The Opening Act

Light showers preceded the opening ceremony. However, the evening skies cleared up soon enough for the proceedings to begin.

The event was named “The Isles of Wonder” and was directed by the legendary Danny Boyle better know in Asia for his Oscar winning movie “The Slum dog Millionaire”. The show began with local hero and Tour De France winner Bradley Higgins ringing the huge Olympic bell much to the delight of the 80,000 spectators in attendance at the Olympic stadium. Rural Britain was depicted with images from Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales. Men could be seen playing a game of cricket.

There were little children singing in groups. Famous quotes from William Shakespeare followed. The 18^th & 19^th century industrialization was wonderfully depicted with excitement on the one hand and fear & hardship on the other. Several chimneys sprouted from the earth with smoke billowing out from each one of them. Thousands of workers could be seen laboring hard. Iron ore and steel production that epitomized the revolution was on display. The Olympic rings then came together with all the pyrotechnics and the suspended rings looked majestic making the evening look even more resplendent.

The James Bond act ensued with our famous 007 agent Daniel Craig calling on her Majesty – The Queen and then taking off in a special chopper. The Queen made acting look so easy and effortless. The organizers needed only a single take to shoot the sequence of images. The unfurling of the union jack followed shortly after her Majesty was welcomed by the President of the IOC – Dr Jacques Rogge.

UK’s National Health Service set up shortly after World War II was enacted. One could see little children being attended to by nurses. Bedtime stories were read out to them. Enter J.K Rowling of “Harry Potter” fame and all her imaginative creatures and characters immediately came to life.

Sir Simon of the London Symphony Orchestra walked in next to the roar of the cheering fans and began his show. One of the personalities on the keyboard was Mr. Rowan Atkinson – better known to the world as Mr. Bean. He was at his humorous best fiddling with his mobile phone and enthralling everyone present with his mannerisms and characteristic expressions. The famous Greek composer Yanni’s composition could be heard.

The evolution and growth of British music over the centuries was up next after which the growth of social media and its effect on Britain was depicted.

On the whole, this opening ceremony did showcase the culture, art, literature, music and the social life of both old and New Britain. It was thoroughly enjoyable though certainly not comparable to the magnificent show put up in Beijing four years ago. Yet, the evening was a one to remember considering the difficult and tumultuous times that we are in. The entire show was commendable considering the fact that it was put up at roughly one-tenth the cost of Beijing 2008.

The march past of the 204 nations was next and lasted for almost an hour and a half. More than 10,000 athletes were in attendance from well known countries as well as the not so well known nations such as Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Cook Islands, Gabon, Gambia, Guam, Lesotho, Kiribati, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Sao Tome & Principe etc.

David Becham crossed the Thames in a motor boat along with the GB women’s football Captain and handed over the torch to Sir Steve Redgrave who then ran into the stadium and passed on the torch to a group of seven youngsters specially chosen to light the cauldron. The youngsters lit the copper petals. The flame spread into a concentric circle and the stems were moved to a vertical position to form the cauldron. There were 204 stems in all depicting the total nations participating in the 30^th Olympiad. Sir Paul McCartney mesmerized the crowd with his soulful rendition.

Let the games begin….

Trivia 3

1. Charlotte Cooper won the first gold medal in tennis at the 1900 Paris games
2. The US Basketball team was known as the “Dream Team” in 1992, however, in 2008, they we called “The Redeem Team”
3. Of the five Olympic rings, the yellow ring represents the continent of Asia
4. The mascot of the 1972 Munich Games was “Waldi”
5. “Inside Track” is a famous book on the legendary Carl Lewis
6. The mixed doubles event in tennis would be staged for the first time in London 2012
7. The track and field event with the longest distance is not the marathon but the 50 km walk
8. The “Woodies” – the well known doubles pair of Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodford  added the tennis gold to their illustrious kitty in the 1996 games at Atlanta
9. Frank Fredericks of Namibia became the only sprinter in the Olympics to win silver medals in both the 100 as well as the 200m events
10. The Asian female athlete to win a bronze medal in the women’s 200m at the Sydney games in 2000 was Susanthika Jayasinghe from Sri Lanka
11. Linford Christie of Jamaican origin who represented Britain at the summer games became the oldest athlete to win gold in the men’s 100m event at the 1992 games in Barcelona. He was 32
12. The legendary Mohamed Ali lit the Olympic flame at the start of the 1996 games in Atlanta
13. Greece marched twice at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens – 1^st as per tradition; 2^nd being the host nation
14. Russia and Japan are the only two nations to have won 5 Olympic gymnastics team titles each
15. In the 1956 Melbourne games, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, Sweden
16. The famous movie – “The Chariots of Fire” is based on the exploits of the legendry sprinter, Harold Abrahams in the 1924 Paris Games

Anagrams 4

Unscramble the word/words below to get the answer based on the hints provided:

1.       EOJ ZAERIFR – Mohamed Ali’s rival

2.       AOY GIMN – Basketball

3.       ROODIH – Seoul 1988 Mascot

4.       VAOAP MIRUN – Legendary Olympian

5.       GERSIE KUBAB – Always raised the bar

6.       NIL AND – Chinese Shuttler

7.       SAUKEK TIKAIAJM – Japanese swimmer

8.       SIUSSAC LACY-Boxing legend

9.       ROCHT YEARL – Symbolic of every Olympics

10.   TAINRAM GINISH – Tennis star

11.   LEYTEFESR – Wrestling or Swimming

12.   CEANLAB MABE – Think gymnastics

13.   SISUSDC ROTHW – Track & Field event

14.   NAIVBHA RINDAB – Ace Indian Shooter

15.   LEDSRUH – Need to cross them

16.   VETENS GRADEVER – British Rower

17.   ANJ YEEZNZL – One of the greatest Javelin throwers

Let the Games Begin

The greatest show on earth begins in less than six days. The grand opening ceremony of the London Olympiad would be telecast live across the globe at 9 pm (BST). I would be fortunate to view it at 11 pm local time since I’m in the middle-east. Most of the other European nations would have a time advantage too, come Friday evening. However, back home in India and the other parts of Asia, the date would be 28^th August; Saturday since it would be well past midnight by the time the show begins. This year’s games would feature more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations.

Despite the furore and the negativity surrounding the start of the summer games over safety, security and the capability of the organizing committee to handle and manage thousands of athletes, fans & officials that has been pouring in over the last few days, the games would leave a lasting legacy of sporting excellence and several fond memories.

The famous Olympic torch has already made its way to London a couple of days ago. Defending champion and men’s singles gold medalist from Beijing 2008, Rafael Nadal would not be carrying the Spanish flag this summer since he has pulled out owing to a knee injury. Feliciano Lopez replaces him. One can only sympathize and feel sorry for the great Rafa who would unfortunately miss this rare honor that’s bestowed upon select athletes.

The legendary Roger Federer would be returning to his favorite turf at AELTC to have a shot at the men’s singles gold medal to add to his overflowing showcase of silverware. The indomitable Williams sisters would like to have something around their necks as well. In football, Argentina would be looking for a hat-trick of gold medals.

In athletics, lightning is likely to strike again in the form of Usain Bolt who would face a stiff challenge from Jamaican and country mate Yohan Blake in the 100m. Can Jamaica topple the USA in the sprint events in the men’s and women’s categories? We’ll have to wait and watch. In swimming, the man they call the Baltimore Bullet would have a tough challenge ahead of him in the form of Ryan Lochte. It would be an amazing feat if Micheal Phelps goes on to win 7 gold medals at London 2012. Who can forget his magnificent 8 gold medal haul at Beijing in 2008. In pole vault, the ever green Russian Yelena Isinbayeva would look to win gold again and break another of her own world records.  

As usual, it would be a battle between China & the USA for the top two spots in the medals table. Last time around, it was the Asian giant that topped the medals table winning the highest number of Gold medals four years ago. The Chinese would be dominant in Table Tennis, Gymnastics, and Badminton with these three sporting disciplines fetching them the maximum number of medals. The other countries in the top 10 would be Germany, Australia, Great Britain, Russia & France.

As far as India’s chances are concerned, it is likely to win at least six medals. The main contenders in my opinion are: Saina Nehwal (Badminton), Vijendar Kumar (Boxing), Sushil Kumar & Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestling), Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang & Ranjan Singh Sodhi (Shooting), Mary Kom (Boxing) & Deepika Kumari (Archery). It would be wonderful if we could win some medals in weightlifting, track & field and tennis as well. This Olympics would see the Indian contingent win the most number of medals ever.

Anagrams 3

Unscramble the word/words below to get the answer based on the hints provided:

1.       YRGBU – A contact sport

2.       GOAL RUBTOK– Legendary Olympic Gymnast

3.       ANDALLHB – 7 Players in each team

4.       NADW ZERARF – Great Australian Swimmer

5.       ROSIB REEKBC – A tennis legend

6.       ODONLN – Olympic Venue

7.       TREEP AGED – Danish Badminton Star

8.       IRONAM NOESJ – Started her career as a Basketball player

9.    SAUNI TOLB – Lightning strikes

10. NEBROL  MAESJ – Basketball USA

11. RALHOTTEC POROEC – Tennis star of yesteryear

12. ERGG GALUOSIN – One of the greatest Olympic divers

13. VAJRIE MOTORAYES – High Jumper

14. ALIG VEERSD – American Sprinter

15. LYF GWIETH – Boxing category

16. REABS – Think Fencing

17. RERYAHC – Modern Bow & Arrow

Trivia 2

1. Norman Pritchard became the first Indian to win two silver medals at the 1900 Paris Olympiad
2. The 1500 m is the last event in the Decathlon
3. Rohini Bharadwaj represented the USA in gymnastics at the Olympics
4. Gao Lin from China is the female shuttler to have won the most number of medals in Badminton at the Olympics
5. Japan was supposed to have hosted the summer Olympiad in the year 1940, but the event was cancelled due to World War II
6. Sam the Eagle was the mascot of the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles
7. The Blue ring on the Olympic flag represents the continent of Europe
8. The “Fosbury Flop” was named after its inventor - the legendary Dick Fosbury. It’s a high jump technique
9. The Equestrian events in the 2008 Beijing games were not held in China, but in Hong Kong
10. In the 1908 Olympics, the Russian team did not turn up in time for the shooting event and the gold medal was awarded to the American team. The Russians turned up 2 weeks late due to the difference in time zones between the Julian and the Gregorian calendars
11. Ice Hockey – a winter sport, made its debut at the summer Olympics in Antwerp in 1928
12. The three mascots of the 2000 Sydney games were Syd, Mille & Oly – short forms for “Sydney”, “Millennium”  & “Olympics”
13. Yoshimori Sakai was given the honor of being the torch bearer during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics since he was born on 6^th August 1945 in Hiroshima, the day of the bombing
14. The country to have won the most number of medals at the Athens Olympics in 1896 was Greece
15. Table Tennis as we know it today was earlier referred to as “Ping Pong”

Anagrams - 2

Unscramble the word/words below to get the answer based on the hints provided:

1.       WIDNE EOSMS – One of the greatest hurdlers ever

2.       NAAY NONOTAV – Wimbledon Champion in the 90s

3.       EAESGSRD – Think of Horses

4.       OPEL ULAVT – Take off from the ground

5.       ORKB TNYARB – Basketball

6.       GINCEA KIRYET – Indian Hockey Star

7.       TCAMOSS – An integral part of the modern Olympics

8.       CNFGIEN – Sword fighting?

9.       ECDEU – “Equal” in tennis

10.   NOLLEI IMSES – The greatest footballer ever? May be

11.   MJI REOHPT – A legendary athlete

12.   CGROE ARNOM – Wrestling style

13.   MEMLOP SOERH – Think of Gymnastics

14.   PMJU LABL – An Olympic sport

15.   NIGIVD – Water?

16.   CAMR TRESOS – From Federer’s land

17.   ATHANORM – Considerable distance

Anagrams 1

Unscramble the word/words below to get the answer based on the hints provided:

1.       ATMT  NIOBID – American Olympic Swimmer who won medals in three consecutive Olympics

2.       GINWSMIM – An Olympic sport

3.       LATOERNM – An Olympic venue

4.       ARLC WSILE – A legendary athlete

5.       ILME EPKOAZT – A great long distance runner

6.       IRENBL – An Olympic host

7.       ETTLISACH – Outdoor events

8.       UEDBOL PTAR – Shooting

9.       ONGIWR – Something to do with water

10.   NUORD IRBON  - A format for teams in  a group

11.   JNURA PAPLAHA – Indian Hockey Player

12.   AONHY KELAB – Usain Bolt’s nemesis?

13.   IAHLK UARMK – Indian Boxer

14.   EUSSHR IALADMK  - Commonwealth Games

15.   SOBIR CEREKB – Wimbledon

16.   OYTKO – Olympic Host

17.   DJOU – Originated in Japan

Trivia

1. Wilma Rudolph, the legendary American athlete won 3 gold medals in athletics in the 1960 Rome Olympics. She was diagnosed with Polio as a child
2. The triple jump was earlier known as the hop, step and jump
3. The black ring on the Olympic flag represents the continent of Africa
4. India beat USA 24-1 in an Olympic hockey match
5. Los Angeles was the only Non-European nation to have hosted the summer Olympics in 1932 between two world wars
6. The hockey team of New Zealand is referred to as “Black Sticks”
7. Melbourne became the first host city outside the continents of North America & Europe to have hosted the Olympic games in 1956
8.  The Indian National Anthem was sung for the first time at the 1948 London Olympics
9. Stockholm became the first Scandinavian venue for the Olympics in 1912
10. The 1908 London games lasted 187 days
11. The famous Husband & Wife duo to have won gold in the same Olympics in Badminton were Alan Budi Kusuma & Susi Susanti
12. In the 1972 Munich Games, Russia beat USA in a controversial Basketball final
13. Future World War II General George Patton won the Pentathlon in the 1912 games
14. The concept of the Olympic Village as we know it today was first brought about in the Los Angeles games in 1932 where 500 houses were specially constructed for the male participants
15. Flying Mare & Cradle are terms used in wrestling
16. France became the first nation to host both the summer as well as the winter games
17. In Archery, the dead centre of the target is known as the Pinhole

Hope you liked it. I compiled this from the Olympics Quiz show on ESPN-Star Sports hosted by the popular Alan Wilkins.

Olympic Anagrams to follow in my next blog…