VANCOUVER - One eye has been on the clock and the other has been on the clouds for the producer of the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games.

In the early planning stages, Sunday's ceremonies in Whistler, B.C., were to start at 6 p.m. Pacific, a time deemed best for broadcast.

But then two years ago the date to jump ahead to daylight savings time changed and, with it, the schedule for the show. It would now still be light out at that hour, and fireworks don't show up so well in the daylight.

The ceremonies are now slated to begin at 7 p.m., and will be televised live on CTV, the official broadcaster of the Games.

The purpose of the production, which marks the end of the international spotlight cast on Canada by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will be to send off the athletes with a glowing salute.

"There is a fun party atmosphere about it," said producer Patrick Roberge.

"But there is also a sentimental farewell aspect about it as well."

Winnipeg's Chantal Kreviazuk is the headline performer and she'll be followed by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq.

Like the Paralympic opening ceremonies, the show will feature acts by people of all abilities, including a traditional Inuit blanket toss with Paralympian Kelly Smith to be thrown in the air.

The show was sold out months ago, but residents and fans will still have a chance to be part of it, as the traditional athletes will parade right through Whistler village.

Over 100 people will also ski a torch parade down Whistler mountain carrying bright red flares.

Officials from the host city of the 2014 Paralympics, Sochi, Russia, will also be given time in the program to introduce the city on the Black Sea to the world.

Roberge said they hadn't anticipated as many broadcasters would air the show live, including CTV, which only made the decision to do so earlier this week.

He said it's meant some changes to infrastructure and timing to make it easier for live television.

"As far as the content of the show, we have made no changes to the content," he said.

A bigger question mark has been the weather.

The ceremony is being held outdoors at the Whistler Celebration Plaza, which hosted medal ceremonies for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The forecast for Whistler this weekend prompted Games organizers to move all events scheduled for a rainy and potentially snowy Sunday to a sunny Saturday.

But Roberge was not deterred.

"I'm a Vancouver boy, I was born up doing events in the pouring rain," joked Roberge.

"If it is wet, we want everybody to come ready for wet.

"With glowing hearts we are going to persevere through no matter what the weather is. It would be great if it was a little light dusting of snow though. It would make the show look spectacular."

Roberge said he can change some elements of the program at the last minute if the weather really isn't co-operating.

The budget for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Paralympics is $4.8 million, far less than the $38 million spent on the same events for the Olympics.

Yet Sunday's show in Whistler marks the end of the world spotlight on Canada.

"We're not going to ignore the fact that this is a final send off," said Roberge.

He said public elements of the show, like the 9,000 pieces of pyrotechnics, were designed for the whole community.

"Because this is the last ceremony we want everyone to have that moment where they can celebrate and just bring a nice finish to what has been a fantastic Games both here and in Vancouver," he said.