London Olympics Closing Ceremony

Roll on Rio! Brazil handed Olympic baton as London bids farewell to the Greatest Show on Earth after spectacular closing ceremony


Seb Coe hailed the London 2012 Olympics a big success on Sunday and said thank you during the nation's final farewell to the Games. Speaking with great pride during the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, he said: 'On the first day of these Games I said we were determined to do it right. I said that these Games would see the best of us.

'On this last day I can conclude with these words: "When our time came - Britain we did it right. Thank you!" Epic: An amazing firework display was set off the top of the Olympic Park Enjoying it? The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were in Stratford for the ceremony The London 2012 chairman, himself a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, recognised the athletes for their world-beating performances, but spoke movingly of how Britain had backed the Games.

Lord Coe said: 'Today sees the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city. 'We lit the flame and lit up the world.' The success can be traced back to the people who built the stadiums and the Olympic Park from where was speaking that was once a disused and deprived district through to the organisers and the sports stars who put on a great show. He told the packed crowd: "And thank you to the people of this country.


The British people got behind London's bid and they got behind London's Games. Our opening ceremony proclaimed that these would be a Games for everyone. At our closing ceremony, we can say that these were a Games by everyone. 'London 2012 has played host to some incredible sport. To awe inspiring feats, that are the result of incredible dedication and skill by the world's great sports men and women.


 'To all the Olympians who came to London to compete - thank you. Those of us who came to watch witnessed moments of heroism and heartbreak that will live long in the memory. 'You have our admiration and our congratulations.' Sight for sore eyes: The Olympic Park was lit up for the closing ceremony Sea of stars: The audience consisted of the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Lord Sebastian Coe  I'll tell you what I want... The Spice Girls arrived in black cabs before they sang together Jessie J was joined by Tinie Tempah on stage as they performed with Fatboy Slim Thousands of volunteers now have the right to carry the phrase `I made London 2012' with them as a badge of honour, according to Lord Coe. London 2012 has had the backing of the International Olympic Committee 'every step of the way,' he noted.

It has all been part of 'two glorious weeks' which he believes can carry the Olympic spirit on and inspire a generation. After London welcomed all 204 of the competing nations to the capital for what was undoubtedly one of the greatest Olympic Games in history, athletes, fans and celebrities assembled at the closing ceremony.


If the spectacular official opening ceremony of the Games - organised by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle - was anything to go by, the close to the Games promises to be a show and a half. London hosted an Olympics which saw Team GB win an unbelievable 29 gold medals, dwarfing the 19 won four years prior in Beijing, and those lucky enough to have tickets have filled the Olympic Park in Stratford to bid their farewell.

To celebrate the hosting of a hugely successful Olympiad, fans were treated to a feast for the eyes and ears, amongst the spectacles are internationally renowned girl band the Spice Girls. A mock scene of the host city was set up in the middle of the stage - far removed from the countryside scene in Boyle's opener - and Big Ben chimed a countdown before the show got started.

Emeli Sande opened proceedings before a medley of musical performances - from the likes of Madness, the Pet Shop Boys, One Direction and Ray Davies - kicked the party off for the 80,000 strong audience. Actor Timothy Spall appeared as Winston Churchill, and delivered an address to the crowd. After the thunderous opener, the athletes came out in their droves, with Team GB flag-bearer Ben Ainslie leading out the vastly successful British athletes as Manchester band Elbow performed their anthemic songs Open Arms and One Day Like This.

Mobbed: Mo Farah and the Team GB athletes were applauded as they made their way round the arena Wonderwall: Liam Gallagher hit the stage to play with band Beady Eye After the athletes paraded, waving their flags, the men's marathon medal ceremony was undertaken in front of the audience - including Prince Harry, Lord Sebastian Coe and the Duchess of Cambridge. Then there was more music for the crowd to get their teeth into. John Lennon's Imagine was played before George Michael took to the stage. After Michael was finished, the Kaiser Chiefs performed as lead singer Ricky Wilson was carried to the stage in a convoy of scooters. After an homage to musician David Bowie and to the successes of British fashion across the years, Russell Brand performed a rendition of The Beatles's hit I Am The Walrus before Fatboy Slim hit the stage with Jessie J and Tinie Tempah.


The centrepiece of the evening came when a fleet of black cabs drove into the centre of the arena and the Spice Girls emerged. All five original members - Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham - wowed the crowd. As soon as the iconic girl band had finished Liam Gallagher belted out a version of Oasis classic Wonderwall with new band Beady Eye. Rock legend Brian May played one of his iconic guitar solos before turning the tempo up when he performed Queen's We Will Rock You with Jessie J. Meanwhile, UK Sport's leader hailed Britain's record-breaking Olympic medal haul as 'incredible' after the team finished in third place in the table. Great Britain finished ahead of Russia for the first time ever with a total of 65 medals, including 29 golds, the best result since 1908. There was a tribute to British fashion across the years

A British military marching band performed at the beginning of the ceremony Getting it going: One Direction hit the stage to start the party UK Sport chair Sue Campbell said: 'For a nation the size of Great Britain to finish in third place at the Olympic games is incredible and without doubt one of the greatest sporting achievements in this country's history. 'We now have an elite sport system that is the envy of the world and I firmly believe it will continue to deliver at the highest level for many years to come thanks to the support of National Lottery and Government funding, which I am delighted to say is now secured for the Rio cycle.' IOC president Jacques Rogge said: 'London was a dream for a sports lover, and I had stressed since the awarding of the Games in Singapore that we need home gold medals and that is so important for the mood of the general public.

 'We had to wait two days but then it accelerated it has been fantastic. 'We are saying exactly the same for our Brazilian friends for Rio.

' Fans got in the mood ahead of the ceremony Burning bright: The Olympic flame was still lit as the Spice Girls rehearsed their routine The Olympic rings were on display above the well lit arena .

Olympic 2012 Opening Ceremony Roundup

Brilliant, breathtaking, bonkers and utterly British. Danny Boyle captured the spirit, history, humour and patriotism of an expectant nation last night as he pulled off an Olympic opening ceremony like no other.

From a bucolic vision of our green and pleasant land to a riotous medley of Britpop’s greatest hits, Boyle’s tour de force was a love letter to his homeland that left 65,000 spectators choking with pride.

To cap it all, London 2012 literally reached stratospheric heights as five Olympic rings were lifted by giant balloons from the stadium into space. Pity the person who has to try to better this in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Where Beijing 2008 had precision, uniformity and control, London 2012 had James Bond, 600 NHS nurses and 40 live sheep.

London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali and former England football captain David Beckham appear increasingly likely to play a role in the Olympics opening ceremony, after flying into London four days before it takes place.

The pair will present an award at a reception on Tuesday night to mark the beginning of Beyond Sport, a conference devoted to the social impact of sport around the world.

Amid increasing speculation that the climax of the opening ceremony will feature a series of big names collaborating to light the cauldron, Ali and Beckham are expected to have a role of some kind.

Ali famously lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and Beckham, although left out of Stuart Pearce's Team GB football squad, has been promised significant roles at the Games by London 2012 chairman Lord Coe.

The question of who should light the cauldron has become a subject of furious debate, with Sir Steve Redgrave and Daley Thompson among the frontrunners. Given the emphasis on youth in London's bid, it is also expected that a younger athlete will play a role.

Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt, who has some input into the decision, said at the weekend that it would be a "wow moment" and that a "mutually acceptable solution" had been found between the British Olympic Association and organisers Locog, whose ceremonies team have the biggest say.

Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, who sits on Locog's board, said on Monday that Coe should light the flame.

But Coe has already dismissed himself from the running and absented himself from the decision making process, although he has said he would favour his friend Thompson.

Beckham said that Ali was "one of the most inspirational sportsmen of all time".

Lonnie Ali added: "My husband's whole life has been an embodiment of the struggle for survival, change and justice, and he has used the power of sport to change lives and attitudes around the world."

BOA president Princess Anne and Coe welcomed IOC members to the capital on Monday with a performance at the Royal Opera House.

London mayor Boris Johnson also appeared, reciting an ode to the Games in ancient Greek, along with Plácido Domingo, singer Paloma Faith and dance troupe Zoo Nation – who performed in front of a backdrop of images from the 1908 and 1948 Games.

Princess Anne said: "We have dedicated the London Games from the outset to the athletes and hope to provide the best possible conditions for you and your teams in the week

Olympics Did you Know ?

As the lighting of the Olympic cauldron and the Olympics opening ceremony on 27 July in London will mark the beginning of the Summer Olympics 2012,

London 2012 bring some interesting facts brings eight amazing facts you did not know about Olympic Games.

 

1. Olympic Games are thought to have originated from Ancient Greece when several competitions were held among various kingdoms.

However, the actual origin of Olympics is still a mystery. The most popular legend has it that Heracles, a hero of Greek and Roman mythology, first called the ancient Greek games Olympic and started the custom of holding them over a period of four years, known as Olympiad. Heracles, a son of the God Zeus, was one of the most famous heroes of ancient Greece, the strongest man in the world and a symbol of power, courage and superhuman strength.

2. Olympic Games in ancient Greece acted as peace buffers as it was during the games that participating cities would put their feuds and disputes or wars on hold until the games were over.

3. The ancient Olympic Games were first held in Olympia beginning in the eighth century BC (BC 776) until fourth century AD (394 AD) to honour the God Zeus.

4. Remains of ancient stadium and other sports architecture erected for the Olympic Games today form a part of the archaeological site of Olympia, in a valley in the Peloponnesus. The site was in World Heritage List in 1989.

5. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896 with 14 participating countries, followed by 24 countries in the second Olympiad in Paris in 1900. Summer and Winter Olympic Games have been held separately since 1992, every two years, to promote summer and winter sports respectively.

6.  No Olympics took place  in 1916, during World War I, and in 1940 and 1944, during World War II, but the subsequent Olympiads have been numbered. The 2012 Summer Olympics in London is the 30th Olympiad of modern Olympics.

7. Olympics begin with lighting of the Olympic Flame at Olympia from where the flame, carried on Olympic Torch, is taken across the participating countries to the host country. The Olympics Flame is ignited by the reflection of sunlight through a parabolic mirror.

8. The tradition of relaying Olympic torchbearers to open the games was not a part of ancient Olympics in Greece. The Greek rather lit the fire for religious beliefs. The first modern Olympics Flame was lit in 1928 in Amsterdam.

Olympics 2012 -Slum Camp for Cleaners

Ten to a room and one shower for 75 people: Inside the 'slum' camp for Olympic cleaners

• They sleep in portable cabins, some of which have been leaking in the rain, at the campsite in East London
• The bad weather has left the site flooded with stagnant water, forcing the cleaners to use abandoned crates as makeshift ‘stepping stones’
• ‘It is like a slum inside,’ says one worker from Hungary

Cleaners at the Olympic Park are being housed ten to a room at a huge temporary compound.

The campsite in East London, hidden from public view, has 25 people sharing each toilet and 75 to each shower.

They sleep in portable cabins, some of which have been leaking in the rain.

Grim: Cleaners at the Olympic Park are being housed ten to a room at a huge temporary compound, pictured. The campsite in East London, hidden from public view, has 25 people sharing each toilet and 75 to each shower

And the bad weather has left the site flooded with stagnant water, forcing them to use abandoned crates as makeshift ‘stepping stones’ to move around the site.

Hundreds have come from abroad to work at the Olympics despite promises that the jobs would go to Londoners.

On arrival, some were horrified to be told there was no work for two weeks. But despite this, they were made to pay the cleaning company £18 a day in ‘rent’ to sleep in the overcrowded metal cabins, which works out at more than £550 a month.

Others who had come to the UK desperate for the jobs turned back, describing  the camp as ‘horrible’, with showers and toilets ‘filthy’ from over-use.

Poor conditions: The bad weather has left the site flooded with stagnant water, forcing the cleaners to use abandoned crates as makeshift 'stepping stones' to move around the site. This image shows how close the camp is to the Olympic Stadium

Andrea Murnoz, 21, a student from Madrid, said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I saw the places people were sleeping.

‘When I first saw the metal gates and the tall tower in the middle, it reminded me of a prison camp. It looks horrible.

'I was thinking I would apply for a job, but I have changed my mind. My two friends signed up, but I think they are regretting it.’ 

Cleaners at the camp have signed gagging orders preventing them from talking to the Press and have been banned from having family and friends visit ‘for security reasons’.

One worker, from Hungary, said conditions were ‘very bad’ inside the camp but he had nowhere else to live. ‘It is like a slum inside,’ the 24-year-old said.

‘The toilets are dirty and the space is very little.’

Another, also from Hungary, said: ‘When we saw the camp, we were shocked. When we came to England we thought accommodation would be much nicer.

Olympic Torch Closing in on London Stratford Olympics Stadium.

The Olympic Torch Relay will travel 

through Newham on 21 July.

The torch will arrive in style on the Woolwich Ferry at 10.40am then onto Pier Parade in North Woolwich.

Torchbearers will carry the Torch to the Mayor's Newham Show in Central Park, East Ham, before travelling to Westfield Stratford City and along Stratford High Street before heading towards the Bow flyover.

A highlight in the Olympic Flame's route through our borough will be the Mayor's Newham Show in Central Park at 11.15am, when the Olympic Torch will be welcomed onto the main stage by a 180 strong choir made up of young musicians from every Newham school. The performance will reflect the Olympic ideals of celebration, friendship and national pride, and will be followed by a variety of live acts, showcasing the very best of Newham talent.

In addition to activity at the Mayor's Newham Show, other key
places to view the Olympic Torch in Newham on 21 July will be:

• The Mosaic (outside the Post Office) on Green Street, E7
• Meridian Square (outside Stratford station)
• Great Eastern Road, E15
• Theatre Square (outside Theatre Royal Stratford East)
• Great Eastern Road, E15
• The Grove (outside Stratford Library), E15

 

David Beckham left out of the GB Team

Beckham had pushed hard to be in the British team as an over-age player and had been seen as a strong driver for ticket sales early in the process.

Speaking from Los Angeles on Thursday, Beckham talked about how he is moving forward and how he might yet be involved in the upcoming Olympic Games.

"All the talk of me possibly performing in the Olympics, it would have been a very proud moment for me," Beckham said, following LA Galaxy practice. "Everyone knows how proud I am of representing my country and to do it in my hometown on such a big stage would have been incredible, so of course I'm disappointed but life goes on."

The former Manchester United player had high praise for his former teammate Ryan Giggs and his new title of captain of Great Britain's squad heading to the Games.

"You know Ryan, obviously, he's had such an amazing career with Manchester United and also with the Welsh team. He might not have made a major competition but for the amount of time he's played for Wales and the way he's represented Manchester United over the years, he deserves to be there," said Beckham "He deserves to play in a big competition like this. It would have been great to have been there with him because we've got a lot of great memories from playing with Manchester United and I hope he gets a gold medal."