VANCOUVER VOICE: Shane not Wayne is the star turn - and it cost buttons

VANCOUVER'S Olympic opening ceremony was a solid performance - not in the class of Beijing, although with the money they threw at it what ever will be, but certainly more than a match for anything previously seen at the Winter Games.

STAR TURN: Poet Shane Koyczan delivered some impressive verse during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Creative directors David and Ignatius Jones are both former Olympians, who masterminded the ceremonies at the 2000 Games in Sydney in their native Australia.

They threw a reported a $40 million (£24m) at a slick production, but there was still a technical malfunction with the cauldron - which could have been one of the biggest embarrassments in the history of opening ceremonies had it not been for some very quick thinking.

But the best part of their show, cost buttons.

Even as a visitor it was hard not to be swept off your chair by the ground swell of national pride that pulsated around BC Place stadium as poet Shane Koyczan hit the high notes of his oratory.

He even delivered a gentle dig at Canada's neighbours to the south.

"Some say what defines us is something as simple as please and thank you and as for you're welcome well, we say that too," he said.

It was impressive stuff, beautifully written and delivered not with the flawless skills of an actor but with raw and very obvious passion.

There's a lesson in there for London 2012 somewhere.

Light shows and pyrotechnics, big name stars and children on high wires - it's all very well and good but the best ideas, the ones that will have the most resonance and the deepest impact, might not come with seven figure cheques attached.

If you missed Shane's big moment watch the video below, although his live performance in the ceremony is something to seek out.

* Vancouver's first night was the 13th Olympic opening or closing ceremony attended by Sportsbeat's Managing Editor James Toney