Opening Ceremony London 2012 

THE eyes of the world will focus on Britain tonight — and they should “B” prepared for the greatest show ever seen.

 

The very Best of British will be on display as the 2012 Olympic Games finally kick off with a dazzling £27million opening ceremony viewed by billions across the globe.

 

National icons including James Bond, David Beckham and Beatle Sir Paul McCartney will all feature. They are expected to open the Games in Stratford, East London, with the Old Baked Bean — cockney slang for the Queen.

 

Becks, 37, said last night: “It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. What the rest of the world will see, I don’t think any other country could do it better.”

 

PM David Cameron vowed last night: “You will find it spine-tingling.”

 

Army helicopters carrying “Bond” are likely to fly over the Olympic Stadium as the 007 movie theme blares out.

 

The Sun told earlier this year how Daniel Craig, who plays the all-action agent, filmed scenes for the opening.

 

England soccer legend Becks will appear at the ceremony after clocking up 18,000 miles in flights in a week.

 

The star, who writes of his excitement below, flew in from LA last Monday to join Olympic events before returning to the US for a footie friendly.

 

He was back in London yesterday ahead of the Games’ glittering launch, where Macca, 70, is set to top the bill.

 

Ceremony director Danny Boyle said he’d met the Queen to discuss her appearance at the extravaganza. Asked how she will make her entrance, he said: “I can’t tell you. It’s weather dependent.”

 

Last night BBC TV news screened images from the ceremony rehearsals.

 

Beckstravaganza!

 

By DAVID BECKHAM

 

 

I HAVE been lucky enough to have been involved in some amazing sporting moments in my career, but nothing can compare with what is about to take place in London.

 

You can feel the excitement building to a fever pitch wherever you go in the country and I am as excited as anyone.

 

This is an amazing sporting event — probably one of the biggest sporting events in history — and for it to happen now, in London, and especially in the East End of London where I grew up, is just brilliant.

 

I know every part of the Games is going to be spectacular and tonight is the night it all kicks off, with the whole world watching Great Britain and the opening ceremony.

 

It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I know I am biased but, what the rest of the world will see, I don’t think any other country in the world could do it better.

 

No other country could offer an opening ceremony which includes The Queen, our royal family, James Bond, Shakespeare, The Beatles, country villages, NHS nurses, centuries of history and some of the greatest music ever produced. It is an amazing mix that represents exactly what makes Britain so great.

 

Even our weather is special, and it might yet play a part!

 

On top of that, we’ve got some of the best film directors in the world, in Oscar-winner Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry, to bring it all together in a fantastic celebration of what Great Britain is all about.

 

The ceremonies in Beijing were really impressive, because of the number of people they had involved; Sydney produced the impressive People’s Games; and other countries, like America, have the scale to produce amazing shows.But no one else has the personality and humour and diversity — and the soundtrack, varying from orchestral to punk — that we have.

 

I am honoured to have a very small part in the opening ceremony and I feel privileged to be involved.

 

I would love to tell you what that part is — and some of the other secrets of the opening ceremony — but you will just have to watch it and see for yourself.

 

I was involved seven years ago when we first bid for the Games and Seb Coe has been kind enough to keep me involved since then. He is an amazing man who with his team has done fantastic things leading up to the Games and continues to work hard every day.

 

At the time we were trying to win the Games I said I felt a bit strange being involved in an Olympic bid team because I was not an Olympian; I had never performed in an Olympics.

 

But it was a real honour to be asked to be part of the bid and I am so proud that we were successful.

 

The seven years since has passed so quickly and so much has changed in the part of London I knew as a kid. The legacy is going to be incredible. One of the poorest parts of our capital city has been transformed, with wasteland turned into beautiful parkland with fantastic sporting facilities.

 

To have seen the Olympic park taking shape has been amazing, but now that the finishing touches have been added and the athletes are arriving it is just so exciting.

 

Because the MLS football season is carrying on throughout the Games I have had to do a fair bit of travelling but I am happy to do so. It is a privilege to get the chance.

 

I would still like to come back to London, because, just like any other Brit, I want to be able to take my children and to experience the once-in-a-lifetime moment of an Olympic Games in our country.

 

I hope everyone in Great Britain is as excited at I am and will enjoy the Games as much as I and my family will.

 

I honestly think that, when they see the opening ceremony tonight, everyone will feel as proud as I am of our country, and the rest of the world will be amazed.

 

It will be one of those moments people will always remember watching.

 

I just can’t wait for it all to start.

 

Let the games begin.

 

I wish my dad could see it

 

Says LORD COE

 

OLYMPICS boss Lord Coe has told of his sorrow that his beloved parents and best friend cannot join him tonight.

 

Mum Angela died weeks before London won its bid for the Games and dad Peter in 2008. Pal Malcolm Williams passed away in 2006. Coe said:

 

“It’s been a tough time as I lost both my parents and my best friend over the course of this bid and delivery.

 

“I’d have loved my parents to be here. I would have loved them to see me carry the Olympic Torch a few weeks ago.

 

“I would also have loved to have had Malcolm here. He introduced me to East London. I was abroad the night I got asked if I’d be chairman and delayed my decision until I could speak to him.

 

“When I sit down, I don’t know how I’ll feel. To an extent it’s like watching a child grow over seven years.

 

“I’ll feel immense pride and a sense of gratitude to the spirit and generosity of people in this country. There’ll be excitement and a little nervousness too. None of us want to let people down.”- thesun.co.uk