Live Blogging the Opening Ceremony

Good evening! Victor Mather here at Olympic Stadium in London, where we’ll be describing all the action of the opening ceremony that “the man” doesn’t want Americans to see. For a few hours anyway. Along for the ride are other reporters and photographers who will be reporting along with me.

7:52 P.M. |All Over

All in all: Danny Boyle wins the night for that witty, wry and just plain fun opener. The Czechs also deserve some admiration for the umbrellas-and-rain boots joke.

— Campbell Robertson

7:45 P.M. |A New Generation

This is where the 2012 Olympic slogan “Inspire a Generation” comes into play–with seven young people lighting the torch. The torch is a big circle of smaller torches all on long stems –petals, they’re called — and once they’re all lit, they rise up together. After the Games each of the petal-torch things will be given to each of the national teams at the Olympics. It’s obviously lovelier to look at than to explain.

— Campbell Robertson

7:42 P.M. |The Torch Arrives

The big moment has arrived. David Beckham arrives with the torch in his boat. He passes it to Sir Steven Redgrave, the five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist, who brings it into the stadium. A group of seven teenage Olympic hopefuls of the future now take their turns carrying the torch once around the stadium.

We are told that 260 British Olympic medal winners are on hand, as the young athletes split the torch seven ways. And they take off on another run.

Now they are at the center of the stadium. They put their torches down and  flames break into dozens of pieces, then rise and converge to make the Olympic caldron.

And … fireworks.  And … Sir Paul McCartney.

— Victor Mather

7:26 P.M. |The Queen and Ali

Doug Mills/The New York TimesJacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.

Jacques Rogge has a lot to say. Thanks, Jacques. And the queen declares the Games open! In her low-key queenly way, which is a stark contrast to the huge explosion of fireworks that follows and seriously frightens one of my colleagues.

And now the arrival of the Olympic flag, with eight flagbearers. Among them is Haile Gebrselassie, the all-time great distance runner.
And Ban ki-Moon, the U.N. secretary general, Nobel Prize winner Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, along with other worthies.
And joining them at the end is … Muhammad Ali, who made such a memorable appearance at the 1996 opening ceremony.  A huge cheer for Ali.

Next up, the Olympic oaths, taken by an athlete, an official and a coach.

— Victor Mather

7:17 P.M. |Cheers for Women Athletes

In a speech, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, remarks on the fact that all nations have sent at least one woman to compete, and the cheers follow.

— Campbell Robertson

7:10 P.M. |A Welcome from Coe

Doug Mills/The New York TimesFireworks during the ceremony.

Fireworks over the stadium! And the Arctic Monkeys! They’re singing “Come Together,” and some glowing blue dove marionettes have arrived on the scene. And a flying bicycle. It’s midnight local time … we are going long, folks, probably by a good margin.

Time for Sebastian Coe to give some words of greeting. “Welcome to London” gets a huge roar. “I have never been so proud to be British” gets another big roar.

— Victor Mather

7:08 P.M. |The Meaning of Bikes

Doug Mills/The New York TimesWinged riders represent doves.

Addendum: The people on the bikes represent doves, which were released at the ancient Greek games. And the Beatles cover is being performed by the Arctic Monkeys.

— Campbell Robertson

7:07 P.M. | A Bit of Beatles

That is, fireworks and a Beatles cover and people on bicycles with big wings.

— Campbell Robertson

7:03 P.M. |And the Cauldron Lighter Is?

The various delegations have all moved into the center and we’re about to find out who’s going to light the caldron. But not before some fireworks.

— Campbell Robertson

7:01 P.M. |The Stars and Stripes March In

Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe fencer Mariel Zagunis in front with the flag leads the United States team.

Here’s the United States, with the fencer Mariel Zagunis in front with the Stars and Stripes. Among the notable athletes spotted are many members of the men’s basketball team, including Tyson Chandler, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, plus Tyson Gay and Kerri Walsh.

The Urugayans theatrically toss their hats in the air.

Uzbekistan, Vanuatu … And we inch ever closer to Zee …

And at the end … Britain. The crowd goes mental. Confetti falls. David Bowie’s “Heroes” is struck up. A big moment. But there’s more to come …

Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe British team members, in white space jackets with gold trim, entered the stadium.

— Victor Mather

6:41 P.M. |The Women from Saudi Arabia

Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe Saudi Arabian athletes come into the stadium.

Saudi Arabia comes in with three women in their delegation! A first. All are wearing the hijab. Here’s Novak Djokivic with the Serbian flag. He blows a few kisses. And Caster Semenya is carrying South Africa’s flag. She thrusts her fist in the air as she enters the stadium. For Spain, Pau Gasol of the men’s basketball team leads the way.

— Victor Mather

6:32 P.M. |Let’s Dance

The stewards who stand in rows to divide athletes into sections periodically break into dance. Not spontaneous dancing, but actual semi-choreographed synchronized dance. They’re shaking it right now to “Mr. Blue” by ELO. It’s a great feature that keeps the energy level up as we creep through the alphabet. Another glamour flag-carrier, as Maria Sharapova does the honors for Russia.

— Victor Mather

6:20 P.M. |Pastels for Germany

Though many countries choose to coordinate their uniforms with the colors of their flag, Germany has gone in the other direction, with the women in pastel pink and the men in matching blue.

Each team is being led to a particular spot in the infield, but only some of Croatia’s athletes remained. A large group continued on and exited the stadium. Perhaps they have competition coming up in the next few days and want to get some rest? We haven’t seen other teams do this yet.

The three “Independent Olympic Athletes” (actually from the Netherlands Antilles, which isn’t a country anymore) are particularly jolly, strutting and goofing for the crowd.

It’s a model U.N. here, as Iran is followed by Iraq, then after Ireland, there’s Israel.

Italy is led by Valentini Vezzzali, who has won three straight gold medals in women’s foil, and will go for No. 4 this year.

A huge roar as Usain Bolt carries the flag for Jamaica.

— Victor Mather

6:19 P.M. |North Korean Athletes Make Their Entrance

Doug Mills/The New York TimesAthletes from North Korea entering the stadium.

6:06 P.M. |The Independents

Best delegation of the night so far: “Independent Olympic Athletes.” Three of them, and they appear to be having more fun than anyone. Crowd goes wild.

— Campbell Robertson

6:04 P.M. |Countries Large and Small

Canada’s big delegation is led by Simon Whitfield, gold medalist in the triathlon in 2000. China’s flag is carried by the tall Yi Jianlian, a former New Jersey (Brooklyn) Net. Also casting a big shadow is the massive wrestler Mijain Lopez Nunes, who is easily flinging the flag around with one hand.

The Czech Republic came armed with portable umbrellas, which they open up simultaneously. A nice touch.

And don’t forget the small countries with their tiny delegations, like Comoros, Chad and the Cook Islands ( who come dressed in leis).

— Victor Mather

6:01 P.M. |China Marches in to a Song by The Pet Shop Boys

Doug Mills/The New York TimesChinese athletes entering the stadium.

6:01 P.M. |Fiji and Bee Gees

OK, now, this is just getting too fun. Here comes Fiji, marching to the Bee Gees. #stayinalive.

— Campbell Robertson

5:57 P.M. |Egyptian Style

The Egyptians are here and I have to say, they look pretty sharp out there. Can’t see the labels from here, though.

— Campbell Robertson

5:55 P.M. |Bhutan Makes Its Entrance

Doug Mills/The New York TimesAthletes from Bhutan entering the stadium.

5:55 P.M. |A Weather Commentary

Wow. The Czech Republic athletes are coming wearing rain boots and carrying umbrellas. A little snarky there, Czech Republic.

— Campbell Robertson

5:46 P.M. |Chinese Athletes and Pet Shop Boys

The formidable Chinese athletic delegation marches into the arena to the Pet Shop Boys’ “West End Girls.”

— Campbell Robertson

5:40 P.M. |The Parade of Nations

Doug Mills/The New York TimesAthletes from Greece entering the stadium.

5:37 P.M. |Fun and Anxiety

The guy holding the flag for Benin has a judo match in less than 12 hours. They all look like they’re having fun, but, man, the nerves.

— Campbell Robertson

5:36 P.M. |Parade of Nations Begins

And now the Parade of Nations. A grand tradition. First, as always, comes Greece. Their flag is carried by a taekwondo athlete, Alexandros Nikolaidis. Next comes the alphabetically powerful Afghanistan, and the others.

All-time W.N.B.A. great Lauren Jackson carried Australia’s flag. She is waving it vigorously. Tennis player Max Mirnyi carries the flag for Belarus. And Bermuda arrives in Capri pants. No, of course not! You know very well what they’re wearing.

After each team completes a lap of the stadium, it takes its place in the infield, which will be chockfull before long.

— Victor Mather

5:34 P.M. |Ceremony Music on iTunes

UPDATE: I’ve just been informed that the music from the opening ceremony will be released on iTunes just as soon as the ceremony is over, at midnight. As will the music for the closing ceremony, later, after, you know, the ceremonies close.

— Campbell Robertson

5:27 P.M. |How to Make a Grand Entrance

Matthew Lloyd/Getty ImagesDavid Beckham passes under Tower Bridge carrying the Olympic Torch.

5:23 P.M. |Athletes Arrive

The athletes of the games come out into the stadium eliciting the biggest cheers of the night, with the possible exception of those after David Beckham’s first appearance.

— Campbell Robertson

5:20 P.M. |Beckham and the Torch

And here’s David Beckham, now seen on video delivering the torch by boat from Tower Bridge. There’s a big cheer for him.

And now, a little jarringly, a moment of silence for “friends and family who could not be here tonight.” Photographs sent in by audience members of their deceased loved ones are projected on the video screens.

Now some modern dancers perform while the hymn “Abide With Me” is sung by Fairly Famous Briton Emeli Sandé. They’re throwing everything they can think of out there now!

— Victor Mather

5:16 P.M. |Applause for the Internet

The climax of the pop sequence is an appearance by Famous Briton Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Internet. He waves and is applauded. Is that his whole role? Was that why there was text messaging and Facebooking going on earlier?

And why did that come at the end of the pop segment? Couldn’t they have trotted out Mick Jagger or George Michael or Boy George or someone? Perhaps that was one of the “baffling bits” that Danny Boyle mentioned at his news conference today.

— Victor Mather

5:14 P.M. |“Sweet Dreams” and “Satisfaction”

Chang W. Lee/The New York TimesGroups of dancers on the field.

The next segment begins with a tribute to television, or the family or youth culture maybe? There’s a bit of text messaging going on as well.

Now groups of dancers are arriving and, I have to admit, I’m relying on my media guide to tell me that each pod is supposed to be a nightclub representing a different decade of popular music.

First, we’re in the ’60s: “Satisfaction,” and so on. Now the ’70s: “Bohemian Rhapsody.” My colleague Andrew Das points out that if Freddie Mercury were alive, he’d be performing here today. That would have been something. Now the ’80s: “Relax,” “Sweet Dreams.” Earlier today, Danny Boyle mentioned his enthusiasm for Britain’s contributions to pop music, and we’re seeing and hearing them here.

— Victor Mather

5:02 P.M. |The Soundtrack? Sensational

I’d also happily buy a soundtrack for this whole ceremony–the Who, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Stones, Kinks, Beatles, David Bowie, Queen. We’re not even out of the ’70s yet.

— Campbell Robertson

5:00 P.M. |Mr. Bean’s Fitting Finale

Mr. Bean just ended his segment by making a flatulent sound effect on the synthesizer. The British are taking this in a somewhat different direction than Beijing, and I have to say, I heartily approve.

— Campbell Robertson

4:58 P.M. |More on Mr. Bean

They’ve now wheeled out an enormous, and enormously creepy, baby on a big bed.  That’s the finale of the hospital sequence. It had a certain something.

Now here’s Famous Briton Simon Rattle. Conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. In … “Chariots of Fire.” Of course!

And Famous Briton Rowan (Mr. Bean) Atkinson is seated among the orchestra members for some clowning. Clever idea to undercut the portentousness of the song.

The video screen now shows the famous beach-running scene from “Chariots of Fire” … with Rowan Atkinson added through cinema magic.

— Victor Mather

4:49 P.M. |The Olympic Rings Make Their Appearance

Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe rings breaking out of the sky.

4:49 P.M. |Mr. Bean on the Keyboards

Mr. Bean is now playing “Chariots of Fire” on the synthesizer. Industrial Revolution notwithstanding, this may be the most English section of the whole thing.

— Campell Robertson

4:45 P.M. |J.K. Rowling and “Peter Pan”

Chang W. Lee/The New York TimesA multitude of Mary Poppins fly in for the show.

And now the moment that has been rumored about this ceremony for some time. A tribute to the British National Health Service. Yes, you read that right. There are hundreds of hospital beds on the field, with patients and doctors boogieing on them. We are told the dancers almost all actually work for the N.H.S. This is going to be a well-remembered section of the show for its sheer conceptual audacity.

Famous Briton sighting! J.K. Rowling reads from “Peter Pan.” We are seguing into a tribute to children’s literature. Various villains are arriving, including the Queen of Hearts, Cruella de Vil and Voldemort.  Who will save the day? Mary Poppins, arriving from above. Huzzah!

— Victor Mather

4:37 P.M. |600 Hospital Beds on the Run

Chang W. Lee/The New York TimesThe ceremony gives a nod to the National Health Service.

In the middle of “God Save the Queen,” 600 staffers from the National Health Service run out rolling hospital beds, each occupied by a patient. A little odd, granted, for an Olympic ceremony. Wonder what Mitt Romney thinks of this segment?

— Campbell Robertson

4:35 P.M. |The Queen Arrives

A video is showing Daniel Craig (as James Bond) arriving at Buckingham Palace. And the queen is in it! The genuine queen, not some costumed performer. She just said, “Good afternoon, Mr. Bond.” What a trouper! They’re getting in a helicopter (on video). And now they are jumping out of the plane (through special effects). Cute.

But now here’s the real queen in the stadium. Darn, if only she had actually arrived by parachute, or even helicopter. I guess that was a bit too much to ask. The Union Jack is also arriving under honor guard.  And “God Save the Queen.”

— Victor Mather

4:24 P.M. |What Does It All Mean?

There is tremendous activity going on everywhere at the moment. It’s impossible to take it all in. I see suffragettes, Cockney “pearly kings,” and a bunch of guys dressed as the Beatles in the Sgt. Pepper era. What does it mean? And now flying in from above: the Olympic Rings make their first appearance! They’re made (or are made to look like they’re made) of forged steel.  Meanwhile the dark satanic mills of Britain are spewing flame, and I can smell the sulphur from here.

— Victor Mather

4:23 P.M. |A History Lesson, Plus the Beatles

So much history going on in this sequence–the soldiers of World War I, the labor movement, the West Indian immigrants who came to Britain after the second World War, and, rather incongruously, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

— Campbell Robertson

4:18 P.M. |A Shakespeare Moment

Here is the speech from “The Tempest” that Mr. Branagh reads:

“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.”

I could listen to him read Shakespeare for quite a while longer. But the Industrial Revolution waits for no man.

— Campbell Robertson

4:16 P.M. |Workers’ Stomp

Phil Noble/ReutersKenneth Branagh performed.

And it’s Kenneth Branagh! How many more Famous Britons will be seeing tonight? Plenty, I bet. He’s reciting from “The Tempest.”

There could be trouble for the green and pleasant land! It seems the Industrial Revolution is starting. It’s signaled by drumming by Fairly Famous Briton Evelyn Glennie. The peasants are leaving and here comes the 19th century!  Workers are actually tearing up the sod before our eyes. The industrial working class is arriving, marching in grim ranks. This is a huge job and hundreds and hundreds of cast members are executing it. Soot-black chimneys are rising from below.  This is the most visually stunning part of the show so far.

— Victor Mather

4:06 P.M. |Let the Games Begin

The show begins with a video of the Thames, and a clip from the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen.” Cheeky! And now the ringing of the Olympic bell! That is a big, big bell. And the ringer is … recent Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, who will be going for gold at these Games in the cycling road time trial. He rings the bell successfully! Cheers, Bradley!

A boy soprano is now singing “Jerusalem.” And now the full children’s chorus has moved on to “Danny Boy.”

4:05 P.M. |The Opening Bell

Charlie Riedel/Associated PressTour de France champion Bradley Wiggins rang a bell.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London and to the Games of the 30th Olympiad!” Bradley (Wiggo) Wiggins, the recent winner of the Tour de France and the wearer of magnificent sideburns, rings the opening bell.

— Campbell Robertson

3:57 P.M. |Seen and Herd

Doug Mills/The New York TimesSheep milling at the stadium.

The sheep have all been herded out of the arena–a sign, I supposed that things are about to get started. There is, however, still plenty of birdsong coming over the speakers.

— Campbell Robertson

3:53 P.M. |Bearish

The United Nations secretary general, Ban-ki Moon, comes on the Jumbotron to declare an Olympics truce, calling on warring parties everywhere to lay down their weapons during the Games. In a related development, the country of Belarus was recently invaded by teddy bears.

— Campbell Robertson

3:49 P.M. |Gleaning Wheat

The pastoral scene is really quite remarkable. There’s a giant water wheel, a full menagerie of animals, some cottages with smoke coming out of the chimneys, a giant waterwheel, maypoles, farmers gleaning wheat–you almost could be in merrie olde England.  Except, I guess, for the mosh pits. Fifteen minutes until the show!

— Victor Mather

3:41 P.M. |A Break From the Showers

The rain seems to have stopped, in that quintessential English raining-not-raining sort of way. Danny Boyle, who put this whole show together, comes out now and the crowd bursts into cheers. He pays tribute to the athletes and the volunteers who have worked on the ceremony for going on two years now — a short speech and he gets out of the way. The orchestra is now coming onto the village green (shire?), in black suits and sneakers.

3:37 P.M. |Peasants Playing Cricket!

Hannibal/European Pressphoto AgencyEven the actors need to warm up.

The audience has been given some extraordinarily complicated instructions about waving glowsticks. I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Hopefully, the audience understood better.

And now the peasants on the field have started playing cricket! Remember, the show hasn’t actually started yet. The peasants are just *that* into their roles.

And the rain has begun! Right on cue. Good old London. The cricketing continues, though.

— Victor Mather

3:33 P.M. |Warming Up Before the Big Show Begins

Fabrizio Bensch/ReutersPlanes leave behind trails of colored smoke.

3:32 P.M. |And the Rain Begins

Your host Curtis Walker: “It wouldn’t be the London Olympics without a little rain. We don’t want people confusing us with the Caribbean.”

Umbrellas up all throughout the lower seats.

— Campbell Robertson

3:22 P.M. |One Hungry Farmer

Rustic peasants are in their places in the tableaux. One “farmer” is munching on an apple — brilliant method acting or just a hungry extra?

And now a chap named “Curtis Walker” is warming up the crowd. We are urged to make noise. Two “mosh pits” filled with civilians are also in place. Will moshing be occurring at some point?

— Victor Mather

3:19 P.M. |The Scene Outside

Outside the arena, it could be any sporting event, with people searching for entry gates, standing around in circles and lining up 20 deep at the bars and fish-and-chips stands. The air is heavy with the fragrance of beer and vinegar.

And the flags, on T-shirts, dangling from ears, wrapped around necks, painted on faces: American, Canadian, Australian, German, Kenyan, Ukrainian, Indian and Russian.

Proudest of all, of course, are the hometown fans, who all seem to have one complaint: there’s been entirely too much complaining.

“I just wish for a change people could celebrate something in this country instead of knocking it down,” said Ann Woodward, who had come this morning from Surrey with her sister, and who was wearing a Union Jack clown wig.

“I’ll tell you what infuriated me,” said Neil Robinson, a retiree from Colchester, who bought tickets from an acquaintance who was unable to find a baby sitter. “All this nitpicking in the British press.”

“You can never please everybody,” added his wife, Ann.

— Campbell Robertson

3:16 P.M. |The Stadium Is Filling Up

The ceremony is 40 minutes away, but the stadium is nearly full, especially the upper decks, where there is hardly an empty seat. The stadium floor is covered with a pastoral setting. And a big cheer came from the crowd when cows began to arrive.

— Victor Mather

Source & Image : New York Times