Obama Inauguration Streaming Live On CityNews.CaSaturday January 17, 2009
Lee-Anne Goodman,
The Canadian Press
Obama steps off a plane upon arrival in Philadelphia January 16, 2009.
Photo credit Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesBarack Obama steps aboard a train and into the history books Saturday as he kicks off four days of inaugural celebrations that will culminate in Tuesday's swearing-in of the first black president in America's 233-year existence.
You can watch his swearing-in live from noon until 1pm Tuesday Jan. 20 on CityNews.ca - go the
homepage and there will be a button available in the centre column under webwatch.
Obama will be retracing the journey of his political hero, Abraham Lincoln, when he boards the train in Philadelphia for a whistle-stop tour to Washington with his vice-presidential running mate, Joe Biden.
Their trip pays homage to Lincoln's surreptitious voyage in 1861, when he travelled from one train station to another under cover of darkness to avoid an assassination attempt.
Obama won't need to be quite so furtive, but security along the 220-kilometre train route will nonetheless be extremely tight.
Thousands of officers from 40 police jurisdictions will line the tracks as crowds gather at overpasses, parking lots and train stations to catch a glimpse of the country's 44th president.
Obama's inauguration, in fact, is breaking records not just for the number of people expected to attend, but for the highest level of security for any presidential swearing-in.
"It will be the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration's had," Michael Chertoff, homeland security secretary, recently told The Associated Press.
The horde of undercover officers, rooftop counter-snipers, security cameras, bomb-sniffing dogs and mounted police will be in attendance not just for Tuesday's inauguration ceremony at the Capitol and the subsequent parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, but also at a massive outdoor concert for Obama on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial.
Bono, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and Sheryl Crow are among dozens of stars who will each perform a song at the giant outdoor event, to be televised live. Obama will be in attendance at the concert and will address a crowd estimated at one million strong.
Performances will be interspersed with historical readings from the likes of Denzel Washington and Queen Latifah.
The celebrations reflect a country that's been in the grips of Obama fever since he made history in November as the first black man in U.S. history to be elected president.
Nowhere is that fever more evident than in D.C. itself.
"This city is Obama City," Andre Nettles said recently as he sold Obama T-shirts and hats in a downtown neighbourhood, pointing down the street to the famed D.C. diner Ben's Chili Bowl, where the president-elect enjoyed a chili dog last weekend.
"This is Obama Road. This is the capital of Obama. This is a celebration of a lifetime of humanity. This is a celebration of the people, man."
It's expected to be party central in the days to come, with one of the most sought-after events taking place Tuesday on the steps of the Canadian embassy.
With its close proximity to the Capitol offering an unfettered and panoramic view of the historic events, inauguration parties at the embassy's prestigious Pennsylvania Avenue address have long been popular. This year it's an even hotter ticket.
There's an exclusive luncheon being held at the embassy for both prominent Canadians and Americans - John McCain and David Brinkley are among the well-known Americans who have spent past inauguration days at the embassy. This year's guest list remains a closely guarded secret.
Outside the embassy, a tailgate party featuring entertainment by Canada's Nathaniel Dett Chorale will be open to the public.
Athletes from the NFL and NASCAR will be in attendance, the Grey Cup will be on proud display and Mounties will stand guard to salute the president as he passes by during the inaugural parade to the White House.
Like the embassy, many of the buildings along Pennsylvania Avenue are in fierce demand since dignitaries, floats and marching bands will make their way down the wide boulevard to the White House as part of the inaugural parade.
Many companies are profiting from their hot location.
The Newseum, located next door to the embassy, has sold 4,000 tickets at US$20 apiece to watch from its four storeys of windows.
The Willard Intercontinental Hotel, a few blocks down the street, is hosting a private reception for the New York State Society. That organization sold 1,800 tickets for as much as $350 a pop - more than twice the number of people who have bought tickets for previous inaugurations.
PNC Bank, on the other hand, has invited 80 D.C. public school children to watch for free from its second-and third-floor windows near the end of the parade route.
