Spectacular closing ceremony marks britain’s greatest summer
Dinesh Weerawansa - Reporting from England
The greatest summer in Great Britain reached its climax with a
spectacular closing ceremony that marked the end of the XXXth summer
Olympiad at the Olympic Stadium last night. A galaxy of internationally
reputed musicians and fashion icons performed to make the London 2012
closing ceremony even more memorable one. That included George Michael,
Tinie Tempah, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, The Spice Girls and The Who.
Artistic Director of the Olympic Closing Ceremony, Kim Gavin brought
together Britain’s biggest international stars and emerging talent
performing in a ceremony that provided the soundtrack for the entire
world to celebrate the achievements of the world’s greatest sports
extravaganza.
British Prime Minister David Cameron and the Mayor of London Boris
Johnsonwere filmed dancing with their wives - Samantha Cameron and
Marina Wheeler.Cameron and Johnson threw some shapes to the Spice Girls
performing Spice Up Your Life.
The mega ceremony at London's Olympic Stadium in Stratford paid
tribute to UK music, fashion and culture, capturing the spirit that has
inspired so much global creativity over the past 50 years.
World renowned British artists who performed in the Closing Ceremony
British artists included The Who, The Spice Girls, Take That, Tinie
Tempah, George Michael, Fatboy Slim, Madness, Jessie J, Annie Lennox,
Kaiser Chiefs, Taio Cruz, Beady Eye with lead vocalist Liam Gallagher,
Ray Davies, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Pet Shop Boys, One
Direction, Muse,Elbow, Emeli Sandé, Eric Idle, Julian Lloyd Webber, Ed
Sheeran, Richard Jones, Mike Rutherford and Nick Mason.
Among the acts which kept spectators of the packed stadium on the
edges of their seats were Jessie J, Taio Cruz and Tinie Tempah emerging
from three limousines, The Spice Girls entering on five cabs for ‘Spice
Up Your life’and Wannabe’, and Russell Brand performing ‘Pure
Imagination’ and ‘I Am the Walrus’ atop a psychedelic bus.Eric Idle led
a singalong of ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’, from the film
Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Kaiser Chiefs covered The Who’s ‘Pinball
Wizard’ and The Who led a triumphant, closing rendition of ‘My
Generation’.
The tribute to British fashion was sound tracked to songs by David
Bowie featured appearances from supermodels Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell,
Lily Donaldson, Stella Tennant, Karen Elson, Lily Cole, Georgia May
Jagger,Jourdan Dunn and David Gandy.
Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG)
Sebastian Coe said the closing ceremony delivered a fitting celebration
of the athletes, the volunteers, the City of London and the entire
country.
“They helped us stage a great Olympic Games. We have shown the best
of us throughout these Games and provided the platform for the world’s
greatest athletes to shine.
I would like to pay tribute to the volunteers, the performers and the
country for making Games so memorable for the athletes and sports fans
of the world, the former Olympic gold medallist for Great Britain said.
A volunteer cast of 3,500 rehearsed on average for 60 hours each in a
total of 135 rehearsals during evenings and weekends at two east London
rehearsal sites to dish out that ‘Sunday special’ in an exemplary
manner.
Some 350 child volunteers were drawn from 10 schools in the six east
London Host Boroughs.
At the end of the glamorous closing ceremony, the IOC flag was handed
over to the IOC President Jacques Rogge by the Mayor of London Boris
Johnson.
The world Olympic chief then handed over the IOC flag to the Mayor of
the next host city - Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes.
That was followed by an eye-catching act by Brazil to signal the
intended arrival of the Olympic flag to its capital. The Brazilian act
had all the ingredients to depict the heritage and culture of the next
host nation. At the end of it, the greatest soccer player ever gifted to
the world - Pele, appeared to join the Brazilian celebrations.
Sportsmen and women from 204 participating countries who gathered at
the middle for the mega finale, will take home sweet memories which
would not only remain for the rest of their lives but would also gift
them to the next generation. As the hosts said in their Games slogan,
London 2012 would definitely inspire a generation.
Tears care to everyone's eyes as they felt that sad moment of
departure.
Within the next few days, those who became a part of the London 2012
Olympic family, would pack their baggage and get back to their
respective destinations.But the bonds of love, friendship and respect
for each other they developed during their month-long stay at the
Olympic Village would remain forever.
“See you in Rio 2016” were the last words they exchanged at the end
of that emotional and colourful night.
- LONDON, Monday. |