The roof of BC Place is shown collapsed after weather ripped a hole (R) in the stadium's cover in Vancouver, British Columbia January 5, 2007. Home to Canadian Football League's BC Lions, the roof collapsed after the air cushion that supports it was lost when a large piece was ripped away by wind. [Reuters]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The inflated roof at a 60,000 seat stadium where the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter games will be held collapsed Friday as heavy, wet sleet fell in the western Canadian city of Vancouver.

There was no event going on in the stadium and city fire officials said no one was reported hurt or in danger.

A section of roof came loose at a concrete rim on the building and began flapping in the wind, witnesses said. The fabric dome then came down into the bowl of the stadium.

The 60,000 seat stadium, which is home to the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League, was evacuated and surrounding roads have been closed.

B.C. Place is slated to be the site of the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games. It will mark the first time that the Olympic ceremonies are held indoors.

Trevor Holness was taking up the turf after a soccer camp earlier this week and had just returned from lunch when he noticed speakers had come down from the ceiling.

Holness said he heard a loud sound and that the roof looked like someone was shaking out a rug and that he then watched as a tear ripped up the side of the roof.

"It was very scary," Holness said. "The sound was the scariest about it. It sent shivers down your spine."

On May 1 during estimates at the B.C. legislature, then sports minister Olga Illich said that "apparently, the roof is expected to last another 15 to 20 years if it's maintained properly in its current state."

1

2

3

4