Is it just me, or does everyone else have a ‘warm, fuzzy feeling’ at the moment? A feeling which can only be described as a mixture of excitement, contentment and immense pride of the wonderful job we are doing at hosting the Olympics. There was so much content in Danny Boyle’s epic opener, that I keep having flashbacks to different era’s. It was like several feature films rolled into one.
(Scroll Down for Our Coverage of the Olympic Torch Arriving at Downing Street, It’s Journey to the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and the Sports for Peace Event )
THE OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY
The Olympic Opening Ceremony commenced the night before last, with a ‘historical extravaganza’ directed by Oscar winning director Danny Boyle, which took us through the ages of British History, and brought us right up to date with pop culture. We also took a trip ‘down the memory lane’ of our NHS service, perhaps reminding us just how wonderful our NHS system is, and also of the inspiring work of the Great Ormond Street Hospital along the way.
The Queen was extremely funny during her sketch with Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig came to collect her at Buckingham Palace. The Queen seemed to be Daniel Craig’s ‘M’ to his 007.
In the next moment, they boarded a helicopter which flew over the Olympic Stadium, and Daniel Craig jumped out followed shortly afterward by The Queen. You see them sailing into the Olympic Stadium on parachutes. (Well, their stunt doubles anyway). The Queen certainly has a sense of humour!
Perhaps we showed off just a tad, but who cares.. we have hosted the Olympic Games only twice before. The first time was in 1908, and the second in 1948. Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremony was a masterpiece!
With the Olympic Opening Ceremony nearly upon us, London braces itself for what David Cameron describes as “The Greatest Show on Earth”.
In the meantime, the doors at the BT London Live Opening Ceremony Celebration Concert in Hyde Park opened at 4.00 p.m., where Stereophonics, Duran Duran, Paolo Nutini and Snow Patrol will perform.
At 4.15 p.m., the Queen and the Duke of Edinbrugh opened the doors to Buckingham Palace to host a reception for 95 heads of state and government, including Michelle Obama. The reception is serving champagne and canapes for the V.I.P.’s who will be leaving Buckingham Palace at 7.00 p.m. for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will follow on shortly afterwards at 8.00 p.m. to join their guests and the rest of the World at the Opening Ceremony!
Meanwhile, at 5.00 p.m., the Olympic Stadium will open it’s doors to the excited spectators.
At 9.00 p.m., the Ceremony will commence. Events during the ceremony have been kept secret, but it is said that they are ensured to be spectacular! With an audience of around 65 thousand in the stadium, and worldwide viewers estimated at around 1 billion, that’s just as well! However, after our outstanding achievements recently with the success of the Royal Wedding, and the Queen’s Jubilee, and with the way this Country has pulled together to ensure that Great Britain hosts a successful Olympic Games for all the World to see, it shouldn’t matter about any of that. We are already winners!
Thousands of People Lined the Banks of the River Thames to Cheer The Olympic Torch on it’s final leg of the tour, Courtesy of The Beautiful Royal Barge Gloriana!
Visitors who have paid thousands for Opening Ceremony tickets gather excitedly outside the Stadium whilst the Olympic Torch makes it’s final journey towards the Olympic Stadium via Richmond’s Bushy Park this morning, before boarding the Royal Barge Gloriana.
The flame is being transported in a cauldron to Tower Bridge and will end it’s journey this evening with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games by The Queen, where it will burn until the end of the games.
Words by Amanda Waters
THE OLYMPIC TORCH ARRIVES AT DOWNING STREET
David and Samantha Cameron welcomed the Olympic Torch to Downing Street yesterday, and watched the ‘relay exchange’ between War Hero Kate Nesbitt, who handed it over to pensioner Florence Rowe. At one point, on his way towards No 10, David Cameron seemed ‘swamped by a sea of pride and happiness,’ which did not deter him from greeting as many people as he could.
David Beckham had also made an appearance earlier after having discussions with the Prime Minister about getting aid to starving children, and world hunger, in his role as Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.
This was the 69th day of the torch’s journey around the UK and it then proceeded towards Buckingham Palace to be greeted by William, Catherine and Harry, who had each nominated one of their charities to participate in this leg of the relay. Kate had nominated a fellow Scout volunteer, Jon Sayer, who handed over to Wai-Ming Lee from MapAction, which is a humanitarian emergency response charity of which Harry is patron. Mr Lee walked up to the Palace to be greeted by Wiliam, Kate and Harry, where he exchanged the Olympic flame with John Hulse from the Mountain Rescue Organisation of which William is patron.
The torch had been carried by a wide array of Sports Stars and Celebrities during the day, including David Walliams, who was “humbled” by the experience, Bruce Forsyth, who danced most of the way on his leg, Rugby Players Lawrence Dallalio and Lewis Moody and the hilarious Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, who stayed ‘in character’ for their roles as AbFab’s Patsy and Eddie, all the way!
A concert was held at Hyde Park at the end of the day, which featured Mark Ronson, Katy B, Eliza Doolittle, Wretch 32 and many others, and a cauldron was lit in front of thousands of spectators with the Olympic torch.
Words by Amanda Waters
Photography by Leah McQueen
SPORTS FOR PEACE EVENT – VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM
25th July 2012
We have pleasure in bringing you coverage from the ‘Sports for Peace’ Event which took place last night at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
It was an inspirational gathering last night at the beautiful Victoria & Albert Museum in honour of Muhammad Ali who won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960, for the United States in the Rome Olympics as a ‘light heavyweight’.
Celebrities and Sports Stars were out in force to pay homage to the courageous (and latterly peacemaking) ‘Casius Clay’ – who is said to have six “core values”. Respect, Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving and Spirituality.
A number of Celebrities were happy to be photographed at an event which kicks off a monumental time for Great Britain as we proudly host
THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Celebrites included (in order from above) Rahman Ali and his wife, the beautiful Lady Victoria Hervey (whose dress sparkled from every angle), Boris Becker and his wife Sharlely, the lovely Tania Bryer and her charming partner Rod Barker (who had a smile for every camera), the gorgeous model and lingerie designer Caprice, (who oozed glamour in Dolce & Gabbana), an extremely dapper Lewis Hamilton, and the stunning Hollywood Actress Rosario Dawson.
Other Celebrity Attendees included Sir Christopher Lee, Sir Bob Geldof, Sir David Frost, and the current heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko, to name but a few.
Words by Amanda Waters
Photography by Leah McQueen