London Ready To Do It Their Own Way

By Onochie Anibeze , reporting from London

What will London offer to the world?
The opening ceremony of  the Olympics goes a long way to score the games in the minds of millions of observers.

And countries spend huge resources to show  what they are and what they are capable of doing. Sometimes, a great opening ceremony may remain the issue throughout the games and cover up organisational lapses that would have, ordinarily, scored the games low in the minds of all.

In the past four recent games, Sydney and Beijing stand out as magnificent and stupendous shows that people still talk about till date. Beijing was so full of science and technology that London, the next hosts were so awed that they said “well, we will do it our own way.”

They did not believe that they could match or surpass what Beijing offered and reminded all that they would do it their own way. But as time dragged on they grew in confidence and now say they will organise the best games ever. And they intend to begin with the opening ceremony.

Typical of Britons, they have boasted about tomorrows ‘s show more than the citizens of the past games did about the shows they hosted. England wins everything in the media but when it matters most they fail and begin to offer excuses that denied them the best. They still don’t believe their last team to the European Championship was awful. Before the competition, just like the past World Cups, they boasted of winning  but never came close to doing so.

However, they are  good in inventing things. Interestingly but unfortunately to them other  countries later outdo them in their game. They invented football but the game eluded them and Brazil came to be known as custodians of the beautiful game. The theme song for Euro ’96 that they hosted was and which this reporter covered was  “Football is coming home.” They wanted to win it and prove to the world that football has come home, to where it began. But they did not even get to the final although they presented what remains their best team in modern times. With David Seaman, Addams, Nevile, Southgate, Pearce, Ince, Gascoigne, McManaman, Sheringham, and Shearer they looked a solid team. But Germany beat them in the semifinal and football never returned home.

A picture taken on July 25, 2012 in London at night, shows the Tower Bridge adorned with the Olympic Rings, two days before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP.

Tennis started here but they are still searching for a Briton who will win Wimbledon in these modern times.  Pierre de Courbatin, the legend behind the modern Olympics visited England to develop ideas that led to the first modern Olympics in 1896 but on August 12 when the final medals table would be out and the curtain drawn here, Britain may not likely to be among the top finishers. That’s why tomorrow ‘s opening ceremony means a lot to them. The attitude here is “If  we cannot win the games let’s make the greatest impression with the opening ceremony.”

They have promised the world a grandiose show that will remain green in the memories of all for the rest of their lives. Atlanta ’96 captured musical entertainment in it’s best. Sydney dramatised their interesting history, captured the life of Australian Bushman before civilisation came, the war that followed between the invading Europeans who were banished and dumped in their lands as ex convicts who must not associate with noble men and how peace was achieved between the Aborigines, the original owners of the land and the Europeans who are now Aussies in a strong and united Australia etc. Sydney made sea life symbolic and upped drama in a way that is yet to be matched. Athens acted the Olympic story but emphasized the many gods that make their history unique. Beijing was pure science and magic. Weather forecast read that rain would fall on the opening ceremony.

They blew a mixture of carbon monoxide and some other substances into the sky and held the rain. AJU!  JUJU? They took the opening ceremony to a level London initially admitted that they would not match. They know it will be difficult to surpass Beijing and they want do it their own way. They will have music and dramatise the Union Jack, spicing it with monarchical perspectives. The world will judge them when they are done today.

Tips on the opening ceremony show that it will still be a great show even if they do not match Beijing and Sydney. Opening ceremonies are always  great spectacles and a probable indication of what follows.

But with the  anthem and flag of North Korea being mistaken for South Korea’s, forcing protests that have already dented the organisation here, with security issues and shrewd intent to maximise in areas where past hosts offered tremendous hospitality, the games are already being bashed by the international media. The opening ceremony offers London a chance to make a good impression. It begins tomorrow .