This lunchtime, workers around the country will down tools for what promises to be the most spectacular Olympic opening ceremony of all time promises to be the if footage from rehearsals leaked onto the internet last week are any indication.
But I think many of us will tune-in secretly hoping somebody will make a wally of themselves before the entire planet. Dianna Ross missing an open goal during the Opening Ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup is the only thing I can recall from that spectacle. And you’ll never convince me the flaming arrow intended to light the torch at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics didn’t soar straight past its intended target and end up in the car park outside. It clearly did!
Sometimes gaffs aren’t required and the ceremony itself is enough of a laughing stock. Eight years ago in Sydney we were treated to Aussies running around with washing lines on their heads because apparently it was invented by an Australian. I cannot believe organisers couldn’t have found something a little more suitable.
But sometimes the organisers get it right. In 1996, Muhammad Ali, visibly shaking from Parkinson’s, lit the Olympic Torch which was a perfect start to a Games that had been roundly criticised for over-commercialisation.
So, today marks the start of the most-talked about sporting event in history – even if inexplicably (and extremely irritatingly) the football tournament began two days ago. Let the Games begin…
