Hot Trends: CBC hosts free outdoor Sochi opening ceremony broadcast

This Friday in Confederation Park, CBC/Radio-Canada will host an open-air, free viewing of the Sochi 2014 opening ceremony as part of Winterlude.

Pre-show action starts at 10:30 a.m. with CBC News Ottawa anchor Lucy van Oldenbarneveld and Téléjournal Ottawa-Gatineau anchor Mathieau Nadon on stage in the park.

The CBC broadcast of the event begins at 11 a.m.



Guests at the event include Calgary 1988 Olympic figure skating silver medalist Elizabeth Manley, 2014 Paralympic biathlete hopeful Caroline Bisson, and former Munich 1972 Olympic wrestler Ole Sorensen, who is also the father of Sochi 2014 bobsledding competitor Cody Sorensen.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Gatineau Coun. Daniel Champagne and Ottawa's hottest cool couple, Mama & Papa Ice Hog, will also be there.

Spectators will hear, via video testimonials, from speed skaters Ivanie Blondin and Vincent De Haître, curler Dawn McEwen, as well as from two reporters who will share the role they'll play in Sochi: CBC Ottawa sports reporter Dan Séguin and ICI Ottawa-Gatineau sports reporter Jonathan Jobin.

We'll also have the Vancouver Olympic torch on hand as a reminder of what a force Canada was in Vancouver, and will be in Sochi. People can take photos with the torch, the Ice Hog family and a "Hoist the Flag" backdrop.

Let's get behind our athletes and build some great new Olympic memories!