Olympic Countdown Songs of Praise

'Every Olympic Games begins with this motto...'

'A trio of Latin words, which means faster, higher, stronger.'

I bet you didn't know, but those words were inspired

by the teachings of a Dominican priest 100 years ago.

Well, this week, I've come to Stratford, east London,

where this time next year, the 30th Olympic Games will be taking place.

So it's on your marks, get set, go!

'So, this week, I'll be looking around the Olympic site

'as the builders are about to move out,

'meeting the vicar laying the Games' spiritual foundations

'and enjoying more great music from Britain and beyond.'

UPBEAT INSTRUMENTAL

'In just over a year, London will host the Olympic Games.

'It's the biggest sporting event to ever take place in the UK.'

'This is the brand-new Olympic stadium,

'which will welcome a massive 80,000 spectators

'and billions more watching on television around the world.'

If you're lucky enough to be in one of these seats,

you're guaranteed an experience you'll never forget.

The biggest event in the Songs Of Praise calendar

is the ever-popular Big Sing, when thousands of us raise the roof

in the glorious surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall.

'And I'll have exciting news about this year's Big Sing event

'at the end of the programme, so have a pen to hand.'

'Construction at Olympic Park started five years ago.

'It's already three quarters finished.'

The Games are on track, thanks to an army of workers

whose mission was to turn Britain's Olympic dream into reality.

At its height, the workforce reached 16,000.

That's the size of a small town.

This place has got its own medical centre,

fire service, even police force.

'And this building site is the last place you'd expect to find a vicar.

'But it's a community, like any other.

'Kelvin Woolmer is hard-hat chaplain to the workers.'

How did you get this job?

-Well, I used to be a policeman.

-Right. How did you get that job?

I was ordained in 2001

into the Church of England.

And I became the borough chaplain for Tower Hamlets

in my last few years in the police.

I'd retired, and then we went and got the Olympics

in the summer of 2005.

And I was asked to look at this job,

to take on the role of chaplain for the construction workforce.

It was an opportunity that won't come again, so take it with both hands.

This has got to be the biggest parish ever, hasn't it?

Everywhere you look, there are workers, construction going on.

As a parish, it's unique.

Because we've got no children and we've got no mums and toddlers clubs.

But we do have a lot of fellas away from home, not seeing their family.

I'd love a look around. Shall we go for it?

-Walk on.

-Fantastic!

You'll definitely know our next hymn - For All The Saints.

The words were written by William Walsham How,

who was actually Bishop here, in the East End of London.

Were people a bit reticent to start with, coming up to you?

Initially, they were. They didn't understand what we were about.

But I think, once we'd broken the ice

and people learnt they could come to us about anything

and what they said stayed with us, was confidential,

that's when we really couldn't cope.

Because you could have them queuing up to come and talk to me.

We deal with people of all backgrounds, all faiths,

all situations.

And we're just generally there for them.

So, it's not a case of you evangelising?

You're not here to try and convert people?

We're not here to convert anybody. One of the workers said,

"You'll never make me a Christian."

I said, "I've got more chance of making you a Jedi Knight

"than I have of making you a Christian."

So once we got past that point,

and once everyone understands we're not here evangelising,

that we're just here as people of faith,

albeit a Christian faith, we are here for everybody.

Because we are all God's children.

So we are here to look after them for him.

'As Kelvin's been telling us, this area has attracted people

'from all different backgrounds and faiths.

'It's also created lots of employment.

'Londoner Keith Gordon is just one of the army of workers

'who've transformed this area into a world-class sporting venue.'

Tell me a bit about what you do here.

Well, I'm an apprentice on this Olympic site.

-Doing what?

-Landscaping.

I'm an apprentice landscaper.

You must be very proud when you look at that sight.

Oh, yes. I'm really proud.

To see this site how it was before it got to this stage,

it was just all mud and just rubble.

And to see what it looks like now, I'm just proud to be a part of that.

Is this the sort of place you're going to bring the family?

Oh, definitely.

I do want to bring my family down here,

so that I can, in a sense, show off,

to say, you know, I helped to put in those trees.

I did those hills there. I helped to plant those plants.

Is this work for you or is it pleasure?

I think it's a bit of both.

But more pleasure for me,

so the whole job itself is a pleasurable experience.

# As high as the heavens

# Are above the earth

# So high are your ways to mine

# Ways so perfect they never fail me

# I know you are good all the time

# And through the storm

# Yes, I will praise you

# Despite it all

# Yes, I will sing

# Through good and bad

# Yes, I will worship

# For you remain the same

# King of Kings

# You are the voice of hope

# The anchor of my soul

# Where there seems to be no way

# You make it possible

# You are the Prince of Peace

# Amidst adversity

# My lips will shout for joy

# To you, the most high. #

All the athletes will have one thing in common - the will to win.

Sport isn't just about competition.

It can unite nations and bridge barriers.

When I was in South Africa for the Football World Cup,

I found out exactly how sport can change the world.

'South Africa's emphatic return to international sport

'was underlined at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

'But, for the country, the tournament had a deeper resonance.

'During apartheid, the Springboks were hated by most black South Africans,

'because rugby was the sport of their oppressors.'

As President, Nelson Mandela saw the potential of sport

to unite and reconcile a divided country.

'This was reciprocated by the South African captain, Francois Pienaar,

'who took his players to Robben Island during the 1995 tournament.

'He was the last team member to visit Nelson Mandela's former cell.'

I stood in that cell, and he was on Robben Island for 17-odd years.

And it was just a small cell with no view, really.

And, er, I remember...

Because now I've met him, we've spoken about many things.

He came to the opening - just before the opening game, he came to see us.

It was very emotional.

'During the tournament,

'the team also learnt their country's new national anthem.'

We got a voice coach in to teach us how to sing.

And the players loved it. They were training in the showers.

We laughed at each other when it came to the pronunciation.

Some of the forwards just couldn't pronounce some of the words.

We sang it regularly.

It was important for us to be able to sing our national anthem.

'In the final, the Springboks faced the favourites, New Zealand's All Blacks.

'President Mandela visited the home team's dressing room before the match.'

And he wore a Springbok on his heart.

Never did we know he was going to be there.

And nor did I ever imagine in my wildest dreams

that he would wear a Springbok shirt,

having fought against the Springbok,

as it were, in the days of apartheid.

He stood with a Springbok on his heart and he said good luck to us.

And when he turned around, my number was on his back.

So when I stood there in front of 65,000 people -

and, actually, in front of the world,

because I knew this was beamed across the world -

I was too emotional. I could not open my mouth to sing,

because I knew I would cry.

I knew I would just cry, because I was so proud.

And I remember looking to my right,

and my team-mates were singing Nkosi Sikeleli from the bottom of their stomachs,

and the tears were rolling down their cheeks.

They were also incredibly proud.

So I realised we would play until we couldn't play any more,

until they have to drag us off the field that day.

When that final whistle blew, I went down on my knees

to say thank you for the privilege of playing in this wonderful match.

And before I knew it, everybody just stormed around me.

And the whole team was around me on their knees.

And I just asked one of our players to say a prayer,

and everybody bowed their heads.

That's when all the emotions of the six weeks just came to the floor.

We said thank you for the opportunity to play in the World Cup.

It was a very special moment.

I think it's one of the first times ever that a sporting team

showed their faith and belief in such a way.

# Nkosi Sikelel i'Afrika

# Malup hakanyiswu phondolwayo

# Yiswa imithanda zo yethu

# Nkosi Sikelela

# Thina lusapolwayo

# Morena boloka setjaba sa heso

# O fedise dintwa le matshwe ne ho

# O seboloke

# Seboloke

# Se tjaba sa heso

# Se tjaba sa South Afrika

# South Afrika

# Uit die blou van onse hemel

# Uit die diepte van ons see

# Oor ons ewige gebergtes

# Waar die kranse antwoord gee

# Sounds the call to come together

# And united we shall stand

# Let us live and strive for freedom

# In South Africa, our land. #

As we can see, the stadium is completed.

Everything around it almost completed.

-Does that mean the end of your role here?

-Not entirely.

It finishes as the chaplain to the construction workforce,

but I still run a parish.

I've got plenty of people I've got contact with.

So I've got a continuing role.

What's been your proudest moment?

My proudest moment is just being here

and being available to these people.

For them to talk to me and my team

and to share part of their life.

Has your faith changed in the time you've been here?

It's got stronger and stronger and stronger.

Because you can see God at work in everything here. You really can.

People might not understand what God is,

but in praying for them, walking around, listening to their stories

and seeing this work going up, God has got to be in this.

The piece of music you chose reflects the time you've spent here.

Yes. It's The Prayer.

And it's got those wonderful words in it -

"We are all God's children and we are seeking God's grace."

That's what I've been doing. Walking around here,

praying that everybody receives God's grace.

# I pray you'll be our eyes

# And watch us where we go

# And help us to be wise

# In times when we don't know

# Let this be our prayer

# When we lose our way

# Lead us to a place

# Guide us with your grace

# To a place where we'll be safe

# A world where pain and sorrow will be ended

# And every heart that's broken will be mended

# And we'll remember

# We are all God's children

# Reaching out to touch you

# Reaching to the sky

# We ask that life be kind

# We ask that life be kind

# And watch us from above

# And watch us from above

# We hope each soul will find

# We hope each soul will find

# Another soul to love

# Another soul to love

# Let this be our prayer

# Just like every child

# Give us faith so we'll be

# Safe. #

'Lord God, may our world come together

'and be united as one people,

'joined in joy and love

'for one common purpose,

'of being humanity at its best.

'Lead us in love and may your Holy Spirit keep us safe

'and guide us in living your gospel.

'For the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.'

For some athletes, this will be the greatest moment of their lives.

The hard work will have paid off. It's the finishing line.

Look, I've just won a race. Mind you, it was only me competing.

I'd love to be here in 12 months' time.

Imagine this stadium full - 80,000 people cheering.

The atmosphere's guaranteed to be electric.

APPLAUSE

'As promised, I'll have news of how to get your ticket

'for this year's Big Sing in just a moment.'

APPLAUSE

Grab a pen and paper, because here we go again.

It's that special time of year when I can announce

how to apply for tickets for this year's Big Sing,

which takes place on Sunday 11th September.

"From where?" I hear you ask.

You've guessed it. The Royal Albert Hall.

The all-important ticket line number is...

For more details or to apply online, please go to our website...

So, if you want to be inside,

as opposed to outside in the cold, then don't miss the boat.

If you don't manage to get tickets,

you can watch from the best seat in the house - at home on your telly.

I'll be there. See you soon.

'Next week, Pam Rhodes explores the enduring power of hymns

'as the Methodist Church publishes a new hymn book

'called Singing The Faith.

'So there'll be plenty to enjoy, with great hymns

'from the congregation in Oxford, Wallingford Parish Church Choir,

'and special guests Melanie Marshall and Wynne Evans.'

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