Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir are 'At War'

When skating rivals Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir were battling for a spot on the Olympic podium at the Vancouver Winter Games in February, Weir remarked that showdown would be a great "catfight."

The dust-up intensified this week off the ice as Olympic gold medalist Lysacek, competing on Dancing with the Stars, and Weir, a three-time U.S. Champion, traded slurs and barbs.

"We are at war," Weir said on Thursday. "My claws are out."

The latest round of mudslinging began when Lysacek suggested earlier this week that a lack of talent kept Weir off the cast of the traveling Smucker's Stars on Ice. "They only hire the best of the best to skate," Lysacek told the Indianapolis Star. "A lot of us in the skating world were really disappointed in the way he reacted, basically whining that he wasn't chosen."

Harsh Words Exchanged

The flamboyant Weir claims the show didn't hire him because he didn't fit the tour's "family-friendly" profile – a charge Stars on Ice denies. Weir also went on the attack against Lysacek, calling him a "slore" – an apparent combination of "slut" and "whore" – on the The Wendy Williams Show on Wednesday.

Then on Thursday in New York, where he announced their "war," Weir added, "I've never whined. I wasn't the one who falls dancing and gets a concussion and breaks toes and has hip replacement surgeries. If anyone whines, it's definitely Evan. He's done that his whole career, and I've never said anything about it just because there was no need."

Weir, who is opening the season for Ice Theatre of New York at Chelsea Piers, added, "I have no respect for Evan Lysacek." He is encouraging fans not to vote for his rival on Dancing with the Stars.

But there may a truce on the horizon. In a statement to People Magazine, Lysacek says he wants to end the feud, even though Weir had said hurtful things. Extending an olive branch, he's calling Weir "an accomplished and talented skater" and wishing him well at his New York show.

"I let my personal feelings cloud my judgment in how I answered a journalist's question about Stars on Ice and Johnny that I should never have answered," says Lysacek. "I should have known better."

5 Things to Know About Olympic Gold Medal Winning Skater, Evan Lysacek

Evan Lysacek has turned into one of the stars of the Vancouver Olympics. On Thursday, the 2009 World Champion took the gold in men's figure skating. Here are five things you don't know about the athlete:

1. Lysacek, 24, has always been a self-described "daredevil." He says, "I loved to go fast" – and he always has. At about age 6, he sped on his bike down a hill near his home in Naperville, Ill., fell and needed stitches to the head. He started skating at 8.

2. He used to date Tanith Belbin, part of the U.S. Olympic ice dancing team. She's rooming in Vancouver with Lysacek's rival Johnny Weir. When rooms were chosen, "it came down to me, Evan and Johnny," says Belbin with a laugh. "Do the math – Johnny and I got the suite.”

3. He loves clubbing in L.A. with pals like Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe.

4. His mom, Tanya, is in Vancouver but gets too nervous to watch her son in person. Instead, she cheers from in front of a TV back at the Procter & Gamble house set up for athletes' family members.

5. For fun, Lysacek worships the sun – check out that tan – and likes to surf. As for his post-skating career? He's taking acting classes. "I've always been obsessed with movies," he says.

Vancouver Winter Olympics Open After Tragedy

A special-effects laden opening ceremony welcomed the world to the 2010 Winter Olympics. But amid the spectacle, a fallen athlete was never far from everyone's minds.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died early Friday during a practice run when he lost control of his sled and crashed over a safety railing into a steel beam. The remaining seven members of his team decided to carry on with the competition and were greeted with a standing ovation when they entered BC Place Stadium.

Moment of Silence

The audience of 50,000 held a moment of silence just before the Olympic flag was raised, and many of the nearly 2,600 competitors from 82 nations wore black arm bands in Kumaritashvili's memory.

"When these bad accidents do happen they catch you so off guard; never in a million years do you fathom something like that could happen," said U.S. ice dancer Tanith Belbin. "Hopefully we can come together and offer condolences and support to his team and family."

The opening ceremony was held inside the domed stadium because of rain. But that didn't dim its majesty. Throughout, the stadium floor seemed almost alive, transforming into blowing leaves, an ice rink, golden fields and an ocean with breaching killer whales.

The ceremony – far more scaled down than the one Beijing produced in 2008, but no less moving – paid tribute to the different geographic areas of Canada, from Quebec to the Western Rockies. Skiers and snowboarders performed airborne twists and spins, roller-bladers sped around the arena, and a giant, illuminated bear spirit floated in the air.

Canadian Stars

Canadians Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah MacLachlan, k.d. lang and Joni Mitchell sang during the three-hour program. Donald Sutherland narrated the show before helping carry in the Olympic flag as part of a six-person troupe that included hockey's Bobby Orr and singer Anne Murray.

Vice President Joseph Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, helped give a huge cheer for the 200-strong U.S. contingent, whose members wore Ralph Lauren-designed parkas and knit caps. Biden told NBC that he took his granddaughters to meet Shaun White and the other snowboarders.

"[The girls] loved it. It made me a hero. All that matters is what your granddaughters think," the vice president said.

Michaelle Jean, the governor general of Canada, declared the Games open. Afterward, four athletes entered to light the Olympic flame, bringing about the night's only snafu. One of the hydraulic arms didn't rise, so only three of the athletes participated: hockey great Wayne Gretzky, NBA star Steve Nash and skier Nancy Greene.

Moments later, Gretzky traveled by truck to a second, outdoor cauldron, and lit that one himself.

Nelly Furtado & Sarah McLachlan Likely at WInter Olympics Opening

The 2010 Winter Olympics may be lacking snow, but that hasn't stopped the leaks.

The first names of likely opening-ceremony performers have filtered out, thanks to spies at the rehearsals and a commercial for the Vancouver Games that aired during Saturday Night Live.

Canadians Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and Bryan Adams all seem a lock for tonight's opening ceremony. Best bets are also rockers Rush and jazz singer Nikki Yanofsky, also both Canadians. The '80s band Devo will be among the bands performing at the Games' medal ceremonies.

So far no word on Shania Twain nor other Canadian faves Avril Lavigne or Celine Dionl.

The new all-star "We Are the World" video for Haiti earthquake relief will also air during Friday's Olympic coverage.

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony will be televised tonight starting at 7:30 pm (ET) on NBC.

Music Video: "One Dream" by Sarah McLachlan

Check out the new Sarah McLachlan song 'One Dream,' for the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver:



Another beautiful tune from such an amazing musician!