Vancouver Games Tab 2000 Sydney Producer To Design Ceremonies

David Atkins, producer of the '00 Sydney Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, has been hired to craft the BC Place ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver Games, according to Jeff Lee in a front-page story for the VANCOUVER SUN. Supporting Atkins are Canadian artistic and "cultural luminaries whose stables of artists" include Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall, Bryan Adams, Anne Murray, Joni Mitchell and Avril Lavigne.  Atkins, whose '00 Games production "is classed in the four top Olympic performances," was named the Exec Producer of a 10-member team including musician Sam Feldman, Bruce Allen, Nettwerk Records' Dan Fraser and Canadian College of Performing Arts Co-Founder Jacques Lemay. Atkins "pledged the ceremonies will be uniquely Canadian."  Atkins: "These are Canada's Games. They must speak with a Canadian voice. This can only be achieved through the participation of Canada's artistic and cultural communities."  Atkins' company, David Atkins Enterprises, beat out a field of 15 challengers to head the $40M production, including '02 Salt Lake Games producers Scott Givens and Don Mischer and fellow Australian and Sydney Olympics partner Andrew Walsh (VANCOUVER SUN, 9/21).  Exec Dir Catherine Ugwu, an Australian, is the only woman on the ten-member team (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 9/21).