The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
The Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
Spectators attend the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Performers dressed as a Pearly King and Queen are seen as the Olympic rings are illuminated during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
LONDON (AP) ? Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:
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USA CHEERS
The U.S. team got one of the biggest cheers of the night. There were a lot of them and the drummers were urging them on. I would say they looked resplendent in their Ralph Lauren. But, you know, the big show is about to come.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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WINDING DOWN
I think there might be such a thing as procession fatigue. I see fewer people dancing in the stands now, although they still seem to be taking photos like there's no tomorrow. We are seeing stage managers frantically gesturing for the teams to hurry around the track and drummers coming up behind them.
Perhaps another reason for the rush: London's Tube network is closing down in an hour or so.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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SPEED IT UP
As the time neared midnight, organizers in black pushed the athletes to get moving. They speeded up the music. But the athletes weren't having it. They wanted to dance, to wave at the cameras, to soak in their moment. Gaps emerged in the parade.
? Danica Kirka ? http://twitter.com/danicakirka
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GOOD WEATHER
Danny Boyle could not have planned it better. We have had a little bit of rain, cloud, some haziness and now the wind is picking up. In other words it is the most typical and glorious of summer evenings.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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A MISSED CHANCE?
So many Olympics have been blighted by war and boycotts. Now the global context is economic depression and growing bitterness. I wonder: Have top heads of state missed a chance by largely staying away? There's a major feel-good factor here, the games are a metaphor for all that's good about globalization. A lost opportunity? Surely this is a better forum than rushed and overcrowded summits.
? Ian Phillips ? Twitter http://twitter.com/phillipsian
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CAN MOM SEE ME?
The parade of athletes seems to be moving more quickly than usual, with the Olympians moving in step with drums.
It's a beautiful night, and everyone just seems to be floating on the cool air of the stadium ? savoring their moment. They are waving and mugging for the camera ? can mom see me at home? They are so glorious in their national costumes, matched to their flags, so proud.
? Danica Kirka ? http://twitter.com/danicakirka
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WHICH ROUTE IN?
What is determining where they shepherd each delegation? Some come down middle, others walk long way around. It's some sort of pattern, but can't figure it out.
? Cassandra Vinograd ? Twitter http://twitter.com/cassvinograd
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TORCH RUN
Getting it right on the night: Outside the stadium, British Olympian Steve Redgrave is doing a series of practice runs with the Olympic torch ? and it's being handed to him by David Beckham. Everything's being filmed.
The torch lighting ceremony comes later.
?Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski
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A FLAG SURPRISE
The biggest surprise of the night: the French team waving Union Flags. Never in a million years did I think I would see that.
I think I might be changing my opinion on a few things tonight. Nations really are coming together.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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LOST VIBE?
The vibe in the stadium has.... ebbed. The crowd is pretty quiet, not even cheering that loudly. Seems like folks are tired and a touch bored of techno.
Some parents have been packing up and starting to take the kids home. Bedtime? Crowd participation also totally fell apart, it seems, during the extravaganza.
Also notable: no lines for the bathrooms. Seriously ? never seen that before at a stadium.
? Cassandra Vinograd ? Twitter http://twitter.com/cassvinograd
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GET ME OUTTA HERE
Eating in a nearly empty pizza shop in the middle of the opening ceremony, Edward Dee of Southwest London was over the Olympics.
"It's too expensive. There's too many people here. I want nothing to do with the Olympics."
So he's off to Holland then Budapest for the entire games. He'd have been gone already, but a train delay caused him to miss his train out of St. Pancras station and he was stuck in London until Saturday morning.
"I missed my train by two minutes. But I'll be gone first thing in the morning."
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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WAIT IS OVER
The march of nations into the stadium right now couldn't fail to move anyone.
Some of the countries are getting bigger cheers than others ? anywhere with a name including the word British in it gets a slightly bigger one, of course.
This is something that we have watched on TV as children and adults, but it feels different that it is happening right here, right now and in London. I think it really feels now like the wait is over.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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A CHANGE IN TONE
There has been a change in tone. The lights are up, and as the athletes make their way around the stadium, cameras are flashing on the blue background like twinkling stars.
The only thing that might not be sitting well with the Brits right now is the fact that everything is being said in French first. The French coming first in anything is not good as far as the English are concerned.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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IS THAT FRENCH?
Yes, French is the official Olympic language. And yes, of course it has a place in an Olympic opening ceremony.
Nevertheless, it's still kind of striking ? at least, from the perspective of an American and the Brit sitting next to him ? to hear the sounds of French ring out in the stadium of a one-time empire that was conquered by the French nearly 1,000 years ago.
(History lesson for context: William the Conqueror, a Norman, invaded England in 1066 and defeated King Harold, infusing many things French into England for hundreds of years to come.)
? Ted Anthony ? Twitter http://twitter.com/anthonyted
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ABIDE WITH ME
For those wondering, that was "Abide by me" ? a Christian hymn that was sung as the Titanic went down, according to survivors. It's also been the prelude to England's soccer FA Cup final for many years.
? Ian Phillips ? Twitter http://twitter.com/phillipsian
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ON SPOILERS
The Olympics used to be able to get away with tape delaying events in far off time zones without anyone knowing what happened until they watched it at home.
Not anymore. Social media has taken that all away, making it harder and harder for people who prefer to watch the event on TV be surprised when they sit down on their couch hours after it actually happened.
After I tweeted a grainy picture of James Bond parachuting in, several of my followers back home in the States complained.
"SPOILERS!" (at)tomdar tweets. "We don't get it here for another three hours."
Sorry dude. This is the world that we live in.
?Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski
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ROCK AND RAP
Crikey, those flames were hot. The party has started. Did anyone ever think that Brits were reserved? We know how to rock and, as Dizzee Rascal is proving, we also know how to rap.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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HUMO(U)R ...
We are seeing a bit of the British self-deprecating humour here. A montage of things that we love, but also embarrassing things we have done in the past that we love to laugh about.
The famous denial by a BBC weatherman that there will not be a hurricane ? that was a big one. And a reference to "The Archers," a quaint radio soap about the British countryside that people love but would never admit to it.
For the record: It is cracking.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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LENNON'S TAKE
Finally: The Beatles make an appearance in the story of Britain. Which begs the question: What would John Lennon think of all this? Would he love it or skewer it?
He'd probably manage to do both at once.
? Ted Anthony ? Twitter http://twitter.com/anthonyted
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CLICHE ? BUT OK
So far a lot of the British cliches have come out, but they have been subtle. The NHS, the worker, the British nanny and Mr. Bean. It is a reflection of all things British but it is also a way of telling the world what we gave them.
Of course, we wouldn't boast. But a little reminder now and again doesn't hurt.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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HER MAJESTY
The queen sure knows how to draw a crowd. As she allegedly parachuted down to Olympic Park, a mad rush of those outside the stadium ensued.
Observers sprinted to the area, hoping to catch a glimpse.
"It's the queen!"
Alas, "she" landed too far away to be seen by most outside the arena.
? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski
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BRITAIN'S NHS
In Britain, you'll often hear gripes about waiting lists, wards and distant dates for operations. But don't read too much into that. There's little the country cherishes more than its National Health Service ? introduced as a free health care system after World War II. That tribute just now at the opening ceremony will have gone down very well in the UK.
? Ian Phillips ? Twitter ? http://twitter.com/phillipsian
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COMPRESSED STORYTELLING
Rarely in any forum but the Olympics is an entire country distilled in one performance. In short: You don't usually see medieval farmers, National Health Service nurses, James Bond and an evil "Harry Potter" character in one place. Plus: Molten metal and Mary Poppins. How do you choose from more than a millennium of history? What important stuff gets left out?
? Ted Anthony ? Twitter http://twitter.com/anthonyted
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THEY'RE REALLY NURSES
Some of the nurses dancing in this segment of the opening ceremony aren't just dancers. They're ... nurses.
? Danica Kirka ? Twitter ? http://twitter.com/danicakirka
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BOND. JAMES BOND
The crowd went absolutely wild at "Good Evening Mister Bond." If there are two things that many Britons love right now it is the Queen and James Bond. Put them together and you are on a winner. More surprisingly I cannot remember the Queen
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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JUST LIKE BEING THERE
A technologically savvy volunteer worker did his best to circumvent not having a ticket to the big show.
He stood just across the bridge from the stadium and streamed the ceremony on his cell phone. A crowd of six more disenfranchised workers quickly gathered around him.
"That's 10 a piece please," Timothy Harris joked.
Thank heaven for technology. He worried his power may run out before the show ended, so he was lining up others for potential replacements.
As the helicopters lowered the glowing rings into the stadium everyone oohed and awwwed.
"That is fantastic," Harris said. "Well done guys."
So close, but so far away.
"It's seriously sad," one woman said.
?Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski
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A CONSUMING TALE
This is really showing the unique story of Britain and Britons. A mix of humble workers and aristocracy. It isn't over the top; it is understated yet somehow powerful.
Brits don't like to overplay things. The silence of the narrative says everything that needs to be said.
And yet: I just noticed that my foot has been beating the rhythm this whole time.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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HIGH-SPEED HISTORY
It is really incredible to see the transformation into an industrial society. So shocking. It must have been like this for the people of rural England in some way, really. It was all happening so quickly. Things familiar, then suddenly so dark. And scary.
? Danica Kirka ? http://twitter.com/danicakirka
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NO TICKETS, STILL HAPPY
A group of 10 Nigerians didn't let a few rain drops, or the fact that they didn't have tickets to the opening ceremony, dampen their spirits.
They laughed, danced, clapped their hands and sang songs near the entrance to Olympic Park.
They yelled in unison: "We represent Nigeria!"
? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://twitter.com/APkrawczynski
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JERUSALEM
The first song, Jerusalem, is often used when England needs its own anthem. God Save The Queen is actually the British National Anthem. This is a real nod to England, but there's a lot of Irish, Welsh and Scottish imagery on show too.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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FIRST IMAGES
The Clash. The Sex Pistols. Lily Allen. Pink Floyd. London's Olympics open with a fast-moving montage of the UK that immediately summons the musical tradition of the past generation of British music. "God save the Queen," sing the Sex Pistols. The music moves on before the second line: "She ain't no human bein'."
? Ted Anthony ? Twitter http://twitter.com/anthonyted
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THE GAMES BEGIN
The 2012 London Olympic Games have begun.
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RUGBY!
The scene moments before the ceremony begins: The sheep and other animals are leaving. The cameras are still flashing. Around the stadium people in old-fashioned clothes are playing rugby. Besides football (as we call it here) rugby is one of the most popular team sports in Britain. And we invented it.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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RETICENT BRITS
Brits are a little stubborn by nature. The part of the proceedings labelled "Audience Training" where they are told what to do is interesting because they are really throwing themselves into the practice tasks they are being given.
They'll be controlling big bouncy balls thrown into the stands and passing large silk sheets over their heads.
The final word from the people giving instructions: "DO participate."
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item, and get even more AP updates from the Games here: http://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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