London 2012: Olympic Opening Ceremony

Friday 27 July, 2012

 

After seven years of waiting and having listened to all the comments and negative vibes about what was to happen in the opening ceremony, I have to say that I was seriously impressed.

 

To start with, the Olympic Stadium looks really impressive and is a crown in what was once a contaminated wasteland, in the East End of London. The regeneration that has been achieved will benefit the area, and the City, for many years to come.

 

The introduction to the London Olympics 2012 began with with a journey along the River Thames, from its source to the Olympic Park. On reaching the Olympic Stadium, the countdown began. The ceremony proper started with 'Jerusalem' being sung in the Olympic Stadium, and with Northen Ireland joining in with 'Danny Boy', from the Giants Causeway, through to the children of Edinburgh singing 'Flower of Scotland' to 'Bread of Heaven' in Wales, then returning to the Stadium, which had been transformed into England's green and pleasant land, I began to get a real sense of what the Ceromony was going to be.

 

With cricket and football being played on the green grass lands of England, and children dancing around Maypoles, I felt we were taken back to a bygone era, where everyrhing was rosy. Edward Elgar's 'Nimrod' added so much to this scene. This soon changed, when men in suits and tall hats appeared and started to lay out plans for our future. Within moments, Glastonbury Tor spewed forth men and the grass was soon being ripped up, only to be replaced by many belching smokestacks; The Industrial Revolution was here. Amongst this change women appeared, parading with plackards with slogans about equality and the right to vote; The Suffragettes had arrived. With much of the grass being destroyed by the Industrial Revolution, there was a lot less green to be seen in the Stadium, but there were enough Poppy's left to show the inhumanity and waste of The Great War. One of the crowning moments of the Industrial Revolution scene, was the forging of the Olympic Rings. Then it was a chance to show off the NHS with a great seen involving the staff of the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, which culminated in the arrival of a number of Mary Poppins, who banished the Demons from the Children's dreams. This was accentuated by a special appearance by Mike oldfield, performing an enriched version of his iconic 'Tubular Bells'. We were then taken on a musical journey from the sixties through to the present day, which showed off some of this countries greatest musicians, and the sound of the TARDIS could also be heard. This concluded with an appearance by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. A piece concerning the victims of the July 7th Terror attacks, was moving and a little overwhelming, unless you were watching in the United States of America, where NBC cut the scene and replaced it with an interview with Michael Phelps. Losers!

 

With the introductions of the 200+ competing coutries, a special mention has to be made to the Czech Republic who arrived in blazers, shorts, wellington boots and umbrellas. Each countries flag was then 'planted' on Glastonbury Tor, before the Olympic Flag entered the Stadium. Another emotional moment ensued as the flag stopped before the fragile figure of the Great Muhammad Ali. It was hard to imagine that this thin and fragile man, was once the greatest athlete on Earth. A man who can no longer function without an aide by his side. The Olympic Flame was then transported, via a speedboat driven by David Beckham, to the Olympic Stadium, where it was feceived by England's greatest Olympian, Sir Steve Redgrave. It was he who took the flame and passed it on to seven young up-and-coming British athletes, who proceeded to take the flame around the Olympic Stadium. With their lap of honour complete, they then each took a lit torch and headed into the centre of the Olympic Stadium and put their torch to what looked like metal plant petals. As the seven torches lit the petals, the fire spread and soon all 204 petals were aflame, at which point they began to rise into the shape of a cauldron. The Olympic Flame was back in London, for the third time and, within moments fireworks lit up the Olympic Park.

 

I have left a lot out, like the Red Arrows flypast. Or, the performing of Vangelis' 'Chariots of Fire', with Mister Bean adding his own unique talents to the score. Or, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who spoke just four words (Good evening, Mister Bond.) and Daniel Craig as James Bond in a short video filmed at Buckingham Palace, which eneded with them suppoesedly both parachuting into the Olympic Stadium. Or, various musical artists who added their talents to the proceedings. Or, the cast of countless volunteers that gave their time and effort to such a worthy cause. And Lord Sebastian Coe, who, despite ever mounting pressure over the past seven years, has managed to deliver so much.

 

I think that what Danny Boyle achieved, and pulled off, was one of the best opening ceremonies to any of the Modern Olympics... Ever!!!

 

Let the games begin!

Olympic Torch Relay, St. Albans

Sunday 8th July, 2012

 

 

Although the weather wasn't brilliant, a few showers with the threat of sun, Emma and I took Erin to St. Albans to see the Olympic Torch Relay. We left the house and took a slow walk into Watford Town centre, where we bought lunch, before heading on to Watford Junction. We bought our tickets and headed for Platform 11 from which we would take the Abbey Line, or 'Abbey Flyer' as most people refer to it, to St. Albans Abbey Station. (The Abbey Line originally opened on 5th May, 1858 and was operated by the 'London and North Western Railway'. It was the first railway line to St. Albans and had only two stops, Bricket Wood and Park Street. In 1910, another station was opened at Callowland, now called Watford North. Garston station was opened in 1966, followed by How Wood in 1988. This was the same year that the line was electrified. The line is now operated by 'London Midland'.) While we were on the train, Emma fed Erin and managed to change herm before we arrived at St. Albans Abbey Station just before 13:30. We crossed Holywell Hill and walked passed the Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre and the Athletics Track amd continued into Verulamium Park. We walked through the park and, for a brief moment, the sun came out. We exited Verulamium Park on St. Michael's Street and headed up Branch Road and onto Verulam Road, to scout out a good viewpoint for the Olympic Torch. Since the relay wasn't due to reach Verualm Road until 16:50, we had some time to kill, so we headed along Verulam Road and onto Bluehouse Hill. Along Bluehouse Hill is the Roman Theatre of Verulamium, a place that I hadn't visited since school, so in we went. (The Roman Theatre of Verulamium was built in about 140AD and it is the only example of its kind in Great Britain. The arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. In 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium was extended. By about 300AD the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators. In 1847 the ruins were unearthed and subsequent excavations have revealed a row of shop foundations, a Roman Villa and a secret shrine, all thought to date from the First Century.) As we entered the sky cleared and the sun came out and the temperature rose dramtically. After a good walkaround, where I took lots of photos, we headed back onto St. Michael's Street and wandered around looking at all the old buildings, with their small doorways and wonderful architecture. We then made our way up to Verulam Road, just as the crowds were starting to form. We found a space on the corner of Verulam Road and Branch Road and waited eagerly for the Torch. Erin had some yogurt and then gave her first proper wave, which I managed to photograph. With more people arriving all the time, I knew that getting any good photographs of the Olympic Torch was going to be a real mission, so I decided to video it instead. This proved to be a mission in itslef. As the entourage of cars and sponsorship vehicles approached, all I could do was set my phone to video, raise my arm above the crowds and hope. This actually worked and I managed to get some great footage, which was even more surprising as I couldn't see the phone screen when my arm was raised. After Sarah Toll, the Torch Bearer, had passed us, and before the crowds started to dissipate, we headed off down Branch Road. Once we reached Verulamium Park, we realised that the 'Abbey Flyer' would be busy, so we slowed our walk and sat down to feed Erin some food.  Once Erin was fed, Emma and I had an ice cream each and took shelter beneath an Oak tree, while a rain shower passed over the park. We then made our way back towards the station and immediately took shelter on the platform as the Heavens opened. Ten minutes of the hardest rain came down with people scattering in all directions for the tiniest bit of cover. And as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. The rain had been so hard that not a cloud could be seen in the sky. Instead, the sun shone and the sky turned blue and the heat was incredible. The train arrived just before 18:30 and we boarded and headed for home. Emma took this time to change Erin and within minutes we were back at Watford junction. We then took a slow walk home. Another great, but unique, Sunday day out with my family.

 

Until next time,

 

May it be well with you.