Does anyone else think that the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games far surpassed the main Olympics launch?
At the first event there were too many stand-out stars. The Queen was undoubtedly the most star-worthy of these. But the real star was the stadium.The LED lights completely stole the show – along with Thomas Heatherwick’s breathtaking cauldron.
It was different with the Paralympics. The stars were the creative directors, Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey, who pulled together such a curious constellation of participants – reflecting the diversity of our planet, its people and the stuff of their dreams.
It was a brilliantly British expression of the infinite randomness of life: The world of Shakespeare, Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Michael Nyman. The sphere of influence of anyone who’s not just different, but has the determination and ability to succeed – and the desire to travel as far as their imagination will take them.
The parade of teams is usually boring, but this was enlivened by the costumes – or should I say kit? Mexico’s ponchos (see above) stood out as being by far the most fashionable. Even our own astronaut style shell suits exuded a certain retro-progressive cool (as opposed to some of the others, which were possibly inspired by Sir Jimmy Savile).
Then there was the music. Beverley Knight put Sir Paul McCartney to shame with her stunning performance (see below). But what about blind soprano Denise Leigh’s Spirit in Motion? And Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine? Plus Benjamin Britten’s version of the National Anthem… and Ian Dury’s Spasticus Autisticus?
The finale was full on-trend fluro colours and tie-dye lighting effects, turning the stadium into an art installation. I was certainly enlightened… Did you know there’s a country called Vanuatu?
Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to see a single bit of the paralympics yet, but looking forward to seeing some this weekend hopefully.
It would be great if these opening ceremony successes instilled within us a confidence for pulling off large scale events, which we have traditionally shied away from and done half-arsedly….
Vanuatu is the setting for South Pacific, cant say I know anything else about it though!
I’m afraid I missed both opening ceremonies, but I have been to the Thomas Heatherwick exhibition at the V&A which is excellent and well worth a visit.
Afraid I missed the Heatherwick exhibition, Toby – it finished a couple of days ago.
Did you know there’s a country called Vanuatu?, heard of Xanadu, can’t recall a Vanuatu.
Xanadu, your neon lights will shine for you, Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John and the ELO, disco dynamite.
The Americans are complaining that NBC are ignoring the paralympics, possibly the participants aren’t considered pretty enough or the broadcaster thinks it’s a virus.
Thanks for the memories, malty: the version I recalll is The Legend of Xanadu by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Coincidentally featuring Jimmy Savile and Mexican-style ponchos – plus lashings of whips.
I once had a book about Paul Theroux exploring Vanuatu by collapsible canoe.
I missed the ceremony too but the swimming was very exciting, our girl, sweet 16, almost caught the Russian, 21yo.
Actually now you mention it I have read that book, ‘the happy isles of Oceana’ or something. Talks about Vanuatu’s role in the pacific conflict and the big pile of military hardware dumped on the sea floor there if I remember correctly?
PS For anyone who hasn’t had enough of the Olympics/Paralympics, or requires a check list of participating nations, The London Philharmonic Orchestra have made a recording of all 207 national anthems. Vanuatu’s anthem is called Yumi, Yumi, Yumi. Nothing for Xanadu I’m afraid, malty.
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I got love in my tummy
And I feel like a-lovin you
Love, you’re such a sweet thing
Good enough to eat thing
And it’s just a-what I’m gonna do
Ooh love to hold ya
Ooh love to kiss ya
Ooh love I love it so
Ooh love you’re sweeter
Sweeter than sugar
Ooh love
I wont let you go
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I got love in my tummy
And as silly as it may seem
The lovin’ that you re giving
Is what keeps me livin’
And your love is like peaches and cream
Kind-a like sugar
Kind-a like spices
Kind-a like, like what you do
Kind-a sounds funny
But your love honey
And honey, I love you
Ba, da, ba, da, da , da, da
Ba, da, da, da, da, da . . .
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I got love in my tummy
That your love can satisfy
Love, you’re such a sweet thing
Good enough to eat thing
And sweet thing, that ain’t no lie
I love to hold ya
I love to kiss ya
Ooh love, I love it so
Ooh love, you’re sweeter
Sweeter than sugar
Ooh love, I wont let you go
Ba, da, ba, da, da , da, da
Ba, da, da, da, da, da . . .
Sweet thing, yummy yummy
Sweet thing
Sweet thing, yummy yummy
Sweet thing
Odd choice for an anthem.
I was away when this was broadcast, and I’m pretty sure it received nothing like the coverage abroad of the Olympics opening ceremony. I also read somewhere that ticket sales for the Paralympics were 10k in Athens, 50k in Beijing and… over 2 million in the UK. What an extraordinary transformation.
Another little datapoint: Ian Dury’s Spasticus Autisticus was banned when it came out as a single in the early ’80s, if I recall correctly. That’s come a long way too!