a Plan B!

 

Rene says she was invited 10 times to the opening ceremonies, and he doesn't ever say it was at the last minute. They've been planning this event for years, and I doubt that inviting the country's biggest superstar slipped their minds. Officials were talking in the media about wanting her two years ago (just look at the beginning of this thread).

 

There's absolutely no evidence that it was a last minute invitation, and tons of evidence to the contrary.

[zuv]

Celine talking about the Olympics to Access Hollywood

[lindsey22]

she should not be perfoming at anything

go have your baby sweetie

screw them!

[SuperLove4Celine]

Celine talking about the Olympics to Access Hollywood

 

 

Thanks for the link!

 

By the way, was it just me or did Céline seem to not like that interviewer from AH? LOL

[lindsey22]

Celine talking about the Olympics to Access Hollywood

 

 

Thanks for the link!

 

By the way, was it just me or did Céline seem to not like that interviewer from AH? LOL

lol Celine was like "i dont know if you know that i was going thru some invitro treatments"

i can imagine that poor reporters face .

[Nmj]

Ya Celine seemed pissed!! lol

[Edwin]

1 Minute Clip from the Feb 17th 2010 Access Hollywood. She answers why she wasn't at the Olympics. Then they talk a little about the movie. They show more of her answer on the website.

[Charles]

here celine confirms NOT GOING TO BE AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY

Edited February 19, 2010 at 06:38 AM by Charles

[whineupemily]

Hahaha the way she said "It's a choice.. so.. that was my choice.", literally sounded like she was reaaally annoyed.

Aw Celine Itsk, Shania didn't show up either

[Bellamy]

Hahaha the way she said "It's a choice.. so.. that was my choice.", literally sounded like she was reaaally annoyed.

Aw Celine Itsk, Shania didn't show up either

Shania has nothing to promo, so she doesn't need to answer those questions at all.

[whineupemily]

Hahaha the way she said "It's a choice.. so.. that was my choice.", literally sounded like she was reaaally annoyed.

Aw Celine Itsk, Shania didn't show up either

Shania has nothing to promo, so she doesn't need to answer those questions at all.

Huh? I did mean that in a bad way.. Or that Shania needed to answer the questions asked to Celine......

Even if Shania has nothing to promote, that doesn't mean she was restricted to sing at the Olympics.

[Celinedusolei]

Hey guys:

I was doing my daily research and i found this article that sayed that our Celine wont be at the olympic closing ceremonies. Here is the news ... i guess i will just to keep waiting until a new apearence .

 

 

VANCOUVER - For those fans waiting with bated breath to see Celine Dion make an appearance at the Olympic Games' closing ceremonies — well, your hearts will have to go on.

 

A publicist for the superstar confirmed to The Canadian Press on Tuesday that she would not appear at Sunday's Olympic festivities in Vancouver.

 

"She will not be there," wrote Dion spokesperson Kim Jakwerth in an email.

 

VANOC has said that Dion was invited to perform during the Olympic festivities but declined.

 

But just prior to the opening of the Games, Dion missed the Quebec premiere of her new movie, "Celine: Through the Eyes of the World," because she was in a U.S. hospital trying to conceive a second child.

 

Without Dion, fans are left to speculate on which Canadian stars might appear during the closing bash.

 

The opening featured Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, Bryan Adams, Garou, k.d. lang and Loreena McKennitt.

 

An online poll conducted on People Magazine's website asked readers which Canadian pop starlet should see the stage during the festivities. Dion went up against Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Furtado and Alanis Morissette.

 

Twain was the winner, with a stunning 62 per cent of the vote.

 

The country music star has kept a low profile over the past few years and hasn't released a record of new material since 2002's "Up."

 

While she's resurfaced lately — she appeared as a guest judge on "American Idol" and jogged the Olympic torch through her hometown of Timmins, Ont. — it would be an astonishing surprise to see her take the stage at B.C. Place on Sunday.

 

Twain's publicist declined to offer any information when reached Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/ol...t-85130257.html

[ThisTime]

I hear Celine is in Vancouver. Maybe she changed her mind?

 

Celine Dion is in Vancouver & has a complete floor to herself at an upscale hotel. Olympics closing ceremony anyone???

http://twitter.com/mbroten

[celinedream]

Yes, CTV confirms that she's in Vancouver too.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/about-vancouver/...wsid=52303.html

 

Her publicist did deny that she'll sing at the closing ceremony though