With less than three days until the inaugural HSBC Canada Sevens, the tournament was officially launched in Vancouver, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Ahead of round six of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the captains of the participating teams fittingly gathered in front of a lit Olympic flame, with rugby sevens making its debut at the Games in Rio in August.

It's the first time Canada has hosted a men's world series event and all eyes are on BC Place this weekend with tickets almost all sold-out. Forty per cent of the proceeds from the official tournament programme will also be donated to the Cyclone Winston relief fund in Fiji.

"It's been a long time coming having a home tournament," said Canada captain John Moonlight.

"A lot of people have put a lot of work in and it's great to finally be here. We had a glimpse of what a home tournament was like with the Pan American Games and that showed what the Canadian population can do.

"It was magnificent having that support and I think it'll be even bigger this weekend. We want to inspire young players by going out there and showing what we can do."

One player who knows what it takes to not only host, but win a tournament on home soil is South Africa's captain Kyle Brown, who paid tribute to the three new tournaments so far on the series.

"I must say I am pretty glad we are not in the same pool as Canada. Teams at home seem to be at 200 per cent. They bring a lot of emotion and passion, and they deliver.

"It's great to be in Vancouver. The new tournaments have brought so much to the series this season, peaking with crowds and great energy. So I'm looking forward to it, and it's a beautiful stop."

Brazil are the invited team at the Canada Sevens, set to be played at BC Place under a closed roof for the first time in sevens history, and touching on the Olympics, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said:

"We've been to Commonwealth Games before but going to an Olympics is the pinnacle, competing at the biggest sporting event in the world.

"It's a huge opportunity for all the teams there and to have a crack at a medal will be fantastic. Our sport is great, a missed tackle, a bad pass, it could cost  you a medal. So it will be huge, and we are aware we're not just competing as rugby but as nations too."