All eyes on London 2012 Olympics spectacle

The London 2012 opening ceremony was a spine-tingling extravaganza that exceeded expectations, thrilled audience in line with pre-event hype. It was indeed a showpiece spectacular. The theme of the £27 million ($42 million, 34.5 million euro) spectacular is “Isles of Wonder”, inspired by a passage from William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. The show is set […]

The London 2012 opening ceremony was a spine-tingling extravaganza that exceeded expectations, thrilled audience in line with pre-event hype. It was indeed a showpiece spectacular.

The theme of the £27 million ($42 million, 34.5 million euro) spectacular is “Isles of Wonder”, inspired by a passage from William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”. The show is set to be watched by a vast global television audience.

Boyle — who won an Academy Award for directing “Slumdog Millionaire” — and his team, had explained their guiding ideas for the spectacle.

Fellow film-maker Stephen Daldry, the Games ceremonies’ creative director, revealed the show champions “the rich heritage, diversity, energy, inventiveness, wit and creativity that truly defines the British Isles”.

It is “a journey which will celebrate who we are, who we were and who we wish to be.”

But there are some bits of it that are so secret they did not even appear in the final dress-rehearsal”..

Although football and archery kicked off before Friday night’s Opening Ceremony, most sports don’t start until the weekend. And Olympics workers have been ensuring that all the venues are up to scratch ahead of the events taking place.

Amid sweltering heat in the capital – with temperatures touching 31 degrees in places – the army of helpers have been busy ensuring everything is ready.

It means London will have a dazzling selection of venues at which to attend or view from TV as interest rockets in the Games.

Some traditional venues such as Wimbledon and Wembley have been given a makeover in Olympic colours and logos.

And fans will soon have their first peek at the new sites such as the Aquatics Centre, the Velodrome and, of course, the Olympics Stadium.

In the spotlight: It was nice and bright in the badminton venue at Wembley Arena

Meanwhile, Olympics organisers have revealed how they intend to enhance the spectator experience at London 2012 with music and other visual presentations.

Athletes in several sports will enter their respective arenas to music and special lighting while guides to events and inspirational clips will be shown on big screens.

Spectators will have access to ‘in-ear’ commentary at a number of sports and some of Britain’s most established bands could turn up unannounced to play at venues.

London 2012 organising committee LOCOG insist none of their plans to educate or entertain viewers will compromise the integrity of the sports they are watching.

Debbie Jevans, LOCOG director of sport, said: ‘What is paramount is the integrity of the sport and the atmosphere that naturally surrounds it. What we are doing is being mindful of it. In no way are we just going to drown out the atmosphere being built up.’

Venues will be given musical themes: Elton John at the archery at Lord’s, for example, and Dizzee Rascal at the basketball at North Greenwich Arena.

Head of sports presentation James O’Brien said: ‘Some sports, such as beach volleyball and basketball, will feature music more prominently than others, such as equestrian and archery.

‘We are in no way trying to push it to the front of people’s attention but we are using it as a tool to excite the crowds and drive the athletes on to greater performances. We have put together a library of 2012 tracks. Each sporting venue has been given its own personality in the theme.’

The sports which will see athletes introduced to music and spotlights are: badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, basketball, handball (finals), boxing and fencing.

O’Brien said: ‘Most of them we looked at in test events. We have also spoken to the international federations and worked with them, and in all cases it is not something we have forced on them – it is something we have worked together and collaborated on and they agreed it will add to the atmosphere and enhance the athletes’ experience in 2012.’