A Russian prima ballerina known for portraying the fleeting final moments of a dying swan and an acrobatic New York youth dance troupe that dodges swinging cinder blocks and "flies" through glass like action heroes are adding some muscle to the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, presented by Bell, which starts in just 64 days.

The 36 new Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad projects announced today include: Passion of Russia starring famed ballerina Uliana Lopatkina in her Canadian debut and viola master Yuri Bashmet in an evening marrying music and ballet from the Host Nation of the 2014 Winter Games, a soulful double-bill of R&B crooners Raphael Saadiq and India.Arie, as well as Phoenix, an alternative rock outfit from France with early links to Daft Punk. For those more interested in seeing the riskier side of show business, STREB's dancers will perform acrobatic and show-stopping jumps, falls and live action dance stunts using found materials and bizarre contraptions in Raw.

With only 113 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the Olympic flame was lit today in Olympia, symbolically marking the beginning of the Torch Relay that will bring the flame to the shores of British Columbia.

The flame was lit successfully by a Holy Priestess in front of the Temple of Hera, according to the traditional ritual, using the sun's rays and a parabolic mirror. The priestess entered the Ancient Olympic Stadium with the torch and handed it over to the first runner of the Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay, Vassilis Dimitriadis. The Greek skier passed by the tomb where Pierre de Coubertin's heart is buried, to launch the journey of the Relay.

"Vancouver is ready for 2010", said the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games through its Chairman, René Fasel. For its ninth and final visit (25 - 26 August) to the next Olympic and Paralympic Host City, the Commission was joined by representatives of the Olympic Winter International Federations, who were able to bring their expertise to bear in the discussions with the Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) relating to the sporting elements of the Games, as well as by observers from the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee.

Speaking at the close of the meetings, Fasel said, "The organizers of the Games in Vancouver and Whistler are ready for 2010. We've heard from VANOC and its partners about all the steps that they are undertaking to ensure that the athletes and other Games visitors have a fantastic Olympic and Paralympic experience. We are extremely happy with what we have seen and heard, and are confident that they will deliver."