Colourful opening ceremony lifts Olympics to high pedestal

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from England

OLYMPIC GAMES: LONDON, July 28 - Members of Royal family to Heads of State, celebrities to screen characters, Olympic gold medallists to top musicians played key roles as the XXXth summer Olympiad was unveiled with a spectaculatr opening ceremony before a packed Olympic Stadium here last night. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II declared the London 2012 Olympics officially open, before seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame.

The mega show that went past midnight, featured British celebrities and sports icons, including soccer star David Beckham and Bradley Wiggins. Sreen characters such as Mr. Bean and James Bond. Leading the Sri Lanka contingent with the lion flag was shuttler Niluka Karunaratne, who is down to be seen in action in men’s singles qualifiers on Monday.

In a speech watched around the world, Games chief Jacques Rogge said: “The Olympic Games are coming home tonight.”There were cheers too as the capacity crowd were given that rare opportunity of watching a film featuring an unlikely meeting between Queen Elizabeth II and 007 agent James Bond.

“Good evening Mr Bond,” the Queen said in the clip, before they left together, apparently heading towards the Olympic Stadium in a helicopter, along with Prince Philip.

The Olympic flame made a dramatic arrival via the Thames on a speedboat carrying soccer icon Beckham, who handed the torch to Sir Steve Redgrave.

The three-hour show, billed as a quirky take on UK life, started with iconic images of Londoners of yesteryear and Britain being beamed to the world, and all four countries of the UK being represented in song.

Dishing out an Olympic opening ceremony with a difference, Stratford’s Olympic Stadium was turned into a green meadow, with live sheep, horses, chickens, ducks, shappered dogs and geese, among the cast.

The show depected the transformation in the British society through great revolutions - from an agro-based economy to the Industrial Revolution.

A helicopter then flew over the stadium to the sound of the Bond theme tune, as two figures parachuted down, one dressed as the monarch. In a well-planned coincidence, the Queen appeared in the VVIP stands amid cheers in the very same light orange frock which her character wore in the film clip. Much-loved British comedy character Mr Bean prompted laughter when he stepped up to command an orchestra playing the iconic Chariots of Fire theme.

Another eye-catching event which won the hearts of over 80,000 spectators was a cast by the National Health Service with more than 1,000 volunteers recruited from hospitals across the country.

The day’s action was played out to a soundtrack of some of Britain’s most iconic bands - including the Rolling Stones, Queen, the Clash, the Sex Pistols and David Bowie - with Sir Paul McCartney performing live towards the latter part of the show.

Another act which needed excellent timing and commitment was that Red Arrows fly-past marked the start of the pre-show at the symbolic time of 7.12 pm GMT.

However, the opening of the London 2012 Olympics saw a number of cyclists being arrested by police close to the Olympic Stadium the same night. Reports said that there had been scuffles between police and cyclists on the outskirts of the Olympic Park.

Those who took part in a monthly mass bike ride held in London said they were “kettled” near the stadium. But the London Metropolitan Police said they had made arrests but have not given a number or responded to the kettling claim.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said that a number of people who had breached regulations imposed on a monthly cycling event had been arrested.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka competitors are getting ready for their events lined up from Sunday. Former women’s singles national champion Thilini Jayasinghe will be the first Sri Lankan to be seen in action at London Olympics. She will meet tenth ranked Ratchanok Intanan of Thailand in her women’s singles first round qualifier.