The clothes Giorgia and Serena sent me from Zambia have been stopped by custom,
luckily I borrowed a pair of jeans, jersey and jacket I last used in Ethiopia complete my spectator’s look!
Reaching the stadium is easy, with the ticket for the ceremony you do not pay for the tube, there are Games’ Makers everywhere, who direct, help invite people to smile to have fun …
Before entering there is a real check in, like at the airport, you cannot introduce liquids of any kind, but you can make up for it once inside, in the various bars and restaurants thought to satisfy the spectators coming from the different countries.
Finding the place is very easy, many English flags, nice music, the full moon, the absence of rain even though the choreography is full of umbrellas of any size accompanied by Rihanna’s song … ‘… come under my umbrella …’ all contribute to the success of the most beautiful opening ceremony of ever, many say, but I think it is true.
62000 people, more than 2400 athletes from 164 nations!
The choreography inspired by Big Ben, Isaac Newton and the Tempest of Shakespeare, is spectacular taking part in it also many people with disabilities like Joe Townsend, an English soldier who lost both legs in action in Afghanistan, who brought the Olympic torch in the stadium coming down attached to a cable from the Arcelor Mittal Orbit Tower … how did the torch not switch off?
The athletes’ parade, in alphabetical order for nation, a part from Britain who entered last was beautiful and interesting, many colors, beautiful uniforms, many wheelchairs with lenticular wheels with the colors of the national flag, other athletes on electric wheelchairs, African nations, alas! … with very few athletes … already from the parade you can understand that there will be real competition … the big teams Chinese, Russian, British and American will fight to death to repeat, or surpass, the Olympic results … when team Britain enters it is a jubilation of flags, choruses and encouragements … the noise coming from the Olympic Park must have been heard very far …
Stephen Hawking, was the speaking voice of this ceremony which he contributed to organize, computerized voice, but concepts are clear, high, which cannot but inspire who listens … when I heard this sentence I felt goose bumps … it was like closing a circle … it was like hearing what we believe as Sport2build …
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. If you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.”
P.S. : A first thank you which I forgot, and remembered, is the one to my cousin Marco Donati, webmaster whom I do not see in person in years, but fundamental on the web.
Ticket n. OLY69-52846, Bridge B, Block 244, Row 35, Place 197 zsaz