London 2012 Watch: Pandemonium Reigns at the Opening Ceremonies

Posted by Shirley Brady on July 27, 2012 06:06 PM

"Pandemonium" was the theme at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

Depicting a living Facebook timeline of moments from British history, the XXX Olympiad kick-off included a mad mix of cultural references — a skydiving Queen with Daniel Craig as James Bond (nice promo for Skyfall), flying Mary Poppins, J.K. Rowling reading and a giant Voldemort from Harry Potter menacing a giant baby, Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean using an iPhone, a nod to the Mini, costumed villagers in a shire, chimney towers depicting the Industrial Revolution, a British musical medley featuring hits from Sir Paul McCartney (singing the Beatles' "Hey Jude"), the Sex Pistols, Queen, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie (cue a rocketman), plus a speed boat driven by David Beckham, bird bikes and a tribute to web founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee in the digital portion of the show — all orchestrated by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle, who tweeted "Thank you, everyone, for your kind words! Means the world to me."

"Pandemonium" indeed — a theme and word chosen, according to the BBC, because it "was coined by poet John Milton (and) the name of the capital of Hell in Paradise Lost."

The BBC live-blog has more, while more pictures are on the London 2012 website. Below, a Reuters report and London 2012's behind-the-scenes videos:

More about: London 2012, Olympics, Sports, Danny Boyle, Daniel Craig, James Bond, Mini, iPhone, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson, David Beckham

Paulito says:

As surreal as it was, and it was surreal, the best part for me was seeing the athletes representing their countries, especially the smaller nations. THAT is the true spirit of the Olympics. Let the Games begin!!

July 28, 2012 12:26 AM #

noreen jennison says:

British (Scottish) Ex pat living in NewZealand. Just watched the opening ceremony and it was BRILLIANT. Very very British and Danny got it spot on. Proud to be British and will be home in the next few years.

July 28, 2012 01:09 AM #

Sarah Bee says:

OK, it was all a little bit barmy, but it was 100% British. Proud Brit here!

July 28, 2012 03:33 AM #

Andrew Mulholland says:

Fantastic depiction of how modern Britain was created with the Pandemonium Section. The soundtrack for this section was brilliant, suited the scene perfectly, well done Danny Boyle for an epic show. The whole ceremony showed Britain's place in the world, and how British engineering, scientific thinking and the arts have created a very modern world. All Britons should welcome the ceremony as a triumph to the nations capability and imagination to host the Olympic Games without the world comparing it to Beijing's 2008 ceremony, it was their history and culture, this was ours, the greatest history. Proud Briton (Northern Ireland).

July 29, 2012 01:06 AM #

Jimbo TH says:

The Beeb's video of the Daniel Craig/Queen segment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW5abat5NEU) isn't available outside the UK on YouTube, so here's another clip (for as long as it stays up)! http://vimeo.com/46518877

July 29, 2012 11:00 AM #

Angie says:

I am absolutely gutted at the press coverage of the Opening ceremonies. It did not do us volunteers justice of the hard work we have put into this ocassion, spanning months of preparation in really bad weather

Credit and coverage has been given literately to all the other easiest sections of the show but not the hardest working part of the show, Pandemonium.

I personally had to endure constant colds, cuts bruises, etc to forfil my role and yet all the media attention went to the Brunels and the arial shots of the stadium.

Without us volunteers there would not have been such a spectacular show and the coverage should have reflected our hard work, commitment and dedication. Again I am bitterly disappointed that us, the 10,000+ volunteers did not have our 2 second "moment" on screen to the 1 billion plus spectators around the world.

To add insult to injury, there are empty seats at many of the current events and yet us volunteers have not been offered these seats, instead these are going to teachers, etc.

In all I am bitterly disappointed of being a volunteer, especially as I am born, breed and living within 2 miles of the Olympic stadium.

However, I have many new friends through being a volunteer, so I take some comfort of this fact.

July 29, 2012 06:29 PM #

Duncan says:

Hi Angie,
I thought Pandemonium was incredible - it was spine tingling and full of raw emotion. If you took part I'd just like to say thank you - it will live with me forever and you should be proud of taking part. For me and many of the people I have spoken to it was the stand out element of an amazing showcasing of British talent and creative potential. Congratulations and don't feel too down! You did us proud.

July 29, 2012 06:50 PM #

Jill says:

Sorry you feel that way Angie. As a peformer in this section myself I can say that you don't speak for me or I suspect for the overwhelming majority of volunteers who were lucky enough to take part in this wonderful scene. It was an amazing, uplifting and emotional experience. I don't think TV would have fully done it justice as there was too much going on for the cameras to capture. You're right, the scene could not have happened without us volunteers, and those who saw it live would have appreciated how hard we worked. Don't you feel a tiny bit proud that whenever you see pictures of those glowing rings above the stadium, (and they will surely become a lasting image from these games,) you will be able to say, "I was there?" I know I do.

July 31, 2012 07:12 PM #

Philip Rock says:

Totally loved the ceremony. The 'creator' indeed did his job well, not worthy of a KBE just yet though. "Just doin my job eh Danny"? What does need sorting out though is wheeling out Paul McCartney each time a big 'event' takes place in Britain. C'mon, we're getting a bit bored of him and 'hey Jude'. Sorry Paul but you've had decades of attention. Hey, it's about time someone else had the chance to shine. The opening ceremony already profiled the richness of British music so let's give them a chance to shine at the end hey? I'm sure 'Jude' would agree...

July 30, 2012 08:17 AM #

Tony M says:

Show was really excellent. As an ex Pom living in New Zealand I was really delighted to watch the historic achievements being celebrated but with typical British understatement and an ironic approach . Cannot think of any other country which would have its Head of State acting, it's orchestra with a ring in comedian and a number of blatantly political statements all mixed up with music and film and children amd horses and literature and menacing creatures offset by flying Mary Poppins ' s.

The volunteers were indeed terrific even if the tv coverage didn,t feature them enough .

What a show . Pity there,s never going to be Olympic Opening Ceremony 2 .

July 30, 2012 06:27 PM #

London 2012 Watch: Pandemonium Reigns at the Opening Ceremonies

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