2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

Coordinates: 51°32′19″N 0°01′00″W / 51.53861°N 0.01667°W / 51.53861; -0.01667
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"A Symphony of British Music" redirects here. For the soundtrack album, see A Symphony of British Music (album).

2012 Summer Olympics
closing ceremony
Date12 August 2012; 11 years ago (2012-08-12)
Time21:00 – 00:11 BST (UTC+1)
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°32′19″N 0°01′00″W / 51.53861°N 0.01667°W / 51.53861; -0.01667
Also known asA Symphony of British Music
Filmed byOlympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
FootageThe ceremony on the IOC YouTube channel

The

Queen Elizabeth II. The closing ceremony was created by Kim Gavin, Es Devlin, Stephen Daldry, David Arnold and Mark Fisher. The worldwide broadcast began at 21:00 BST (UTC+1
) and finished on 13 August 2012 at 00:11, lasting three hours and eleven minutes.

The stadium had been turned into a giant representation of the Union Flag, designed by

Olympic flag lowered. The main part of the evening featured a one-hour symphony of British Music as a number of British Pop acts appeared. Tributes to John Lennon and Freddie Mercury and the fashion industry were included in the section. Rio marked the handover with an eight-minute section known as "Embrace" created by Cao Hamburger and Daniela Thomas, featuring Pelé. Sebastian Coe
gave a speech, and the volunteers of London 2012 were thanked.

An average of 23.2 million viewers in the United Kingdom watched the event, with an estimated 750 million worldwide. Critics were generally positive, but noted that it was not as good as the

Prime TV in New Zealand were criticised by viewers for their broadcasts of the ceremony. There was also a concert in Hyde Park to close the Olympics, featuring Blur, New Order, and The Specials.[2]

Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2012 Summer Olympics

Production

The creative director and choreographer was

Minister for Sport and the Olympics, stated that he was delighted to have a high-quality team working on the ceremony, while Boris Johnson stated that "we have the best of British creating the spectacular bookends of our Games".[7] Stephen Daldry was the executive producer and Mark Fisher was in charge of production design. The ceremony cost £20 million, with the artists paid just £1 for contractual purposes.[8] Around 4,100 performers took part, comprising 3,500 adult volunteers, 380 schoolchildren from the six original host boroughs, and 250 professionals. There had been around 15 rehearsals for the volunteers at the Three Mills Studio and at a full-scale site in Dagenham, East London.[9]

Gavin said that "the show we are putting on is very shiny, it's very colourful. We don't want to bang on about our culture. We just want to have fun". Es Devlin added that it "has to make sense in Bognor and Bogotá."[10] She said that the creators had happily indulged in the chance to "visually draw on everything" that British imagination can offer.[9] David Arnold said "It's going to be beautiful, cheeky, cheesy, camp, silly and thrilling",[11] and added that "we could have done this 15 times over, and not had the same show, and it would still have been full of amazing British music". He thought that it should be the "greatest after party" and was "really a celebration of Britishness in terms of [all] the arts". Arnold himself had devoted two years working on the ceremony and had turned down all other work including Skyfall, but said that it was the "most fun" he had "ever had in music".[12] In the handover section Rio aimed to express "multicultural embrace." Daniela Thomas stated that Rio "want to show you how sophisticated we mix things, what we do with the things you believe we are, how we mix with pop culture."[13]

The representation of the

Union Flag used as an arena centrepiece was designed by Damien Hirst to celebrate the "anarchy and diversity of British pop art, and by extension the energy and multiplicity of contemporary British culture". Hirst had been approached in November 2011 and agreed to do the design; he called his artwork Beautiful Union Jack Celebratory Patriotic Olympic Explosion in an Electric Storm Painting. 176 photographs made up one centimetre of the stadium artwork with graphic designers having spent three months creating super-high-resolution images before printing.[14]

Some performers had declined to perform, including

Wonderwall".[17]

the Duchess of Cambridge.[18]

Performance synopsis

Rush Hour (21:00–21:09 BST)

Landmarks in the stadium.

The ceremony began after a filmed countdown showing numbers from around London on such locations as road signs,

Gherkin. Newspaper cutouts on both the set and road vehicles sought to show a "day in the life of London", with words from British literary figures such as William Shakespeare, J. R. R. Tolkien and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.[19]

Stomp
performing on household items such as pots, pans and dustbins while suspended on the sculptures of the landmarks.

God Save the Queen

At the same time, former

Big Ben and reprised Caliban's "Be not afeard" speech from The Tempest, first read by Victorian icon Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Kenneth Branagh) in the opening ceremony
. More paper-covered motor vehicles entered. After Churchill finished his speech, people dressed in newspaper print began to fill the arena, ranging from office workers to school children. The beat of the music got faster and noisier, symbolising the London rush hour. As the noise reached a crescendo, Churchill cried out for all to stop, bringing this section to an end.

national anthem of the United Kingdom
whilst the Union flag was raised by the armed forces and the performers waved mini Union flags in the stadium. Once the flag was raised Hirst's artwork was revealed as the grey clouds were removed.

Street Party (21:09–21:20)

This section started off with footage of Michael Caine in The Italian Job counting down from five, whereupon the Reliant Regal from Only Fools and Horses exploded with Del Boy and Rodney jumping out dressed as Batman and Robin. Caine's words, "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!", echoed around the stadium. All the lorries had the newspaper removed and a colourful street party erupted, while Madness performed "Our House". This was followed by the Massed Bands of the Household Division marching whilst playing Blur's "Parklife". Entering on rickshaws, the Pet Shop Boys performed their hit "West End Girls", and then One Direction performed "What Makes You Beautiful" from the back of a lorry. Next there was another performance by Stomp.

Waterloo Sunset (21:20–21:30)

The centre of the arena was then cleared to reveal Britain's Got Talent 2010 winners Spelbound, who performed gymnastics to The Beatles "A Day in the Life", were inspired by the idea of a commuter on the way to work, by forming a bed and a London Bus. Ray Davies of The Kinks arrived in a black cab and played "Waterloo Sunset", as Spelbound continued and local school children formed the Thames. The section closed with Sandé reprising "Read All About It (Pt. III)" as a montage of athletes crying in victory or defeat was shown on the screens.

Parade of Athletes (21:30–21:53)

Main article: 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony flag bearers
Union Flag

Greece led the Entrance of the Flags, as all 204 flags filed in to the strains of "Parade of the Athletes" (composed by Arnold) and marched up the central cross of the union flag, with Great Britain bringing up the rear. Meanwhile, volunteer marshals wearing blue suits and blue bowler hats with light bulbs on top marched into the stadium. The athletes then walked in from the several entrances, with some filtering down through the lower stands. At the same time Elbow performed "Open Arms" and "One Day Like This". The volunteer marshals helped to usher the athletes into pens between the ramps of the arena. As the last athletes streamed into the stadium and the flags were moved by volunteers closer to the Olympic flame, a reprise of some of the songs from the opening section was played.

Here Comes the Sun (21:53–22:07)

16

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
", as performers arranged the boxes to form a pyramid while video highlights from the previous 16 days of competition were shown on the screens.

This was followed by the victory ceremony for the

International Association of Athletics Federations, awarded the medals before the Ugandan national anthem
was played.

Six athletes including Katherine Grainger and Katie Taylor presented flowers to six volunteers in a symbolic recognition of the 70,000 volunteers' contribution to the Games. This part of the ceremony was accompanied by The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun".

A Symphony of British Music (22:07–23:21)

A sculpture of the face of John Lennon at the closing ceremony.

The section commenced with Queen's "

catwalk as they proceeded to the centre, walking to Bowie's 1980 single "Fashion
".

A wooden boat was then carried in; on board was

Mike + The Mechanics, to cover Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here". Near the end of the song a performer appeared on a tightrope above the stadium, walked along it, and shook hands with a mannequin, which then burst into flames (referencing the cover of Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here). A psychedelic bus then enters with Russell Brand sitting on top singing "Pure Imagination" from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" then segues into "I Am the Walrus"; before introducing Fatboy Slim, who played "Right Here Right Now" and "The Rockafeller Skank"; as the bus slowly transformed into a large inflatable Octopus. Three convertible Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupés then arrived; the roof of the first was taken down to reveal Jessie J who sang her hit "Price Tag", as the cars did a lap of the stadium. Jessie J provided guest vocals as the next car had its roof removed, to show Tinie Tempah who sang "Written in the Stars". The third car carried Taio Cruz who sang "Dynamite". All three then left the cars to combine to cover the Bee Gees' "You Should Be Dancing
".

Cabs carrying the Spice Girls.

A number of black

Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life
". Halfway through their performance, they ascended onto the roofs of the cabs and proceeded to race around the stadium whilst singing and dancing from the roofs.
Roger Taylor to re-form Queen, as Jessie J, who wore a long yellow jacket in homage to Mercury, accompanied the pair for "We Will Rock You
." More fireworks ended this section.

Antwerp Ceremony (23:21–23:30)

The section began with the

Brazilian national anthem and raising of the flag. The Olympic flag was raised again in Sochi, Russia, on 7 February 2014 at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics
.

Abraço (Embrace): Um alô do Rio de Janeiro (A hello from Rio de Janeiro) (23:30–23:38)

The end of Rio's segment.

Rio then provided an eight-minute segment to introduce the city and the country to the world, created by a team headed by the

Alessandra Ambrósio, representing Brazilian fashion, and by Pelé
wearing a Brazilian football shirt with his name and the number 10 on the back and a 3D inflated model of Rio's logo. This segment ended with a big firework display in green and yellow (the national colours).

Closing of the Games (23:38–23:48)

Opening of the Olympic cauldron.

Sebastian Coe and Jacques Rogge then appeared on a stage that was in the form of an arrow pointing towards Rio.[19] Coe thanked all of the people who had helped make the Olympics happen. He said that the volunteers, who received another huge cheer, had the right to say "I made London, 2012". Coe thanked the country for getting behind the Games, and recalled his words from the Opening Ceremony "these will be a games for everyone", concluding "these were a games by everyone." He went on to thank the athletes and say that "the spirit of these Olympics will inspire a generation", before concluding that "when our time came, Britain, we did it right!".[26]

Rogge thanked Coe and his

Rio in 2016, ending with "Thank you, London!".[27][28]

Spirit of the Flame (23:48–00:00)

See also: 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics cauldron

The arms holding the copper petals that formed the

Olympic Flame
was extinguished.

Finale (00:00–00:07)

The closing act of the ceremony was The Who, who performed a medley of the songs "Baba O'Riley", "See Me, Feel Me" and "My Generation" as a montage of images of Games volunteers and Londoners appeared on the big screen. All star performers also appeared on the stage behind the band, while participants in the ceremony also marched through the centre stage towards The Who. The set concluded to massive fireworks set off in the stadium and around the Olympic Park.

Technical aspects

catwalk models in high-end fashions, drifting clouds over London, and flicking paint onto rooftop canvases, had been shot for the effects.[citation needed
]

The broadcast of the Olympic closing ceremony featured 1080p and side-by-side 1080i 3D on various TV channels and online.[30][31]

Ratings and reviews

An estimated worldwide television audience of 750 million watched the event.[24] Early data suggested that the British TV audience averaged 23.2 million and hit a peak of 26.2 million at 21.35.[16][32]

The Daily Telegraph commented during the ceremony that, although fun, it lacked "top drawer" performers, and that Annie Lennox was "utterly underwhelming." However One Direction, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz "shone", while the Spice Girls "got the exuberant tone exactly right".[33] Tom Sutcliffe writing for The Independent said that it was "slick, impressive, often visually startling" and "eccentric, bewildering – and shameless good fun". He added that "where Danny Boyle's opening show had been a statement of intent and national values, this was an hour-long advert for British stadium rock-show design."[34]

The Guardian writer Michael Billington wrote that he was not sure how to review "a mix of pageant, pop-concert, street-party and presentation ceremony." He added that it communicated the "energy of British popular culture over the past few decades and the gaiety of our Olympic ceremonies." Billington praised Boyle, Devlin and Daldry, who had done a "tremendous job in lending what might have been orthodox Olympic rituals a blast of theatrical vitality."[35] While Alexis Petridis writing for the same paper said that the lack of a "gasp inducing moment" spoilt the show.[36]

NZ Herald's Troy Rawhiti-Forbes wrote that there were "touches of brilliance, beauty, and bewilderment - often at the same time." However he called Russell Brand "tuneless", and during George Michael's performance he thought that "if there had been remote controls here in the stadium, people might have been reaching for them." His "undisputed champions" of the night were the Spice Girls and The Who.[37] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that the show "had something for every generation" and was an "all-star...crowd-pleaser." However he wonders whether non-British viewers would have understood references to The Italian Job and Only Fools and Horses. Rooney concludes that the "Rio preview and the rousing Britpop marathon that preceded it were a reminder that the Olympics are as much about spectacle as sport."[38]

Gary Barlow was called "inspirational, brave and a consummate professional" after performing despite his wife having had a stillborn baby on 4 August.[39] However, George Michael attracted some criticism for singing his new song "White Light" at the ceremony.[32] Critics saw this as shameless promotion. Michael replied that it was his one chance to thank his supporters, which he didn't regret.[40] It was his first appearance since almost dying from pneumonia and "White Light" was about that experience.[41] Appearances by Russell Brand, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were also seen as controversial, as their previous behaviour had not always reflected Olympic ideals.[41]

International broadcast issues

United States broadcaster

TV5 was criticised because it only aired the first hour of coverage of the ceremony, incorporating highlights into its next morning news programme, Good Morning Club.[44][45]

Music

See also: A Symphony of British Music (album)

Many artists appeared live,[46] yet others were recordings.[47]

54 bands played live and were recorded in total.

Anthems

Victory ceremonies

Notes

  1. ^ Anthem played as part of the Men's marathon victory ceremony.

See also

References

  1. The Voice of Russia. 12 August 2012. Archived from the original
    on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. Pitchfork Media
    . 21 February 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Profile: Kim Gavin, director of Olympic closing ceremony". BBC News. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Kim Gavin: profile of Cultural Olympiad ceremony director". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  5. ^ Hill, Amelia (18 February 2011). "Kim Gavin named artistic director for London 2012 closing ceremonies". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Bond composer will be 2012 musical director". The Daily Telegraph. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  7. ^ Chilton, Martin (18 February 2011). "Top British talent will direct closing ceremonies of London Olympics". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  8. ^ Sawar, Patrick; Duffin, Claire (12 August 2012). "Olympics closing ceremony: spectacular end to the Games will celebrate 50 years of British pop". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  9. ^ a b Cultural Olympiad (23 February 2012). "Adele and Elgar 'mash-up' to close Olympic Games". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. ^ Moreton, Cole (11 August 2012). "Olympics closing ceremony: we've had the wedding, now it's time for the disco". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  11. ^ Singh, Anita (10 August 2012). "London 2012 Closing Ceremony: here come the Spice Girls". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  12. ^ McCormick, Neil (9 August 2012). "Olympics Closing Ceremony: 'It's going to be cheeky, cheesy and thrilling'". The Daily Telegraph. Rock and Pop Features. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Tim (10 August 2012). "Rio getting ready for its Olympic turn". Yahoo Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  14. ^ Devlin, Es (19 August 2012). "Why we reinvented the Union flag for the Closing Ceremony". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  15. ^ "The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, Kate Bush and The Libertines turned down Olympic closing ceremony". NME. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  16. ^ a b c Sabbagh, Dan (13 August 2012). "David Bowie among UK stars who turned down Olympic closing show". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Noel Gallagher turned down Olympic closing ceremony". BBC News. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  18. ^ Rayner, Gordon (12 August 2012). "Olympics closing ceremony: Queen praises athletes but will not be there". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  19. ^ a b Rayner, Gordon (13 August 2012). "Del Boy and Darcey give Rio a unique act to follow". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Bryony Gordon (13 August 2012). "Team of role models made this the Girl Power Games". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i Leitch, Luke (13 August 2012). "Fashion superstars show why Britain is catwalk gold". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Volunteers Bénévoles" (PDF). London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 10 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Morris at the Olympic Closing Ceremony". The Morris Ring. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "London ends Olympics on extravagant notes – Europe". Al Jazeera English. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  25. ^ a b c "London throws World biggest party of Olympic athletes closing ceremony spectacular". London 2012. 12 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  26. ^ Furness, Hannah (13 August 2012). "'We lit up the world' says Lord Coe". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  27. ^ Rayner, Gordon; Marsden, Sam (13 August 2012). "Jacques Rogge praises 'happy and glorious' games". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  28. ^ "London 2012 Closing Ceremony" (PDF). International Olympic Committee.
  29. ^ "Spirit of the flame". London 2012.
  30. ^ BBC TV and HD channel listing
  31. ^ Jones, Paul (16 February 2012). "BBC to broadcast London 2012 Olympics ceremonies and 100m final in 3D". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  32. ^ a b Hough, Andrew (13 August 2012). "Olympic Closing Ceremony: George Michael accused of promoting new single". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  33. ^ McNulty, Bernadette (12 August 2012). "Olympic Closing Ceremony London 2012: review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  34. ^ Sutcliffe, Tom (13 August 2012). "London Olympics 2012 closing ceremony: Eccentric, bewildering – and shameless good fun". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  35. ^ Billington, Michael (13 August 2012). "London 2012 closing ceremony - review". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  36. ^ Petridis, Alexis (13 August 2012). "Olympics closing ceremony music: big acts, big hits, but no big gasps". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  37. ^ Rawhiti–Forbes, Troy (13 August 2012). "Olympics: Closing ceremony review". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  38. ^ Rooney, David (12 August 2012). "Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics: Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  39. ^ Furness, Hannah (13 August 2012). "London 2012: Gary Barlow braves personal tragedy to perform at closing ceremony". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  40. ^ "George Michael defends Olympics closing ceremony song". BBC News. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  41. ^ a b Singh, Anita (14 August 2012). "George Michael criticised over closing ceremony song". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  42. ^ Clarke, John (13 August 2012). "Is NBC's 'Animal Practice' The Most Hated Show on Television?". Forbes. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  43. ^ "Complaints flow for Prime's closing coverage". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  44. ^ "TV5 to replay full London Olympics closing ceremony twice today". Interaksyon.com. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  45. ^ "Netizens cry foul over TV5's "deceitful" info about airing 2012 London Olympics' closing ceremony live". PEP.ph. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  46. ^ BBC Sport (12 August 2012). "Olympics closing ceremony live". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  47. ^ "Olympics closing ceremony:playlist". The Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom). 12 August 2012.
  48. NME
    . 12 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

External links

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