london's olympic hand over revealed...

mani · 23-08-2008, 04:22

sounds quite good - much better than i thought it was gonna be!

Quote:

London's set will start with a red London double-decker bus driving around the Bird's Nest stadium.

The bus will be backed by a musical sequence which combines elements of the shipping forecast, Jersualem, Greensleeves and harmonies based on the chimes of Big Ben.

Hoy, Pendleton and Reade, dressed as everyday Londoners, will then follow on their bikes.

Three dance groups will also be involved - the Royal Opera House, street dance theatre group ZooNation and CandoCo, a company which specialises in mixing performers with and without disabilities.

The dancers will surround the double-decker when it comes to a halt at a bus stop, and a 10-year-old girl from east London, Tayyiba Dudhwala, will emerge to receive a football from another girl, Erika Tham.

The bus will then transform itself, with the top half folding down in segments to show a privet hedge cut into shapes of the London skyline: Tower Bridge, Battersea Power Station, the Houses of Parliament, while a phalanx of black umbrellas will be unfurled alongside.

Then X-Factor winner Lewis will emerge from the roof on a rising column to sing an RnB aria before guitarist Page emerges for the duo to perform a new version of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'.

As the song nears its conclusion, former England captain Beckham will appear on another lift, accompanied by Tayyiba, and will kick a football into the crowd of athletes, sparking a live link-up to the handover party outside Buckingham Palace.

"We will take a London approach and will be different. Our approach is to keep it simple and creative, to make it youthful and diverse, entertaining and fun."

He said the segment was neither a short version of the likely 2012 opening, nor an attempt to encapsulate Britain in eight minutes, but it was a small "fun" taster of what is to come in four years time.

Padiham Lass · 24-08-2008, 01:51

Are they "havin a larf" or wot?

I just hope that it doesn't look as pathetic as it sound.

Wynonie Harris · 24-08-2008, 07:56

What a load of self-indulgent junk...and we're paying for it. Just wait until the main event in 4 years' time...£9 billion and rising. Still we can afford it with our booming economy.

accyman · 24-08-2008, 11:09

in 4 years time no one will know who liona lewis is lol and the ten year old girl will be 14 and probably pushing a pram with one hand and a bottle of wkd in her other hand

flashy · 24-08-2008, 13:53

well i've just watched it from the beginning, Boris is a total tit, he made a right pratt of himself, he looked a mess with his jacket open walking up the red carpet and when he got to the top of the steps he looked like a rabbit caught in headlights, he stood there aimlessly not even knowing what to do with his hands....

and as for the 8 minutes we got to invite people to the 2012 games....what a loada crap, i hope to god that we do better in the opening ceremony in 2012

garinda · 24-08-2008, 13:59

What a load of old cobblers.

Leona Lewis and Robert Page doing 'Whole Lotta Love'?

Very cutting edge, and about as modern as our logo.

It would have been more fitting if Sir Cliff and Una Stubs had popped out the top of the London bus.

I think we should leave out all the naffness, and make London 2012 memorable for the sport, and return to the true ideals of the Olympic games.

Saying that, I would have dressed Boris Johnson in a Duffle coat, a floppy hat, and wellies, for tonight's hand-over ceremony. At least Paddington is actually in London.

flashy · 24-08-2008, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Saying that, I would have dressed Boris Johnson in a Duffle coat, a floppy hat, and wellies, for the handover ceremony. At least Paddington is in London.

he may have looked more smart dressed as Paddington Bear, the fool

MargaretR · 24-08-2008, 14:15

.............

suedarbo · 24-08-2008, 16:17

Got to agree, I was gobsmacked when I saw Boris Johnson. What a disgrace!

Tin Monkey · 24-08-2008, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Leona Lewis and Robert Page doing 'Whole Lotta Love'?

I always suspected that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were the same person!!

suedarbo · 24-08-2008, 20:49

garinda · 24-08-2008, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tin Monkey

I always suspected that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were the same person!!

I saw on the news I'd got it wrong, though the grey haired hippie on the bus actually looked Chinese, so I doubt it was either of them.

Happily I was too young for all that self-indulgent, album based, seventies rock guff.

cashman · 24-08-2008, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Happily I was too young for all that self-indulgent, album based, seventies rock guff.

i was not, but i agree its crap.

Padiham Lass · 25-08-2008, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashytart

and as for the 8 minutes we got to invite people to the 2012 games....what a loada crap, i hope to god that we do better in the opening ceremony in 2012

If that's the best that London can come up with for 8 minutes, I dread to think what they will do for the full opening/closing ceremonies.

Tin Monkey · 25-08-2008, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padiham Lass

If that's the best that London can come up with for 8 minutes, I dread to think what they will do for the full opening/closing ceremonies.

I think it's very hard to come up with something to represent London that lasts only 8 minutes and is recognisable around the world. Having Beckham make an appearance was a good idea, as although we all see him as a fading football star, the Chinese absolutely adore him and he's known around the world. The whole thing may have been very Dick Van Dyke, but at least it had global appeal.

I had to laugh at Arthur Smith on Radio 4 this morning when he said that he admired the realism of the whole performance. The London bus travelled very slowly and didn't appear to allow anyone to get on!!