Last Friday, I attended the official launch of the Cultural Olympiad for Cambridgeshire at Ely Cathedral. Appropriately, I wore my Olympic pin badge (the pink one) and almost on arrival was pointed out as the 'local lad' who was part of the team which created the emblem for London 2012. Within minutes of my arrival I was standing next to the Mayor, and was being entertained by 80 young children, from the Cathedral Boy's Choir and the Ely Imps.
Standing in the medieval arches of the Cathedral porch, they sang traditional British folk songs, whilst being illuminated in Olympic Pink. During their final musical piece, the London 2012 Olympic Flag was carried through the Cathedral by Glenn Kirkham (a member of Team GB’s Men's Hockey squad), which was warmly received by all present. With the formalities over, the guests were treated to a Son et Lumière – an awe-inspiring light and sound experience which portrayed the story of Ely past, present and future.
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.
