London 2012 Olympics Games: Opening Ceremony

Before that, I know there's a lot of conspiracy about the performance shown at the opening ceremony which touched the sensitivity of some religion which create a feel of dissatisfaction  of some viewers after they analyzes the show. So, what I'm about to write is not about this sensitive things but it is what I saw in the opening ceremony this time compare to Beijing 2008 Olympics Games Opening Ceremony four years ago at the Bird's Nest Stadium.

2012. A great year for the people not just in London, but Great Britain itself. Aside from Olympics, they also celebrate their lovely Queen, Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee year for her 60 years in reign since 1952. So, for the 30th Summer Olympics Games, they spend $42 million for the opening ceremony and the ceremony was directed by Danny Boyle, who won the 82nd Academy Award for Best Director in 2009. Boyle named Isles of Wonder for the opening ceremony and he split into a few segment labelled "The Green and Pleasant Land", "Pandemonium", "Happy and Glorious", "National Health Service", "Interlude" and "Frankie and June Say Thanks to Tim". At the beginning of the broadcast (Malaysia local time, 3.55 a.m),  they using the blue fabric and stretched over at the audience's seats to create a fake sea. After that, a countdown from 60 seconds was shown in humongous TV flat screen at the stadium. The countdown started as their journey to entire London city and finally to London Olympic Stadium to start the final countdown. When the countdown ended, I expect there is a welcoming music with 'wow' effect like "tat..tadaadada!" as Beijing did four years ago with spectacular fireworks and 'wow' music. But this time, a huge of 27 tons of bell was rang by Bradley Wiggins, a 2012 Tour de France winner and a single balloon carrying the Olympic logo ascended to the air to mark the ceremony begun.

Soon after that, a children's choir was singing "Danny Boy" amid stimulated English countryside. Highlights of the United Kingdom and various sports are playing over the music. While the children singing, on grassy green fields of village, an agricultural workers tended their veggie patches, a waterwheel slowly turned, a group of dancers played on a maypole and with an old or British style fashion of playing crickets, a group of gentleman having a match gentlemanly. They have visualize what British people look like in the past before a great wars and revolution overtake them. Dominating the scene (for your information) was the replica of Glastonbury Hill, a hill which located in Somerset, England. After that, the scene suddenly became somber with the arrival of Industrial Revolution, led by Kenneth Branagh, an actor who nominated five times in Academy Awards and he portraying Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a famous civil and mechanical engineer in England who built bridges and dockyards, and even public transport during the 1840's. So, with top coat and tall hat, Kenneth Branagh accompanied by group of drummers read the line from Shakespeare's The Tempest,

"Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sound, and sweet airs, that gives delight and hurt not,

Sometimes a twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices

That, if I then waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again; then in dreaming,

The cloud methought would open, and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, then when I waked

I cried to dream again.

Kenneth Branagh portray Isambard Kingdom Brunel

He read the speech from Shakespeare's The Tempest

After the oak tree was lift, the industrial worker came out from the tree

The line which was the inspiration for Danny Boyle's Isles of Wonder title and the show's incorporation of dreams as central element. On this segment, it's finally came to climax, where Director Boyle want to bring audiences to see British economic and social development from rural economy through this Industrial Revolution to the 1960's. It's all started when 965 percussionists performing which led by a grey-silver hair women named Evelyn Glennie, a famous Scottish virtousa percussionist. When all the scene was interrupt with loud shout and drummers beat their drum, the tree on the top of the hill was lifted and the industrial workers came out from the oak tree brightly with light from its interior and the entrance of the stadium as well where the workers came out to increase the cast to create a melee situation which fits their title on this segment "Pandemonium". While all the additional cast entering the stadium dramatically, the current cast started to rolled away the grass and other rural props to show the site will be developed, suddenly the scene made way for towering smokestacks that came out from the ground as the stadium filled with factory workers, war veterans, a troop with military jacket and more. It also accompanied with industrial machinery such beam engines, looms, crucible, and a water wheel. Besides, this section also reflects what happened during Victorian era (Queen Victoria). Then the parade of actor and actress entered around the stadium representing historical groups that changed the face of Britain such Chelsea pensioners, the African people came to Britain, The Beatles and more.

Scottish Virtousa Percussionist, Evelyn Glennie led the drummer

Then, the workers began casting  an iron ring to form a large Olympic Ring like every four years the city host did., which were then one of the ring hoisted above the stadium and make a complete Olympics ring. Soon after that, shower of sparks raining down to make the scene an awe-inspiring moments. With that they've ended with "Pandemonium" segment.

London's style Olympics rings

Next, the "Happy and Glorious" segment. This segment came with biggest surprise where there is a cameo from Queen Elizabeth II herself in a short film directed by Danny Boyle himself. It also featured James Bond, played by Daniel Craig where he entering the front gate of Buckingham Palace with a famous London taxi and his entry is noticed by a group of Brazilian student in the throne room (give honor to next Olympics Games host city, Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil in 2016). Daniel Craig then walked along the corridors of Buckingham Palace and went to a room where Queen Elizabeth II was in. Then a short line by her majesty saying "Good evening, Mr. Bond.".  Then he escorted the queen out of the building and into a waiting chopper, with "H.M". The chopper travel flew across London to Olympic Stadium to dropped her majesty and James Bond into the stadium on a Union Jack parachute along with 007 theme music. After that, the announcing of her majesty arrival into the VIP box along with the Duke of Edinburgh and accompanied by the President of IOC, Dr. Jacques Rogge. Then, the Union Jack entered the stadium by the Royal Armed Forces to be raised along with Great Britain's national anthem sung a cappella by Deaf and Hearing Children.

The sequence is about the National Health Service, an organization who contribute a lot during the past especially during the Great War. There are 600 dancers, all of whom were the NHS staff, along with 1,200 volunteers recruited from hospital around United Kingdom, entered with children came from diverse group of race and religion on 320 hospital beds dancing in the arena. The sequence then moved to celebrate British children's literature. The famous author, J.K Rowling began by reading a story, then the Child Catcher appear among the children and followed by large puppet representing children's literature villains such The Queen of Heart, Lord Voldemort, Captain Hook and Cruella de Vil. A minutes later, a group of women playing Mary Poppins descended on flying umbrellas as the villains puppet deflated and the performers resumed dancing joy and happiness. 

The performers were dancing

The Child Catcher 

Mary Poppins save the day!

Simon Rattle was then introduced to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Chariots of Fire film's theme song. Rowan Atkinson appeared in character as Mr. Bean comically  playing a repeated note on a keyboard.  He then lapsed into a filmed dream sequence in which he joined the runners from the film Chariots of Fire, beating them in iconic run along West Sands at St. Andrews by riding in a car, rejoining the race and won the race.

Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean felt bored on repeating the same note

Mr. Bean joined the runner from the film Chariots of Fire

The last segment of the show called “Frankie and June Say Thanks to Tim”. In this sequence, they celebrated British popular music and culture paying homage to the 60s, 70s, 90s and 21^st century. In this sequence as well they represents the digital age , with computer messaging, videos and what the announcers refer to as the “soundtrack that spans four decades” of England. The soundtrack is cycling through various British pop songs, including The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, as dancers move to the rhythm on the center stage which places the house in the center. At the close, the house was raised to reveal Tim Berners working at a NeXT Computers, like the one on which he invented the World Wide Web. He tweeted : “this is for everyone’, instantly spelled out in LED lights attached to the stadium seating. 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”.

"Frankie and June Say Thanks to Tim" segment

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. This section was directed by Stephen Daldry. In tribute to "..friends and family of those in the stadium who cannot be here tonight", including the victims of the '7/7' 2005 London bombings (on the day after London had been awarded the Games), 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 while a group of dancers including Akram Khan performed an interpretive dance.

A dance tribute to all people who cannot be there

Torch sequence

After that, THE WELCOME OF 2012 OLYMPIC ATHLETES! the highlight of this prestigious event!

After the parade, The Artics Monkey performed “ I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” and The Beatles’ “Come Together”, the latter whilst 75 cyclist circled the stadium with wings lit by LEDs representing Doves of Peace. Then, speeches given by two important people. The first speech given by Sebastian Coe who is the head of the London Organizing Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Games and the second speech given by Mr. Jacques Rogge who is the president of International Olympic Committee. Finally, after Mr. Jacques finished deliver the speech, the queen, Elizabeth II declared the game opened.

Soon after, 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. 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. The Flag was received by a colour guard of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and hoisted to the Olympic Hymn, performed by the LSO and the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. After that, 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.

Olympic flag carrier

Muhamad Ali and his wife

The torchbearers were (nominator in brackets): Callum Airlie (Shirley Robertson - Olympic Gold Medalist, 2000 and 2004), Jordan Duckitt (Duncan Goodhew - swimming athlete, 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist), Desiree Henry (Daley Thompson - Decathlete, 1980 and 1984 Gold and World Record Holder), Katie Kirk (Mary Peters - 1972 Gold Medalist in Munich for Pentathlon), Cameron MacRitchie (Steve Redgrave - British Rower from 1984 to 2000), Aidan Reynolds (Lynn Davies - Track and Field athlete, Gold Medalist in 1964, Tokyo) and Adelle Tracey (Kelly Holmes - Middle Distance athlete, Olympian and Gold Holder, 2004). 

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" with the Dockhead Choir, Only Men Aloud, Elizabeth Roberts, and Esme Smith. This was written specifically for the ceremony by Rick Smith of Underworld. 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. 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 during the parade) were now seen attached to long pipes in a circular formation (the petals were to accompany each team home after the competition). 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.

Finally, once again the firework illuminate the sky and the climax of this section was a live view of the Olympic rings 34 kilometres (21 mi) above the Earth seen from one of the balloons that had been launched when the ceremony started. Paul McCartney and his band performed the coda of "The End" and 

"Hey Jude", with its chorus-like finale sung by the audience to close the ceremony.