Athensfan Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 I hope they sing Jerusalem in the opening ceremony. To me, that song and its imagery are exactly what England is about. The peaceful meadow greens and the smoky iron industrial mills. Wonderful contrasting elements yet those are what made this country. Me too!! One of my biggest hopes for the OC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 Have just been to my 1st rehearsal - I have seen the video cgi of my segment and also the stadium design layout Danny Boyle was there himself to talk us through it! I was moved nearly to tears @ times! It is going to be something that will amaze & astound! It's very modern & British! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattygs Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Im sure the London 2012 Paralympic Ceremonies will be amazing, a piece of stadium theatre that the Paralympic movement and those professional athletes really do deserve. Likewise, I was extremely impressed by the Openings of Beijing and Athens, and the Sydney one really took the Paralympic opening ceremony to a new level for its time. However, I really really do hope that in the near future organizers will eventually shake it up abit and come up with a concept that isn't based around the triumph over adversity angle. It's of course a major Point of Difference so will no doubt always play a part, but it seems to me the Paralympic movement (especially with the huge support it got in China) has moved on to be a great stand alone sports event, something different would be really nice for a change I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Have just been to my 1st rehearsal - I have seen the video cgi of my segment and also the stadium design layout Danny Boyle was there himself to talk us through it! I was moved nearly to tears @ times! It is going to be something that will amaze & astound! It's very modern & British! Reminds me a bit of what the volunteers and rehearsal spectators told about the Vancouver opening -- and I think they were right, it was a quite emotional ceremony indeed. Let me pick up my question, by the way -- shouldn't we get information about the participating artists by Boyle in April? Have I missed that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zekekelso Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but to what extent to people think the "home nations" will be highlighted in the ceremony? Renent ceremonies have celebrated the components within a country... and they could do great stuff with Scottland, Wales, maybe even throw in Jersey etc. But I could also see them wanting to avoid the whole issue and we get ceremonies without even a single utterance of "England." So no "this blessed plot...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrek201 Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but to what extent to people think the "home nations" will be highlighted in the ceremony? Renent ceremonies have celebrated the components within a country... and they could do great stuff with Scottland, Wales, maybe even throw in Jersey etc. But I could also see them wanting to avoid the whole issue and we get ceremonies without even a single utterance of "England." So no "this blessed plot...." They're just calling it "isles of wonder" this time--but it looks like they'll be doing the same thing! England seems to be scared sh*t to claim the Games as their own, so of course, it has to be made a more universal concept. That is the PC way to do it. But the bagpipes and the kilts and the Morris dancers, the harp, I don't know what the Welsh do --declaim? utter those unpronounceable words? -- will still all be there. And I guess some Druidic incantations somewhere in there too. I wonder if they'll leave out Brittany (France) this time?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 They're just calling it "isles of wonder" this time--but it looks like they'll be doing the same thing! England seems to be scared sh*t to claim the Games as their own, so of course, it has to be made a more universal concept. That is the PC way to do it. But the bagpipes and the kilts and the Morris dancers, the harp, I don't know what the Welsh do --declaim? utter those unpronounceable words? -- will still all be there. And I guess some Druidic incantations somewhere in there too. I wonder if they'll leave out Brittany (France) this time?? What a colorful, devil-may-care writing style you have, Shrek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 They're just calling it "isles of wonder" this time--but it looks like they'll be doing the same thing! England seems to be scared sh*t to claim the Games as their own, so of course, it has to be made a more universal concept. That is the PC way to do it. But the bagpipes and the kilts and the Morris dancers, the harp, I don't know what the Welsh do --declaim? utter those unpronounceable words? -- will still all be there. And I guess some Druidic incantations somewhere in there too. I wonder if they'll leave out Brittany (France) this time?? The isles of wonder is about the four nations - England -Scotland -Wales & N Ireland all have a voice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympian2004 Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Just one request for the organisers: Please don't do "God Save The Queen" again this way for the opening ceremony: I thought at first that they are a comedy troup singing the anthem such awfully off-key on purpose. What I also found hilarious was the applause of the audience after the first stanza -- which was rather a relieved "Thank God we survived it" applause -- and then the choir started the second stanza. And what about those artificially enthusiastic presenters who asked for a big round of applause and called the performance "fantastic"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cormiermax Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 That video is APALLING. It should never be sung that badly ANYWHERE, least of all the Olympic stadium. Truly horrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 Yes, I heard the opening event was "interesting". Glad I couldn't get tickets and opted for the water polo instead I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted May 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Has there been an Opening Ceremony Rehersal today? Ive seen a few tweets. Words being used are mind blowing, awesome and spectacular. Very interesting but no details, which is how it should be I suppose : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Looks like it from Twitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afiqnadzir Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 who tweeter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) Saw a tweet few days back saying the rehearsal venue is at the old Ford plant in Dagenham. Sounds like a good choice where you can secure the perimeter quite easily. Factory workers passed through security gates spring to mind, ala Made in Dagenham. Great the volunteers get to rehearse in this industrially historic site Edited May 13, 2012 by kevzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Has there been an Opening Ceremony Rehersal today? Ive seen a few tweets. Words being used are mind blowing, awesome and spectacular. Very interesting but no details, which is how it should be I suppose : ) yes we are rehearsing at dagenham - yes it will be awesome - my segment is mind blowing! they are also rehearsing the closing too - that looks awesome too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevzz Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Can't wait! Pity I have to turn down my offer, the rehearsing schedule is just too much for me wouldnt be able to juggle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Mind blowing is what we want. Is it true that they have been deliberately down playing it so that people are even more impressed. I gotta admit Im totally blown away by the time the voulunteers like yourself are giving to this. Im sure Danny Boyle has told you all, without you lot, there is no ceremony. Keep up the good work : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrek201 Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Mind blowing is what we want. So, little pockets of strong weed in the Audience Kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 So, little pockets of strong weed in the Audience Kit? They obviously forgot that in Vancouver! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikarus360 Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I'm glad to hear that the ceremony seems to be pretty good (I know i'm a bit evil but too bad nobody leaked anything i'm already getting impacient =u= ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Tickle Posted May 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Somebody on skyscrapercity was mentioning waving to people from the grey bit? WTF does that mean? It may have had something to do with the area where the seats had been cleared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY20?? Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I feel like the quality control for these Ceremonies is always high and the organizers of Summer opening ceremonies have come up with "mind blowing" theatrics since at least Sydney. I've expected nothing less from London so I'm not at all surprised nor more excited after those remarks. I want to hear more distintive adjectives that really start to distinguish the mood, feel, and direction of this ceremony from those past. It's getting close now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianme17 Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I feel like the quality control for these Ceremonies is always high and the organizers of Summer opening ceremonies have come up with "mind blowing" theatrics since at least Sydney. I've expected nothing less from London so I'm not at all surprised nor more excited after those remarks. I want to hear more distintive adjectives that really start to distinguish the mood, feel, and direction of this ceremony from those past. It's getting close now! I think I have already said - British - powerful & moving - my segment is all of these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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