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2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

Coordinates: 51°32′19″N 0°01′00″W / 51.53861°N 0.01667°W / 51.53861; -0.01667
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 12.239.145.114 (talk) at 04:28, 15 August 2012 (→‎Abide with Me (22:09–22:20)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Isles of Wonder" redirects here. For the soundtrack album, see Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

2012 Summer Olympics
opening ceremony
Date21:00, 27 July 2012 (+01:00) (2012-07-27T21:00+01:00)
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°32′19″N 0°01′00″W / 51.53861°N 0.01667°W / 51.53861; -0.01667
Also known asIsles of Wonder
Filmed by
Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2012 Summer Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony took place on the evening of Friday 27 July in the Olympic Stadium, London. The Games were opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The spectacle, entitled Isles of Wonder,[1] was designed and co-ordinated by film director Danny Boyle, with musical direction by electronic music group Underworld.[2] It began at 21:00 BST and lasted almost four hours, ending at 00:46 BST.[3] It was watched by an estimated audience of 62,000 inside the Stadium, and by a peak UK television audience of 26.9 million (averaging 24.24 million viewers throughout the ceremony,[4]) together with more than 1 million online viewers using the BBC Sport website. An estimated worldwide audience of 900 million[5] watched the ceremony. In the United States it was the most-watched Olympic opening ceremony ever, with nearly 41 million viewers watching NBC's coverage.[6][7][8] It was praised by numerous publications and spectators as a "masterpiece" and "a love letter to Britain".[9][10][11]

Preparations

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) selected Danny Boyle as the director of the ceremony. Boyle acknowledged that the scale, extravagance and expense of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony at Beijing was an impossible act to follow—"you can't get bigger than Beijing"—and that this had in fact liberated his team.[12] Their budget was £27m (as opposed to Beijing's £65m), which was twice the original budget.[13][14] The different sections were designed to reflect aspects of British history and culture, with the overall theme "Isles of Wonder" taken from Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

Danny Boyle, the director of the opening ceremony

The cast included professional performers and 7,500 volunteers, with further volunteers helping with security and marshalling.[12][15] Mark Rylance, who was to have taken a leading part, pulled out after a family bereavement and was replaced by Kenneth Branagh.[16]

As part of the preparations the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world,[17] weighing 23 tonnes, had been cast in brass under the direction of Mears & Stainbank by Royal Eijsbouts of Holland and hung in the Stadium.[18] This was inscribed with a line from a speech by Caliban in The Tempest: "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises".[19] A key source was the book Pandaemonium (the capital of Hell in Paradise Lost) by Humphrey Jennings, which collated contemporary reports from those who witnessed the industrial revolution.[20] In preparing the ceremony Boyle gave significant emphasis to the London 2012 theme 'inspire a generation' and devised a programme relying heavily on children and young people, and that was built around themes that would relate to the young. 25 schools in the six original East London host boroughs were used to recruit child volunteers for the performance. 170 sixth formers (16-18 year olds) speaking more than 50 languages between them were also recruited from colleges in the host boroughs.

In June 2012 Boyle had given a preview that promised a huge set of rural Britain that would include a village cricket team, farm animals, a model of Glastonbury Tor, as well as a maypole and a rain-producing cloud. The intention was to represent the rural and urban landscape of Britain. The design was to include a mosh pit at each end of the set, one with people celebrating a rock festival and the other the Last Night of the Proms. Boyle promised a ceremony in which everyone would feel involved. He said, "I hope it will reveal how peculiar and contrary we are – and how there's also, I hope, a warmth about us." The set was designed with turf of real grass and real soil.[21][22] The use of animals (40 sheep, 12 horses, 3 cows, 2 goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, 9 geese and 3 sheep dogs, looked after by 34 animal handlers) drew criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Boyle, who was being advised by the RSPCA, assured PETA that the animals would be well cared for.[23]

Danny Boyle chose Underworld as musical directors, with whom he had worked on several film projects.[24] The overwhelming majority of the music was to be British. "Survival" by Muse was announced as the official song of the Olympics,[25] to be played by international broadcasters reporting on the Games.[26] A.R. Rahman, who worked with Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, said he had composed a Punjabi song 'Nimma Nimma' for the ceremony, to showcase Indian influence in the UK, according to Boyle's wishes. More Indian music, Ilaiyaraja's song from Tamil-language film Ram Lakshman, had also been chosen for the medley.[27] Paul McCartney was to be the ceremony's closing act.[28]

Officials and guests

Seated in the Royal Box were the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and other members of the British Royal Family. They were accompanied by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Prime Minister David Cameron with his wife Samantha Cameron, by former Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and by London Mayor Boris Johnson with his wife Marina Wheeler. Officials of the Olympic movement included Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, and Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the LOCOG.

International guests First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Taoiseach Enda Kenny were also all present.

Proceedings

Prologue

Scene representing rural Britain

At exactly 20:12 (8:12 pm) the Red Arrows performed a flypast over the Olympic Stadium and then the concert in Hyde Park.[29] This concert featured performances by Duran Duran, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol and Paolo Nutini;[30] these artists selected to represent the four nations of the United Kingdom.[30]

The prologue featured Frank Turner who performed three songs ("Sailor's Boots", "Wessex Boy" and "I Still Believe") on the model of Glastonbury Tor. He was joined by Emily Barker, Ben Marwood and Jim Lockey, as well as his regular backing band the Sleeping Souls.[31]

The prologue also included a performance of Edward Elgar's "Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations performed by LSO On Track, an orchestra of 80 young musicians aged 7 to 17 from ten East London boroughs with 20 London Symphony Orchestra members. This prologue celebrated Britain's maritime heritage and was accompanied by extracts from the BBC Radio Shipping Forecast and maritime images on the stadium big screens, with the audience holding up blue sheeting to simulate the sight and sound of the ocean.

Countdown (21:00-21:04 BST)

The ceremony began at 9pm after a one-minute '60 to 1' countdown film made up of shots of numbers such as on house doors, street nameplates, London buses and market labels.

A two-minute film Journey along the Thames, directed by Danny Boyle and produced with the BBC, opened the ceremony.[32] The film followed the River Thames from its source to the heart of London, juxtaposing images of contemporary British life with pastoral shots. The characters Ratty, Mole and Toad from The Wind In The Willows were briefly seen, as was a Monty Python hand pointing towards London, displayed on umbrellas, and an InterCity 125 train passing the Olympic rings as crop circles in the fields. Passing Battersea Power Station a Pink Floyd pig was flying between its towers; the clock sound from another Pink Floyd song "Time" was heard passing Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster. The soundtrack featured music clips including the theme tune of The South Bank Show, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and performed by his brother Julian, "London Calling" by The Clash, as well as the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" along the route of the band's infamous cruise during the Queen's Silver Jubilee.[17][33] After lifting to an aerial view of East London mirroring the title sequence of the British TV show EastEnders, the film flashed back down through the Thames Barrier, then switching below surface where the London Underground was seen (and "Mind the gap" heard), as well as historic footage of Brunel's Thames Tunnel, and the Rotherhithe Tunnel. A sequence filmed outside the stadium shortly before the ceremony followed, to display posters from all the modern summer Olympics except 1900 Paris, 1936 Berlin, 1984 Los Angeles, and 1996 Atlanta, to a recording of "Map Of The Problematique" by Muse. This ended with three cast members filmed live who were holding up posters for this year's competition.

A 10-second countdown followed in which children held clusters of balloons that burst simultaneously with the audience shouting out each of the numbers.

Bradley Wiggins, who had won the Tour de France five days earlier, opened the ceremony by ringing the stadium bell. Then four upper-atmosphere balloons were released, each expected to carry a set of Olympic rings and a camera up to the mid-stratosphere.

Green and Pleasant Land (21:04–21:09)

At the beginning the stadium contained a rural scene including the model of Glastonbury Tor, a model village and a water wheel, replete with live animals (removed shortly before the ceremony began), and actors portraying working villagers. This represented the ancient and mythical past. Youth choirs began a cappella performances of the informal anthems of the four nations of the UK: "Jerusalem" (for England, sung by a live choir in the stadium and beginning with a solo from 11-year-old Humphrey Keeper[34]), "Danny Boy" (from the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland), "Flower of Scotland" (from Edinburgh Castle in Scotland), and "Bread of Heaven" (from Rhossili Beach in Wales - sung in English).[35] These were inter-cut with footage of notable Rugby Union Home Nations' tries and drop goals and live shots from the stadium. During the singing the cast mimed various rural activities, this section of the performance billed as "a reminder and a promise of a once and future better life".

"Be not afeard" speech

Be not afeard: the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,
That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I wak'd,
I cried to dream again.

William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 3, Scene II

As the last choir performance concluded, vintage London General Omnibus Company stagecoaches entered, carrying business men and early industrialists in Victorian dress complete with top hats, led by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (played by Kenneth Branagh). The 50 men stepped down from the carriages and surveyed the land approvingly. After walking onto the Glastonbury Tor, Brunel delivered Caliban's "Be not afeard" speech from Act 3, Scene II of Shakespeare's The Tempest, reflecting Boyle's introduction to the ceremony in the programme.[36] The speech by Brunel signified an aspiration of new industry or a new era in Britain and anticipated the next chapter of the ceremony.

Pandemonium (21:09–21:25)

Scene representing Industrial Britain

This section encapsulated British economic and social development from rural economy through Industrial Revolution to the 1960s.

Proceedings were suddenly interrupted by a loud shout, recorded by volunteers during the rehearsals, followed by drumming from 965 percussionists performing Underworld's "And I Will Kiss", led by Evelyn Glennie. The 3 tonne oak tree on top of the Glastonbury Tor lifted, and industrial workers emerged from both the Tor's brightly lit interior and from the entrances to the stadium, to swell the cast. As the cast rolled away the grass and other rural props, seven smoking chimney stacks with accompanying steeplejacks rose from the ground, along with other industrial machinery: five beam engines, six looms, a crucible and a water wheel (one of the few items left from the rural scene). Boyle said that this section of the ceremony celebrated the "tremendous potential" afforded by the advancements of the Victorian era.[35]

This part of the show also included a silence in remembrance of the sacrifice and loss of life of both the World Wars, featuring British 'Tommies' and poppies. Actors paraded around the stadium representing historical groups that changed the face of Britain: the woman's suffrage movement, the Jarrow Crusade, the first Caribbean immigrants arriving in Britain on board The Empire Windrush, a 1970s DJ float, a nostalgia steel band, and The Beatles as they appeared on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Also included were real-life Chelsea Pensioners, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and a group of Pearly Kings and Queens.[37] Workers began casting an iron ring to form a large Olympic ring. As the noise level and tension built, driven by the relentless rhythm of the music and the drumming, participants mimed repetitive mechanical movements associated with industrial processes, such as weaving.

Gradually four glowing orange rings high above the stadium began to be carried toward the centre on overhead wires, and the ring seemingly being 'forged' on the stadium floor began to lift. The five rings came together above the stadium, still glowing and accompanied by steam and firework effects to give the impression that they were just forged. When the five rings formed the Olympic symbol, they ignited and rained fire.[17]

Happy and Glorious (21:25–21:35)

A short film directed by Danny Boyle called Happy and Glorious (after a line in the national anthem) featured the character James Bond, played by the current Bond actor Daniel Craig, entering the front gate of Buckingham Palace in a Hackney carriage (black cab). His entry is noticed by Brazilian children in the throne room (a nod to Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 summer Olympics host city). Bond escorted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (who played herself, acknowledging Bond with the words, "Good evening, Mr Bond") out of the building and seemingly into a waiting AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, which flew across London to music including the Dambusters March. The film finished with Bond and the Queen apparently jumping from the helicopter. Immediately afterwards, two stuntmen dressed as Bond and the Queen jumped from a real helicopter and descended over and down alongside the stadium, using Union Flag parachutes and accompanied by the James Bond theme.[17][38] The Queen was played by BASE jumper and stuntman Gary Connery, who wore a dress and hat identical to that worn by the Queen.[39] Bond was played by Mark Sutton. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, along with Rogge, were then introduced. The Queen was wearing the same dress as in the film, as if she had just arrived with James Bond.

The Union Flag was raised by members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, while the first and third verses of the national anthem were performed a cappella by the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children.[35]

On 29 July 2012, The Mail on Sunday and The Daily Telegraph (based in Sydney) revealed how Sebastian Coe was instrumental in asking the Queen to take part in the film sequence. Director Danny Boyle first pitched the idea to Coe, who loved it so much he took it to his friend the Deputy Private Secretary to the Queen. Word soon came back that Her Majesty would love to take part.[40]

Second to the right, and straight on till morning (21:35–21:47)

File:2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.jpg
Representations of British children's literature villains.

This sequence celebrated the National Health Service (NHS – "the institution which more than any other unites our nation", according to the programme), with music by Mike Oldfield. 600 dancers, all of whom were NHS staff, along with 1,200 volunteers recruited from hospitals around the UK, entered with children on 320 hospital beds, some of which functioned as trampolines. They started a short jive routine. Watching from the tor were specially invited hospital staff and nine child patients from Great Ormond Street Hospital.[41] The beds' blankets illuminated, and the beds were arranged into a child's face with a smile and a tear (Great Ormond Street Hospital's logo) and its acronym "GOSH", then into the initials NHS, turning into the shape of a crescent moon as the children were hushed to sleep.

A celebration of children's literature by British authors began with J. K. Rowling reading a section from J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan (from which Great Ormond Street Hospital receives royalties). Then large puppet representations of children's literature villains the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, and Lord Voldemort. The Child Catcher appeared amongst the children, . Then 32 women playing Mary Poppins descended on flying umbrellas as the characters deflated and the actors resumed dancing.[17] The music for the sequence included partially rearranged sections from Tubular Bells (played in part on a giant set of tubular bells at the rear of the stage), Tubular Bells III and, after the villains were driven from the stage by the Mary Poppins characters, In Dulci Jubilo.[42] During this performance the children in pyjamas jumped up and down on their brightly lit beds, creating a memorable image amid the darkness of the stadium.

Interlude (21:47–21:52)

Simon Rattle was then introduced to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Vangelis's "Chariots of Fire". Rowan Atkinson appeared in character as Mr. Bean comically playing a repeated note on a synthesiser. He then lapsed into a filmed dream sequence in which he joined the runners from the film Chariots of Fire, beating them in their iconic run along West Sands at St Andrews by riding in a car and tripping the front runner.[43]

Frankie and June say...thanks Tim (21:52–22:09)

This sequence celebrated British popular culture.[44][45] To the accompaniment of the BBC newsreel theme 'Girls in Grey' and the theme song from The Archers, a young mother and son drove up to a full-size replica of a modern British house in a Mini Cooper. The 1987 'don't worry about a hurricane' weather forecast by Michael Fish was shown on the big screens as rain suddenly poured on the house. Another three-times larger house in the centre of the arena was used on all four sides as a projection screen to show clips from various British TV programmes, music videos, and films, including A Matter of Life and Death − June is named for its protagonist and a clip from the film figures prominently at the first meeting of Frankie and June − as well as Gregory's Girl, Kes, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Boyle's own Trainspotting.[46] A large group of dancers, centred around Frankie and June (19-year-old Henrique Costa and 18-year-old Jasmine Breinburg) on a night out, performed to an assortment of British popular songs arranged broadly chronologically, beginning with "Going Underground" by The Jam, suggesting their ride on the London Underground. Throughout the sequence cast members were seen to send text messages to each other or to place social networking status updates on the Internet. Frankie and June first noticed each other as a snippet from "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton plays, but when Frankie saw that June had dropped her phone on the Tube, he set off to return it (they were nonetheless able to communicate, presumably through a friend's phone).

An extended dance sequence followed, with songs including "My Generation" by The Who, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, "She Loves You" by the Beatles, "Trampled Underfoot" by Led Zeppelin, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (during which the sound of the TARDIS could be heard), "Pretty Vacant" by the Sex Pistols (during which dancers on power jumpers wearing large heads with Mohawk hairstyles performed a pogo dance), "Blue Monday" by New Order, "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (during which Frankie, asked by June for his name, replies by revealing one of the band's "Frankie say..." T-shirts), "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" by Soul II Soul, "Step On" by Happy Mondays, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, "Firestarter" by The Prodigy, and "Born Slippy .NUXX" by Underworld, ending with a sequence where the cast sang "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" as Frankie and June walk towards each other. A sequence from the film Four Weddings and a Funeral was projected behind them; when they kissed, a montage of memorable kisses from film and real life was shown, including the lesbian kiss from Brookside, which in some countries became the first lesbian kiss ever shown on television.[47] A live performance of "Bonkers" by Dizzee Rascal followed, along with a further sequence in which all the cast attend a party at June's house while Amy Winehouse's "Valerie" played.[42]

At the close the house was raised to reveal Tim Berners-Lee working at a NeXT Computer, like the one on which he invented the World Wide Web. He tweeted: "This is for everyone",[48] instantly spelled out in LCD lights attached to the stadium seating.[17][49] The programme explained "Music connects us with each other and with the most important moments in our lives. One of the things that makes those connections possible is the World Wide Web".

Abide with Me (22:09–22:20)

A filmed sequence then showed extracts from the torch relay around the UK to the music "I Heard Wonders" by David Holmes, cutting to show David Beckham driving a dramatically illuminated motor boat down the River Thames and under Tower Bridge to fireworks, while footballer Jade Bailey held on to the torch in the boat.[50] This section was directed by Stephen Daldry.[51]

In tribute to "..friends and family of those in the stadium who cannot be here tonight", including the victims of the 2005 London bombings (on the day after London had been awarded the Games),[52] photos of people who had died were displayed on screens as a memorial, accompanied by an excerpt from Brian Eno's ambient work "An Ending (Ascent)".

The hymn "Abide with Me" was then sung by Emeli Sandé[17][42] while a group of dancers including Akram Khan performed an interpretive dance. NBC did not air this segment for US audiences,[53] the broadcaster explaining that it did not feel honouring victims of terror attacks outside the United States was relevant to a U.S. audience.[54]

Welcome (22:20–00:00)

Team GB enters the 2012 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations last
See also: 2012 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations of athletes (drawn from the 10,490 competing) and officials from 204 nations (and the "Independent Olympic Athletes") was led, according to custom, by the Greek team followed by other competing countries in alphabetical order and finally the host nation Great Britain. Each of the 205 teams entered the stadium led by their flagbearer, accompanied by a child volunteer carrying a copper petal and a young lady carrying a sign with the country's name in English (based on London & North Eastern Railway arched locomotive nameplates[citation needed]), who was wearing a dress made entirely from fabric printed with photos of people that had applied to be 2012 Olympic volunteers.

The parade was accompanied by mainly British popular songs, including "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys, "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees and both "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Beautiful Day" by Irish band U2, with Great Britain entering to David Bowie's song "Heroes".[35]

A fast drum beat was used in an attempt to keep the teams walking quickly around the stadium; nevertheless the parade part of the programme took 1 hour 40 minutes to complete, compared to the 1 hour 29 minutes estimated in the official media guide. Once all of the athletes were inside the stadium, 7 billion small pieces of paper were released, representing every person on the planet.

Each nation's flag was planted on the model of Glastonbury Tor.

Bike a.m. (00:00–00:07 BST 28 July)

After the Parade, the Arctic Monkeys performed "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and The Beatles' "Come Together", the latter whilst 75 cyclists circled the arena with wings lit by LEDs representing Doves of Peace. Doves were traditionally released as part of the ceremony, although real birds were last used in 1992. A single dove cyclist, his beak painted yellow in honour of Bradley Wiggins, appeared to fly out of the stadium.[55]

Let the Games Begin (00:07–00:24)

The formal part of the ceremony was introduced by Sebastian Coe, who welcomed the watching world to London. He expressed his pride in being British and part of the Olympic movement and stated that the Olympics were "to celebrate what is best about mankind".[56] Rogge responded by thanking London, and stating that it was the third time that London had held the Olympics, previously at very short notice when Rome was unable to do so (after a volcanic eruption), and secondly in 1948 three years after World War II. Rogge acknowledged the important role that the UK had played in establishing the "fair play" ethos of sport, and in making sport part of the school curriculum. Rogge thanked the thousands of volunteers. He pointed out that for the first time in Olympic history every team had women participants. He enjoined the athletes to play fairly and be drug free, reminding them that they were role models for future generations. He then invited the Queen to open the Games.[56]

The Queen declared the Olympic Games officially open, immediately followed by a fireworks display.[17] The 2012 ceremony was the second time the Queen opened an Olympic Games, the first being the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal in her capacity as Queen of Canada.

The Olympic Flag was carried by eight people chosen from around the world as symbols of the Olympic values: Ban Ki-moon, Daniel Barenboim, Sally Becker, Shami Chakrabarti, Leymah Gbowee, Haile Gebrselassie, Doreen Lawrence and Marina Silva.[57] This was a break with tradition as the Flag had previously been carried only by athletes. The flag paused in front of Muhammad Ali, who touched it. Ali (who had lit the flame at the 1996 Atlanta Games) appeared frail, and was accompanied by his wife Lonnie.[58] The Flag was received by a colour guard of Her Majesty's Armed Forces[59] and hoisted to the Olympic Hymn, performed by the LSO and the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. The Olympic Oaths were taken by taekwondo athlete Sarah Stevenson on behalf of the athletes, by Mik Basi, British AIBA Referee, on behalf of the officials and by Eric Farrell on behalf of the coaches.[60][61]

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (00:24–00:38)

Continuing the theme of British pop songs, this section took its title from the song of the same name by The Smiths. David Beckham's motorboat carrying the Olympic Flame arrived at the stadium via the Limehouse Cut. Steve Redgrave lit his torch from that on the boat, and carried this into the stadium, through a guard of honour of 500 construction workers who built the Olympic Park. He passed the flame on to one of a team of seven young athletes each nominated by a famous British Olympian to convey the 2012 Games' aim to "inspire a generation".[62] The torchbearers were (nominator in brackets): Callum Airlie (Shirley Robertson), Jordan Duckitt (Duncan Goodhew), Desiree Henry (Daley Thompson), Katie Kirk (Mary Peters), Cameron MacRitchie (Steve Redgrave), Aidan Reynolds (Lynn Davies) and Adelle Tracey (Kelly Holmes).[63]

The teenagers made a lap of the stadium taking turns to hold the torch, while Alex Trimble, lead singer of Two Door Cinema Club, performed "Caliban's Dream",[64] with the Dockhead Choir, Only Men Aloud, Elizabeth Roberts, and Esme Smith. This was written specifically for the ceremony by Rick Smith of Underworld.[64]

The cauldron designed by Thomas Heatherwick was described as "one of the best-kept secrets of the opening ceremony"; until this point, neither its design, nor its location, nor the identity of the persons lighting it had been revealed.[65][66][67] Each young athlete was greeted by their nominating Olympian, and each presented with their own torches, which were lit from the Olympic flame. The young athletes then jogged through a passageway formed between the assembled athletes to the centre of the stadium, where the 204 copper petals (each inscribed with the name of the team it had accompanied) were now seen attached to long pipes in a circular formation (the petals will accompany each team home after the Games). The seven young athletes lit some of the petals, and when the flame had spread to all of them, they slowly rose to converge and form the Olympic cauldron.

This section of the ceremony was witnessed by 260 of Britain's greatest Olympians, including six medal winners from 1948.

And in the end (00:38–00:46)

A further firework display, soundtracked by Pink Floyd's song "Eclipse", was interspersed with images of memorable Olympic victories. The climax of this section was a live view of the Olympic rings 34 km above the Earth seen from one of the balloons that had been launched at 9pm. The Orbit tower was then illuminated, and Paul McCartney and his band performed "The End" and "Hey Jude", with its chorus-like finale sung by the audience to close the ceremony.[17]

Reviews

The Times described the Ceremony as "a masterpiece" with The Daily Telegraph saying it was "brilliant, breathtaking, bonkers and utterly British".[68] The BBC's chief sports writer Tom Fordyce called it "eccentric" and "tongue-in-cheek", saying "What no-one expected was that it would be quite so gloriously daft, so cynicism-squashingly charming and—well, so much pinch-yourself fun."[69] Two weeks after the ceremony Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian wrote that "Danny Boyle's spectacular, so beautifully executed and ingeniously conceived it lingers in the mind even as the closing draws near, stood apart from its predecessors thanks not only to its humour and eccentricity, but also because it had something to say."[70]

Though praise came from across the political spectrum, not all on the British political right were happy. Columnist Rick Dewsbury in the Daily Mail was critical of the inclusion of Grime music and the portrayal of the NHS and of mixed-race families during the performance.[71] Aidan Burley, a British Conservative M.P., denounced part of the ceremony on Twitter as "leftie multicultural crap."[72][73] Burley's comments were dismissed by many fellow Conservatives, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.[73][74]

Foreign reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The New York Times said the ceremony was "hilariously quirky..a wild jumble of the celebratory and the fanciful; the conventional and the eccentric; and the frankly off-the-wall.”[75][76] Forbes called it Danny Boyle's "love song to Britain".[7] The Sydney Morning Herald said it was "an unforgettable start..at once subversive and sublime"[76] and The Times of India said "London presented a vibrant picture of Great Britain's rich heritage and culture."[76][77] The Chinese news agency Xinhua described the ceremony as "dazzling" and an "eccentric and exuberant celebration of British history, art and culture".[78] Chinese artist Ai Weiwei praised the ceremony for its "human touch", saying "In London, they really turned the ceremony into a party..such a density of information about events and stories and literature and music; about folktales and movies."[79] Russian President Vladimir Putin said the ceremony was a “wonderful and unforgettable”[80] Dmitry Medvedev said "It was an exceptional spectacle, very well prepared and quite rich...it succeeded in creating a very British atmosphere...they managed to find the right language..to communicate."[81] Panos Samaras of Greece's NET TV said "it was more like a big musical, a rock opera..rather than an Olympics ceremony". French sports newspaper L'Équipe wrote that it "took the classic from such events and had fun with them" whilst Le Parisien said it "was magnificent, inventive and offbeat drawing heavily on the roots of British identity". Germany's Die Welt hailed the London ceremony as "spectacular, glitzy but also provoking and moving”.[82]

Chinese news CCTV4 said the ceremony was a "Stunning feast for the eyes"[83] South Korea's Yonhap said it was "by turns dramatic, imaginative, humorous and solemn" and "weaved the story of the country's past, present and future". Singapore's Straits Times said it was a "grand show" noteworthy for both "scale" and "authenticity". The Australian Daily praised a "glorious pandemonium devoted to London's thriving, chaotic energy..deliberately revelling in the chaos of Britain's free society and popular culture". France's Le Figaro said it reflected "the best contributions that Britain has given to the world..its sense of humour, its music, and of course sport". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said it was it was a "rocking, rollicking, sometimes quiet and brooding ceremony." Qatar's The Peninsula said London did a "spectacular job" making the opening ceremony a "memorable event".[84]

TV coverage

The BBC coverage was the most-watched UK TV show of the year, averaging 24.24 million viewers. It was the largest average audience for any broadcast since 1996 and one of the top 20 UK programmes ever.[4] David Stringer of Associated Press described the coverage as "a success"; "so far, the BBC's ambitious - and technically tricky - Olympic plan has worked almost without a flaw."[85] Euan Ferguson of The Guardian commented that "Coverage of the Olympics so far..has been near perfect."[86] However, Clive James was critical of the build-up programme.[87] Individual commentators attracted adverse comment with Trevor Nelson criticised by Andy Dawson of the Daily Mirror as floundering "like a ventriloquist's dummy pumped full of low-grade ketamine".[9][88][89][90][91][92] The Independent revealed that private talks were held between Danny Boyle and BBC commentators in the run-up to the ceremony. The BBC offered several commentary options including 'no commentary' coverage for both its TV and online transmissions.[93]

Criticism was levelled at NBC's coverage, mainly of the decision to tape-delay its broadcast and not make a live version available even to cable and web users, along with frequent interruption of the ceremony by commercial breaks.[94] Many US viewers looked for alternative ways to watch (such as the live BBC feed for the opening ceremonies),[95] despite both NBC and the IOC vowing to crack down on unauthorized streams.[96] More significant criticism was levelled at NBC for cutting to a Ryan Seacrest interview with Michael Phelps during the "memorial wall" tribute section, which included a commemoration of the victims of the 7/7 London bombings. This was criticised as disrespectful and insensitive.[97] An NBC spokesman said the network left that segment out because its programming was "tailored for the U.S. audience."[98] There was also criticism of commentators Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira suggesting that the Queen had actually jumped out of a helicopter.[99] There was an indication that Vieira did not know who Tim Berners-Lee was,[100] as she stated "If you haven't heard of him, we haven't either", before co-host Matt Lauer told the audience to Google the inventor of the World Wide Web.[101] These failings were picked up during the broadcast by users of Twitter with the hashtag #nbcfail.[102]

Music

See also: Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

The choice of music was wide and eclectic, to showcase mainly British music,[103][104] with a range of pieces selected to represent the Four Nations of the United Kingdom.[105] The programme included classical works by British composers such as Hubert Parry, and performances by a range of UK choirs and orchestras. The focus was mainly on music of the 1960s onwards, causing one Chinese journalist to ask "Will this be the most rock and roll opening ceremony ever?".[106]

Danny Boyle chose Underworld, with whom he had worked on several film projects, as musical directors.[24] Underworld composed pieces especially for the ceremony, including "And I Will Kiss",[107] performed by Evelyn Glennie and drummers during the "Pandemonium" section, and "Caliban's Dream"[108] heard during the lighting of the cauldron. Underworld's original pieces were favourably reviewed. Writing in The Guardian, Michael Hann said "Underworld..had a bit of a triumph: the builds and fades they learned in the world of dance music lent the sometimes overwhelming visual spectacle a sense of structure".[109]

Musical motifs were used to bind the whole programme together: for example, the 'whistling' theme from "Caliban's Dream" (first heard during the minute's silence embedded within "And I Will Kiss" during Pandemonium) returned frequently — behind the fury as the ring was being forged, emerging triumphant as the five rings came together, and again later during "Caliban's Dream" as the flame entered the stadium and was passed to the young athletes. Much of the music contained 'bell' references, linking to the large bell forged for the ceremony and evoking bells as "the sound of freedom and peace", with modified sequences based on the traditional British eight-bell peal underlying both "And I Will Kiss" and carried through into the "Tubular Bells"/NHS section, with handbells and a tolling large bell featured on "Caliban's Dream" and at other points in the ceremony. A handbell chime also played at the close as the stadium emptied. Bells were a theme of the opening day of the Olympics, starting at 8.12am when artist Martin Creed's Work No. 1197: All The Bells took place, with bells being rung across the UK including 40 strikes of Big Ben.[110]

The pre-recorded soundtrack Isles of Wonder was released for download on iTunes at midnight of 28 July with the 2-disc CD released on 2 August 2012.[111] Within two days the download album had topped the iTunes album charts in Britain, France, Belgium and Spain, and reached No. 5 in the United States, as well as being at No. 5 in the British album charts.[104] Rick Smith's concluding comment in the CD covernotes was "The isle is full of noises. The soundtrack writes itself."

Technical aspects

The stadium was rigged with a one million watt sound system and more than 500 speakers.[117] Some 15,000 square metres (3.7 acres) of staging and 12,956 props were used,[118] as well as 7,346 square metres (1.815 acres) of turf including crops.

Around the stadium including between every seat were placed 70,799[119] 10 inches (25 cm) pixel panels. Each electronic panel connected to a central computer and was fitted with nine full-colour LED squares. With these devices the audience was able to participate in broadcasting images of a 1960s Go-go dancer, a train in the London Underground, and a representation of the birth of the internet. The audience was also able to wave with the paddles to create a twinkling effect. The animations were designed by the London arm of Chinese animation company Crystal CG.[120]

In the Olympic ring forging scene amber lights lit in sequence created the illusion of a 100 feet (30 m) molten steel river, with pyrotechnic smoke and dry ice as the steam.[121]

Technical director for the opening ceremony, Piers Shepperd, masterminded the complex change from rural to industrial. He revealed that banks of fans were used to blow up the 100 feet (30 m) chimneys like bouncy castles and that life-size steam engines were constructed on stage by teams of stage hands.[122]

Ceremony key team

  • Artistic Director: Danny Boyle[123]
  • Producer: Tracey Seaward
  • Designers: Suttirat Anne Larlarb and Mark Tildesley
  • Writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce[124]
  • Music Director: Rick Smith (Underworld)
  • Associate Director: Paulette Randall
  • Movement Director: Toby Sedgwick
  • Choreographers: Temujin Gill, Kenrick "H2O" Sandy and Akram Khan
  • Executive Producer, production design: Mark Fisher[125]
  • Executive Producer, creative: Stephen Daldry
  • Lighting Designer: Patrick Woodroffe
  • Associate Lighting Designer: Adam Bassett
  • Lead Lighting Programmer: Tim Routledge[126]
  • Lighting Programmers: Andy Voller and Pryderi Baskerville
  • Followspot Captain: Terry Cook
  • Lighting Assistant: Miriam Evans
  • Technical Director: Piers Shepperd
  • Technical Manager (technical design and staging): Jeremy Lloyd
  • Technical Manager (aerial): James Lee
  • Technical Manager (lighting, audio-visual, power): Nick Jones
  • Technical Manager (services and special projects): Scott Buchanan
  • Senior Production Manager (audio and communications): Chris Ekers
  • Executive Producer, broadcast: Hamish Hamilton
  • Executive Producer, production: Catherine Ugwu
  • Bike Choreographer: Bob Haro
  • Bike Project Manager: Paul Hughes[127]

Announcer: Marc Edwards and Layla Anna-Lee

See also

References

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