Closing with a bang

LONDON – It will be difficult to outdo what was staged in the 3 1/2-hour opening ceremony before a crowd of 80,000 at the mammoth Olympic Stadium here two weeks ago but director Kim Gavin hopes to at least match the grandeur with the closing rites in the same venue tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time).

Danny Boyle of “Slumdog Millionaire” fame was credited for the amazing show that launched the Olympics, mobilizing over 7,500 volunteers in a spectacular production entitled “Isles of Wonder.” Boyle brought the British spirit to light in the star-studded extravaganza that recreated scenes from the Industrial Revolution, used a multi-media platform to enthral a global audience estimated to be 900 million and paid tribute to the UK’s legacy in music. No less than the Queen herself got involved in the program, acting in a Buckingham Palace scene with Daniel (James Bond) Craig shown on video. The traditional parade of athletes was a necessity but the crowd endured the match as Boyle kept the pace on a breathtaking note with one surprise after another up to the lighting of the cauldron and Paul McCartney’s “Hey Jude” sing-along to end the show.

One of the most touching parts of the ceremony was the visual tribute to the victims of the 7.7 terrorist attacks that struck London a day after it was awarded the Olympic hosting rights seven years ago. As the show came to a climax, the Queen declared the Games open and fireworks lit up the sky. Then football legend David Beckham passed the Olympic flame to Sir Steve Redgrave who in turn ignited the torches of seven young British athletes. Each young athlete sparked a tiny light which triggered the ignition of 204 petals, representing the countries in the Olympics, joining together to form one flame of unity. “We won the bid on legacy and for all of us, it is about the Olympics inspiring a future generation – what better way to do this than the symbolic passing on of the greatest symbol of the Olympics to the next generation,” said Redgrave.

The closing ceremony is expected to last as long as the opener. Gavin, who staged the Concert For Diana in 2007, will focus on London instead of Boyle’s more expansion “Isles of Wonder.” The show is entitled “A Symphony of British Music” and features 4,100 performers, including 3,500 adult volunteers and 380 children from the six East London host boroughs.

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The parade will be unusual. The flagbearers will march in single file followed by the athletes parading together, not separated by country. The unity march was initiated at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics to symbolize “one nation” in the global family. Three national flags will be raised – the Greek to honor the Olympics’ birthplace, the British to salute the host nation and the Brazilian to recognize the 2016 host. London Mayor Borish Johnson will turn over the Olympic flag to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Dr. Jacques Rogge who will present it to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. Rogge will declare the Games closed.

Musical director David Arnold, who scored five Bond movies, said the show will be a celebration of “Britishness” in terms of the arts – design, fashion, fine arts, poetry and playwriting in the context of popular music. “It’s more theatrical than a concert because it covers every inch of the stadium,” said Arnold. “It’s a big ‘arms around the world’ event where we are going to be asking people to get involved…hopefully, it will be a big party.” Arnold composed original music for the program and all tracks were pre-recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra but vocals will be performed live.

Although nobody is confirming attendance, the speculation is a slew of British music legends will take to the stage. The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies is rumored to be singing the band’s ‘60’s hit “Waterloo Sunset.” McCartney will be back. Others in the cast include the Spice Girls, Adele, Liam Gallagher, Take That, George Michael, The Who, Paul Weller, Elton John, One Direction, Elbow, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Pet Shop Boys and maybe even the Rolling Stones. It was estimated that at least 20 artists will perform about 30 major pieces of music.

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Arnold promised a show that is “beautiful, cheeky, cheesy, camp, silly and thrilling.” A segment will be a tribute to British fashion with supermodels Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Tennant and Lily Cole strolling down the catwalk to David Bowie’s “Fashion” and “Rebel Rebel.” According to a report from OK! Magazine, there is a plan to do “a Full Monty-style rendition of the British national anthem where participants will rip off their costumes to reveal patriotic bikinis and body suits.” What could steal the thunder is the extinguishing of the Olympic flame, easily the most emotional segment of the show. Ballerina Darcey Bussell and 300 dancers from the Royal Ballet will perform “The Spirit of the Flame” during the moving portion. 

Gavin said the ceremony “celebrates the fact that music has been one of Britain’s strongest cultural exports over the last 50 years.” But sports will remain the center of attraction with the medal rites for the men’s marathon and a video package of highlights from the Games in the program. Arnold said the challenge is to fuse the traditional elements of the Olympic closing ceremony with what Gavin conceptualized in depicting the celebration of British arts. “I visited the Olympics site three years ago and I’ve been working on this for two years, 18 months pretty much full-time and seven days a week since February,” continued Arnold. In the run-up, Arnold said he worked 17-hour days.

Whether the closer will match the spectacle of the opener remains to be seen. But the betting is it will be as unforgettable as the first.