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Rachel, Artist in Residence
Visualising an Opening Ceremony
Rachel, Artist in Residence
We were huddled together around a table in Brighton to discuss and consider a vision for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies for London 2012.Each one of us was very pleased that we were there, that our individual creative voice

And why this particular group of individuals? Because each one of us is passionate about the notion of a mass spectacle.

As an opener, Martin Green, Head of Ceremonies at London 2012, and Leon Cambell, Producer, Ceremonies at London 2012, brought us up to speed by sharing video-snippets from the last 4 Games Ceremonies; Barcelona, Australia, Athens and Beijing. And it wasn’t long before we were all vociferously condemning and condoning. It was a great starting-point. And a bunch of creative individuals was never going to pull its punches.

So what shape should the ceremony take? What vision of Britain do we want to share with the world? What represents our identity as a culturally diverse nation? As always, it seemed very easy to address what we don’t want the ceremony to be about - but then interestingly there began to emerge a number of issues that we were all in agreement with; sustainability, legacy, and most important beauty. All sorted then?

Well not quite! But certainly a starting point at which we were each able to begin testing our ideas. And from these personal beginnings a collective voice did also begin to emerge, a clear indication that we do have a common sense of the human expression that is the Games. And if we can tap into this we will indeed contribute to a ceremony which will be capable of touching everyone. So we collaborate in a universal landscape where politics, religion and conflict play no part.

And as British citizens there is only one thing that we ask of ourselves - are we all on board for London 2012? And if the answer is yes, then the roadshow - so to speak - has already started and all we have to do is create an Olympic and Paralympic ceremony in which as Britons we are united, sharing and expressing a global vision and of our pride and sense of honour to be hosting the greatest sporting championships in the world.


12
August