Many questions ran through my mind as I embarked on covering the London 2012 games.
How differently would the Brits choose to mark their second Olympics? Would they better the techy and synchronized Beijing Olympics?
As I sauntered to the Olympic stadium for the Opening ceremony on Friday evening I compared the fanfare details. Beijing had enthralled the world with four years ago would London showcase a better event?
Just then I caught up with tens of performers making their way to the stadium clearly this would be a celebration of the typical British village life from the traditional country attires they were wearing. Inside , the elaborate traditional show paved way to a celebration and a showcase of the latest technologies appropriately beamed to the 60 000 spectators on the elevated screens, aptly fitting the theme ‘this is for everyone’.
A film shot at Buckingham Palace, depicting British star actor James Bond and Her Majesty the Queen make their way to the Olympic Stadium in a helicopter while the witty Mr Bean’s (Rowan Atkinson) rendition of the classic British movie chariots of fire delighted and left the crowds yearning for more.
The anticipated moment of the night for the athletes and more than a billion who watched the ceremony on television was when the teams began filing past in alphabetic order, the true heart of the Olympics….
Greece was first in the order in honour of the Olympics birthplace and team Great Britain as hosts marched past to a rapturous applause and standing ovation from the crowds.
I like most of my compatriots was awash in a rising tide of emotion when I watched Jason Dunford pompously lead the team Kenya march past, a role that has often been left to the country’s renowned runners, silently hoping that the fortunes splash him through to the gold next week…
Track and filed athletes largely dominated the flag carrying sessions from the overwhelming star Jamaican Usain Bolt to Botswana’s World champion Amantle Montsho and even South Africa’s Caster Semenya, while Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic was among eight tennis greats who carried their national flags alongside the towering basketball stars-Spanish Paul Gasol to Chinese Yi Jianlian…..
"Good vibe, I'm loving it, I'm happy I came, “remarked the Jamaican Triple Olympic champion Bolt, unquestionably one of the focus of the Games.
Jade Bailey a talented footballer brought the Olympic flame to the Stadium on a speedboat handing it over to five time Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave and the ceremony cauldron was spectacularly lit by seven young athletes…
The parade was a show of culture, religion and delightful blend of colour, trendy designer sporty attires….with a selection of Britain’s best pop over the years…
“Now you have a chance to become a true Olympian. Reject Doping. Respect you opponents….”
IOC president Jacque Rogge advised before the declaration of the Games opening by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the climax of the Ceremony…marked by a glitery burst of awesome fireworks!
Evelyn Watta in London
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