Friday marks the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the third Olympics ever hosted by Canada. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff will be attending, along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor-General Michaëlle Jean. Mr. Ignatieff took a few minutes to chat about the pressure facing the men's hockey team, why he loves curling and how the rest of the world will learn they shouldn't mess with Canada.

What do the Olympics mean to you?

The funny thing about the Olympics is there are a lot of sports that you only watch every four years. I don't think most Canadians think about the luge very much, for example. But you get really into it when it gets going. That's one kind of funny thing: how much you get into sports you don't actually know much about.

How do you see Canada, as host, having put its own stamp on the Games?

They're the greenest Games. They're touted as the most sustainable Games. When I went to Whistler and talked to Ken Melamed, the mayor, what struck me is how much he wanted to make sure the Games didn't distort Whistler; that Whistler controlled the Games, rather than the Games controlling Whistler. I thought that was a great reaction; sustainable, low scale, low impact. Some countries use this to shout from the rooftops, and you know what? We want to do something quieter. And I think that's the right way to go.

What are the Games going to accomplish for Vancouver?

I think it's Vancouver's coming-out party. Everybody's going to come in on the Canada Line rapid rail line and go ‘Wow.' Vancouver's going to make a huge global impression. It will also come as a surprise to a lot of visitors, that Canada's a Pacific nation and the symbol ... is Vancouver, this incredible multicultural city with all the populations of Asia who've been there for a hundred years. People are going discover we've always been an Asian country, facing out to Asia.

Canada's never won a gold medal at Olympic Games in which we've played host. What's your prediction?

Well, we've invested a lot this time. I was watching CBC with my wife last week, and we noticed the Canadian curling team has this guy following the stone as it travels down the ice and looking at the heat and the ice imaging when the sweepers are out. I thought, ‘Holy smoke, you can't beat Canada now. We've got the science.' But again, it comes down to that moment when the skip's got to lay down the shot ... and all the science in the world can't help you.

But there's one game that matters more than any other, right? Hockey.

Absolutely. ... The women's team has been so dominant that I think maybe in a way the pressure's a little off the women. But the pressure's really on the men. No question about it . We know what we want out there. These guys have got to deliver and everybody knows it. And silver won't do. So it's going to be pressure.

Tell me what you think the Games might tell the rest of the world about Canada.

I hope the world will be a little surprised at how competitive we are. We have this nice reputation and it's good to be thought to be a nice country and a compassionate country, but I think it's good also for people to go, ‘Hey, these guys really compete.' We've always competed, but this time the Own The Podium investments that we put in, I think, will make a difference. ... I think it will translate into medals and I think the world will think, ‘Wow, these people are nice, but don't mess with them.'

Which winter sport would you compete in if you were an Olympian?

To be frank, I wouldn't fancy my chances in any sport. But one sport I identify with a lot - because I still think I could kind of do it - is curling. It's a fantastic team sport. But I think I will leave it to the people who actually know how to do this. It is the game I associate with a bit, especially the skip. It's the leadership and the precision and the quiet. My wife is listening to this conversation and says I ought to have said ice dancing. So there you go.

What are your plans for the Olympics?

We're going to be there a lot. One of the nice things about my job is that the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and the Leader of the Opposition get an [Olympic] pass, so I will be going to as many events as I can. I will be in the stands cheering our athletes on and then I will be meeting various leaders and talking to Canadians.

How enthusiastic do you get in the stands? Are you going to paint your face red and white?

Oh, I have to be restrained. My wife will keep me under good order and discipline. I promise you. I won't embarrass anybody.