As part of the weekend of cultural events, a small but inspirational event took place in Ely on Saturday afternoon. An Art East local artist held a workshop for children to create Chinese lantern/junk boats, with the plan to launch them on to the Great River Ouse at dusk the Sunday evening.
The following evening I took my family down to the river. In the swirling winds the Olympic flag was raised – juxtaposed against the illuminated pink, 11th Century, Norman Cathedral in the distance. The candle lit boats were lowered on to the water to the sound of the soaring strings of a live orchestra – Ely Sinfonia. It was quite a poignant moment as the boats floated downstream alongside the passing swans. Perhaps it was a way of saying thank you and farewell to Beijing, but for me it was a sure sign that the Games of XXXth Olympiad and its Cultural Olympiad had really started. Let’s hope that the events of this weekend, taken place across the country, have lit the hearts of many and have proved that we can truly deliver Everyone's Games. Cultural Olympiad
