THE 21st Winter Olympic Games officially got underway yesterday with 83 nations parading in a traditional glitzy opening ceremony in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

But amid the flashing lenses and awe-inspiring performing arts in the 55,000 capacity BP Place Stadium, a lone Jamaican stands proudly with the black, green and gold national flag.

Skier Errol Kerr, Jamaica’s one-man team, is that man and the sixth Jamaican flag bearer at the Winter Olympics.

It is a momentous occasion for Kerr, who qualified for the newly inducted freestyle skiing, while the country’s popular bobsleigh team failed to qualify for only the second time since their historic breakthrough in 1988 in Calgary, Canada.

“I’ll be carrying the Jamaican flag into the stadium very proudly,” Kerr, considered a serious medal contender, said prior to the opening ceremony.

“My father passed off when I was 14 so it’s going to be really an emotional time for me,” he added.

Kerr, 23, an American citizen and former member of the US ski team, switched allegiance to represent Jamaica, the birthplace of his father, after acquiring dual citizenship.

He has become a huge hit similar to the Jamaican bobsled team which accomplished what was then unthinkable 22 years ago for a tropical country.

Competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics is a major feat for Kerr, who was born in Truckee, California.

He has expressed confidence of doing his father and country proud and believes he is peaking at the right moment after claiming the Nor Am Cup Sugar Bowl title on February 3.

“It’s being really a rough start to the year… but now I’m skiing faster than I have ever had,” said Kerr following the conclusion of a training session at Alpine Meadows.

“I know that I have the speed to ski with anybody on any given day.”

The improving Kerr will battle 34 other skiers at the Cypress Bowl Ski Area, a course he says, he’s very familiar with.

Said Kerr: “The course suits my style… I qualified seventh there last year and this year I’m going faster, so I don’t see why I can’t go all the way to the top.”

The freestyle ski event will start February 21.