Opening Ceremony Countdown

0:01:20 > 0:01:30To all generations since, London. London has known suffering.

0:01:30 > 0:01:31

0:01:32 > 0:01:37Horror has come to London. But London always rises again.

0:01:37 > 0:01:46London is a monument to the hard times, to the good. The celebration

0:01:46 > 0:01:54of what we have been and what we are today. London, our heart and

0:01:54 > 0:01:58our sinews and our voice. # Up-and-down the City Road

0:01:58 > 0:02:08# In-and-out of the eagle # That's the way the money goes

0:02:08 > 0:02:09

0:02:09 > 0:02:19# Pop goes to weasel. # Poetry and prose, people and places.

0:02:19 > 0:02:23

0:02:23 > 0:02:29London now throws open its doors on a new Theatre of Dreams. A city in

0:02:29 > 0:02:32waiting. A city on the move. Humans on the move. The fascination with

0:02:32 > 0:02:42making the next step faster, higher, stronger and putting the fastest

0:02:42 > 0:02:50and the strongest to the test. This is London of the Olympic Games. And

0:02:50 > 0:03:00since this is our heart, and our voice, London must feel and speak

0:03:00 > 0:03:05

0:03:05 > 0:03:14of romance, of love... # When you turn and smile at me. #

0:03:14 > 0:03:24London is ready. So take a deep breath. COMMENTARY: Absolutely

0:03:24 > 0:03:28

0:03:28 > 0:03:35faultless! He has blown them all away.

0:03:35 > 0:03:45But not for long. For London is about to cry out with heart and

0:03:45 > 0:03:51soul. Let the Games commence! been quite a journey. Seven years

0:03:51 > 0:03:55we have waited and now, on the evening of July 27th, 2012, this

0:03:55 > 0:03:59relatively small plot of land in East London will take its place at

0:03:59 > 0:04:03the centre of the sporting world. Over the next few hours, the

0:04:03 > 0:04:13Olympic Flame will meeyander its way to its resting place where it

0:04:13 > 0:04:17

0:04:17 > 0:04:21will glow for the next 17 days. Msh mean -- meander. Welcome to London

0:04:21 > 0:04:242012. The greatest show on earth is about to begin. It will start with

0:04:25 > 0:04:29what promises to be a spectacular Opening Ceremony, to celebrate the

0:04:29 > 0:04:33Games being back in Britain for the first time since 1948. The ceremony

0:04:33 > 0:04:39faces a unique challenge to be as memorable as the dramatic and

0:04:39 > 0:04:42lavish welcome we received in Beijing four years ago. Well, the

0:04:42 > 0:04:47Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle, has been drafted in to mastermind

0:04:47 > 0:04:51the operation. We can guarantee it will be different. The theme he's

0:04:51 > 0:04:53chosen is Isles of Wonder and we will start by celebrating the Green

0:04:54 > 0:04:59and Pleasant Land of rural Britain. Britain is the focus tonight and

0:04:59 > 0:05:05the world will be watching. Over a billion people will be tuning in.

0:05:05 > 0:05:08No pressure then(!)Huw Edwards can tell us more. This is quite unlike

0:05:08 > 0:05:13any other ceremony in the history of the Olympics. It is certainly

0:05:13 > 0:05:18creative. It's daring. It's highly original. If it all goes according

0:05:18 > 0:05:23to plan, I'm going to dare to say that it is going to be a fantastic

0:05:23 > 0:05:26start to London 2012. What do we have here? We have a chunk of the

0:05:26 > 0:05:30British countryside planted in the British countryside planted in the

0:05:30 > 0:05:34stadium itself. But don't be fooled by all of the tranquillity and all

0:05:34 > 0:05:40of the greenery and the peace. It will all change. There will be

0:05:40 > 0:05:43plenty of noise, plenty of drama. Some great music, too as the

0:05:43 > 0:05:47ceremony unfolds. We should, I suppose, remind ourselves, too, as

0:05:47 > 0:05:52we look at all of this, what is the main purpose of this Opening

0:05:52 > 0:05:57Ceremony? Yes, it is to project British values. It is to say

0:05:57 > 0:06:01something about British history. But ultimately, it is about

0:06:01 > 0:06:05welcoming thousands of athletes to the Olympic Games. That is the

0:06:05 > 0:06:10prime purpose. By the way, there are a couple of mysteries that we

0:06:10 > 0:06:16have still not solved. One of the main mysteries is to do with this

0:06:16 > 0:06:21work of art. It is the Great Olympic Bell. Made at the

0:06:21 > 0:06:26Whitechapel Foundry, which is a local works. They were the ones who

0:06:26 > 0:06:32made Big Ben in 1858. Who will be the person chosen to ring that bell

0:06:32 > 0:06:35at the start of the ceremony? All at the start of the ceremony? All

0:06:35 > 0:06:39will be revealed after 9.00pm. For whom the bell tolls! Over the

0:06:39 > 0:06:42next couple of weeks we shall witness incredible sporting feats,

0:06:42 > 0:06:52we will live through moments of triumph, trauma and tears. History

0:06:52 > 0:07:00

0:07:00 > 0:07:10shows us we are in for a treat. Daley Thompson. I have the big G,

0:07:10 > 0:07:14

0:07:14 > 0:07:20boys. COMMENTARY: Owens wins!

0:07:20 > 0:07:30Faultless! A ten has gone on the board. That is perfection and that

0:07:30 > 0:07:36is Olympic history. COMMENTARY: Emil Zatopek is ahead

0:07:36 > 0:07:43of everyone else! History is being made. Carl Lewis on his way to four

0:07:43 > 0:07:53gold medals. It's an enormous one. He was up in

0:07:53 > 0:08:01

0:08:01 > 0:08:09Gold for Freeman! The nation expected and she's not disappointed.

0:08:09 > 0:08:14There is the man who everyone in the world is now watching. Mark

0:08:14 > 0:08:22Spitz goes into the record books as the greatest-ever Olympic

0:08:22 > 0:08:31competitor. Ovett hits the front and Coe can't get through. Ovett is

0:08:31 > 0:08:41in trouble. Coe gets the medal that he wanted.

0:08:41 > 0:08:41

0:08:42 > 0:08:48Tommie Smith does it! It's going to be oh so close! Great

0:08:48 > 0:08:58Britain ARE the Olympic Champions by two centimetres. Come on, Kelly!

0:08:58 > 0:08:58

0:08:58 > 0:09:08One more! It's gold! You've won it, Kelly! You've won it!

0:09:08 > 0:09:10

0:09:10 > 0:09:14Sebastian Coe, back at his best, is the Olympic Champion.

0:09:14 > 0:09:19Olga Korbut has caused so many sensations here this evening, it

0:09:19 > 0:09:24just isn't true. Eight straight gold medals. Every single person

0:09:24 > 0:09:28stands and salutes Michael Phelps of the USA, the greatest Olympian

0:09:28 > 0:09:32ever. He goes ballistic in all senses of

0:09:32 > 0:09:42the word! He has blown them all away.

0:09:42 > 0:09:43

0:09:43 > 0:09:51Hold on, boys, here we go! Great Britain get the gold medal!

0:09:51 > 0:10:01And the world record has gone. This man surely is not human.

0:10:01 > 0:10:04

0:10:04 > 0:10:07It is one of those great moments That is what it's all about. Every

0:10:07 > 0:10:10day, athletes will wake up to the prospect of fulfilling their dream,

0:10:10 > 0:10:13along with the threat of disappointment. The quest for

0:10:13 > 0:10:17Olympic gold, the ultimate prize in sport, will provide us with

0:10:17 > 0:10:23memories that will last for a lifetime. Our first two guests have

0:10:23 > 0:10:27provided us with many of those over the years. We have Britain's

0:10:27 > 0:10:30greatest Olympian, Sir Steve Redgrave, and Michael Johnson. The

0:10:30 > 0:10:33question that everyone wants to know the answer to, are you going

0:10:33 > 0:10:38to light the Flame tonight? I don't know how many times I have been

0:10:38 > 0:10:42asked that question! LAUGHTER One more won't hurt! We will find out

0:10:42 > 0:10:47very soon. I haven't had a phone call yet. If you excuse me, I have

0:10:47 > 0:10:51still got my phone with me. Danny, if you are interested, I'm here.

0:10:51 > 0:10:56Give him a call. Where's the caldron? I have been looking around

0:10:56 > 0:11:00since I have got here. Any ideas? No idea at all. It will probably

0:11:00 > 0:11:04appear from somewhere at some stage, maybe from over the top. Then,

0:11:04 > 0:11:08there is quite a lot of cables up there. I think he knows more than

0:11:08 > 0:11:14he is letting on! Steve, you were instrumental in bringing the Games

0:11:14 > 0:11:17here. You were involved for the last seven years. It is fantastic

0:11:17 > 0:11:22for British sport. I was involved in the bid as well, so I have been

0:11:22 > 0:11:27involved for 12 years. I remember being asked 12 years ago, sitting

0:11:27 > 0:11:31in a cafe in London, saying, "Would you get involved in the bid?" I

0:11:31 > 0:11:35said, "Yes, that would be fantastic." 2012, that is such a

0:11:35 > 0:11:40long way away. My life had been revolved around four-year chunks.

0:11:40 > 0:11:45Here we are, it's happening. It is happening very soon. It's finally

0:11:45 > 0:11:48arrived. Michael, you know what it is like to compete in an Olympic

0:11:48 > 0:11:52Games in your own country. How different is it? It is very

0:11:52 > 0:11:55different. I believe the most significant part of that is the

0:11:55 > 0:11:58build-up. The athletes that are about to start competing here,

0:11:58 > 0:12:02those athletes over the last few years, on those days when they

0:12:02 > 0:12:05don't really feel like training and they are on their way to training,

0:12:05 > 0:12:09and you pass that billboard that reminds you what you are training

0:12:09 > 0:12:12for, that is an incredible motivation. A home Olympics have

0:12:12 > 0:12:18very significant because of that. Then also because of the funding

0:12:18 > 0:12:22and sponsorship. There's increased funding and sponsorship for

0:12:22 > 0:12:27athletes to train. That makes it a much better situation for those

0:12:27 > 0:12:31athletes. Once you come into this stadium knowing it will be British

0:12:31 > 0:12:35support here for British athletes, that is a great feeling. Help or a

0:12:35 > 0:12:39hindrance? Depends on the athlete. It can be a hindrance to some if

0:12:39 > 0:12:43you don't manage it well. You can walk in here and be overwhelmed.

0:12:43 > 0:12:46You know going into this - especially for those athletes that

0:12:46 > 0:12:49are favourites - they will know there is a tremendous amount of

0:12:49 > 0:12:53pressure. You know this is an incredible opportunity and you

0:12:53 > 0:12:56don't want to miss out on it. You want to have your best performance

0:12:56 > 0:13:01here, but owe know that anything can happen at the Olympic Games.

0:13:01 > 0:13:06You have to be ready and you have to produce that performance on the

0:13:06 > 0:13:10day. That is very difficult to do. Well, we are here waiting for the

0:13:10 > 0:13:15Opening Ceremony. 80,000 ticket holders here at the Olympic Park.

0:13:15 > 0:13:18Many others are making their way here. Here at Buckingham Palace,

0:13:18 > 0:13:21Her Majesty the Queen has been holding a reception there for many

0:13:21 > 0:13:28of the heads of state who will be making their way here to the

0:13:29 > 0:13:37ceremony. She is not on that bus, though, is she?! LAUGHTER This is

0:13:37 > 0:13:42the scene here at Olympic Park. least the weather has stayed dry so

0:13:42 > 0:13:47far as well. Clouds are quite dark overhead. We hope the rain stays

0:13:47 > 0:13:50off. This is Weymouth. All the sailing of course takes place down

0:13:50 > 0:13:55there. Thousands of people are on the beach. They are going to enjoy

0:13:55 > 0:14:00a special showing of the ceremony and the sailors will show up later

0:14:00 > 0:14:04as well which, of course, Team GB does pretty well in over the years

0:14:04 > 0:14:09and is expected to do well again. It is filling up here inside the

0:14:09 > 0:14:15stadium, reasonably slowly, but there's still almost two hours

0:14:15 > 0:14:19until the actual Opening Ceremony makes its start. Down to Huw who is

0:14:19 > 0:14:23down on the track, or what is left of the track.

0:14:23 > 0:14:29Thank you very much. I'll admit, there is a sense of a touch of rain

0:14:29 > 0:14:33in the air. It's fingers crossed. It is filling up nicely now. One

0:14:34 > 0:14:38thing I would say at this stage, Gary, is as we look ahead to the

0:14:38 > 0:14:43ceremony, let's remind ourselves of some of the key reasons that London

0:14:43 > 0:14:47was chosen seven years ago to host these Games. Lots of tough

0:14:47 > 0:14:52competition at the time. One of the reasons was the involvement process.

0:14:52 > 0:14:55To what extent would these Games involve local communities? London,

0:14:55 > 0:15:00being such a rich and diverse city, possibly the richest and most

0:15:00 > 0:15:05diverse city in the world. When you look at one part of London, the

0:15:05 > 0:15:10East End, here, of course the richest and the most diverse part

0:15:10 > 0:15:14of the capital city. One of its prime ambassadors is the rapper

0:15:14 > 0:15:24Dizzee Rascal and he's been explaining why this part of London

0:15:24 > 0:15:32

0:15:32 > 0:15:35to him means so much and why the Forget Big Ben, Hyde Park and St

0:15:35 > 0:15:45Paul's Cathedral, the Olympics is being held in the real heart of

0:15:45 > 0:15:46

0:15:46 > 0:15:50This is the part of the city that needed the Olympics, needed the

0:15:50 > 0:16:00investment. I grew up on a council estate called the Lincoln estate.

0:16:00 > 0:16:08

0:16:08 > 0:16:16I learned to DJ and MC, that is where I honed my skills. What is

0:16:16 > 0:16:26that? I'm all right. Always good to come back here and meet the people

0:16:26 > 0:16:32

0:16:32 > 0:16:37I grew up with. Long-time! Where I know you've seen me. He always

0:16:38 > 0:16:47comes to seem a. You and her should get to see -- get together. Dizzee

0:16:48 > 0:16:54

0:16:54 > 0:17:04Where is everyone? Finally come back to see us after all this time?

0:17:04 > 0:17:05

0:17:06 > 0:17:10Music was a release for me growing up here. It is one of the things I

0:17:10 > 0:17:18could focus my positive energy on to. Sport is also one of the things

0:17:18 > 0:17:28that keeps people out of trouble. Hackney Marshes, a number of

0:17:28 > 0:17:29

0:17:29 > 0:17:34When I was younger, I was into athletics so that is why the

0:17:34 > 0:17:38Olympics mean something to me. This is one of the most multicultural

0:17:38 > 0:17:41places in the world and everybody is going to be rooting for somebody.

0:17:42 > 0:17:47Not necessarily for Britain and that is not necessarily a bad thing,

0:17:47 > 0:17:51it shows the diversity of where I come from. This city has got

0:17:51 > 0:17:56something for everybody. You can have tea at the Ritz or go raving

0:17:56 > 0:18:01at fabric. Go shopping at Bond Street or the market. You can get

0:18:01 > 0:18:09lost or you can get discovered. That is London, the real London, my

0:18:09 > 0:18:13London. From one local start to another. They could be cheering him,

0:18:13 > 0:18:18Trevor Nelson, who is with me tonight as part of the commentary

0:18:18 > 0:18:23team. It is good to have you with us. Amazing, I can't believe I'm

0:18:23 > 0:18:27here. It has finally happened. I'm Hackney boy it born-and-bred, I

0:18:27 > 0:18:32lived in Forest Gate, the other side of the Olympic site. Like

0:18:32 > 0:18:38Dizzee Rascal, I can't believe this. We are walking on what was a waste

0:18:38 > 0:18:43ground. Everybody had forgotten about us and now the whole world is

0:18:43 > 0:18:46looking at us. I also have a sister and my cousin performing in the

0:18:47 > 0:18:53ceremony. I believe that nearly everybody I know it knows somebody

0:18:53 > 0:18:57who is doing something, a volunteer, fantastic people. I hope it goes

0:18:57 > 0:19:02very well. What has the preparation been like for the local community?

0:19:02 > 0:19:07It has been a slow process over seven years. More recently, it has

0:19:07 > 0:19:14built up. A lot of people have sacrificed a lot of hours for this.

0:19:14 > 0:19:18You've had a lot of changes. A lot of changes of preparation, Danny

0:19:18 > 0:19:23Boyle will tell you he has cut a lot of things short. But they are

0:19:24 > 0:19:28loving it. This is their day. it comes to the ceremony itself and

0:19:29 > 0:19:34these guys have a fantastic view, when it comes to the ceremony, the

0:19:34 > 0:19:38music, what are you looking forward to? British music is our greatest

0:19:38 > 0:19:42export as far as I'm concerned. I hope Danny reflect that. I'm

0:19:42 > 0:19:51looking forward to seeing local people performing. Some of the

0:19:51 > 0:19:55legends as well. Rock'n'roll, crime, rave, the whole lot. Danny Boyle is

0:19:55 > 0:19:58contemporary as well. It will be a treat. You will be with us

0:19:58 > 0:20:04throughout, giving us your response to what is going on. Greater have

0:20:04 > 0:20:09you with us. I will be like a fan. Looking forward to it.

0:20:09 > 0:20:14I was a little bit worried about those clouds drifting around! We

0:20:14 > 0:20:18are a few hundred yards from the stadium where stands the Olympic

0:20:18 > 0:20:22village, home for the next couple of weeks to some of the most famous

0:20:22 > 0:20:26sporting human beings on the planet. Including, of course, the fastest

0:20:26 > 0:20:33of all, you send Bolt, he was looking to make more history in

0:20:33 > 0:20:39London. -- Usain Bolt. The men's 100m title has only been

0:20:39 > 0:20:43defended once in Olympic history. And even when it was, in 1998, Carl

0:20:44 > 0:20:49Lewis didn't cross the line first. -- 1988. I don't know how he does

0:20:49 > 0:20:53it, he does something to stimulate him. He was a creditor gold after

0:20:53 > 0:20:57Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids. What should have been a

0:20:57 > 0:21:05glorious first for Lewis, became just another chapter in a saga of

0:21:05 > 0:21:09scandal. But then Usain Bolt hit Beijing. He was from the parish of

0:21:09 > 0:21:13Trelawny Dampney in Cornwall County in Jamaica. He put the fun back

0:21:13 > 0:21:17into it sprinting by running like this. He has blown them all away.

0:21:17 > 0:21:22Three gold medals, three world records, it sparked a new

0:21:22 > 0:21:27scientific debate. Could be human frame go much faster than this? It

0:21:27 > 0:21:32could. Usain Bolt could. The following year at the World

0:21:32 > 0:21:39Championships in Berlin, he set new records. He was now, you Minkley,

0:21:39 > 0:21:43Olympic and world champion at 100m and 200m. A running wonder, a

0:21:43 > 0:21:48swaggering money-making machine and somehow still lovable. If anyone

0:21:48 > 0:21:53could cross the line first in the 100m in consecutive Games, it had

0:21:53 > 0:21:59to be Usain Bolt. London would be his crowning glory. But then

0:21:59 > 0:22:05something went wrong. The final of the 100m at the World Championships

0:22:05 > 0:22:10in South Korea. He wasn't beaten. He beat himself. Did something

0:22:10 > 0:22:15changed when he jumped the gun? Yohan Blake, his training partner,

0:22:15 > 0:22:20won the 100m without him and since then Blake has won with bold

0:22:20 > 0:22:25running twice. There are others who want which goes with being the

0:22:25 > 0:22:28fastest athlete on world -- on earth. Have these dangers been

0:22:28 > 0:22:38deliberately woven by the master storyteller? Only one thing is

0:22:38 > 0:22:41

0:22:41 > 0:22:46clear. When the ending comes, it We live in an age where we are all

0:22:46 > 0:22:51obsessed with technology and gadgets, but there's still a primal

0:22:51 > 0:22:55three -- thriller that he can run the fastest. Usain Bolt has had

0:22:55 > 0:23:00injuries, there are question marks. It could make it more fascinating.

0:23:00 > 0:23:03This will be the most dramatic 100m in history. There are so many

0:23:03 > 0:23:09incredible story lines and it has to do with the fact that Usain Bolt

0:23:09 > 0:23:16is not at his best. If he is at his best, the other athletes are at

0:23:16 > 0:23:20their best, he wins that race every time. But now you have Yohan Blake,

0:23:20 > 0:23:26who has proven time and time again, if you leave the door open, I will

0:23:26 > 0:23:30walk through it. He wants it. It is a unique situation for Usain Bolt

0:23:30 > 0:23:34because we have seen a different Usain Bolt. He is not the best, he

0:23:34 > 0:23:38is not as dominant and he is under a tremendous amount of pressure.

0:23:38 > 0:23:43He's the only one in this entire race that has something to lose.

0:23:43 > 0:23:51Everyone else only has something to gain. That's an incredible

0:23:51 > 0:23:59advantage for them. He is by far the best. There's also Tyson Gay,

0:23:59 > 0:24:02Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell is almost like an outsider. It's true.

0:24:02 > 0:24:09Everyone has a unique situation. Tyson Gay will have to wait and see

0:24:09 > 0:24:12through the rounds. He can't depend on his body. He has had two

0:24:12 > 0:24:18surgeries. He doesn't know it whether he will get through the

0:24:18 > 0:24:23rounds. At the US championships he was very tentative. That plays on

0:24:23 > 0:24:26your confidence. Even though he is so quick and he is one of the best

0:24:26 > 0:24:32technicians in the business. He is the second fastest of all time

0:24:32 > 0:24:37behind Usain Bolt, but he can't depend on his body. It makes it a

0:24:37 > 0:24:41unique situation. Justin Gatlin, coming back after suspension,

0:24:41 > 0:24:47nobody expected him to be here. If I am Usain Bolt and Blake, I'm

0:24:47 > 0:24:52hoping he qualifies as one of the fastest so he is beside me. If he

0:24:52 > 0:24:56is in lane one or lane eight, he is most dangerous by himself. We kid

0:24:56 > 0:25:01sees so many going under 10 seconds. Or all of them could go under 10

0:25:01 > 0:25:07seconds. Steve, what about Britain's prospects? Expectations

0:25:07 > 0:25:11are high, the target is 48 medals. We were fourth in the medal table

0:25:11 > 0:25:16in Beijing. Can we live up to expectations? I think we can. It

0:25:16 > 0:25:20will be difficult. Everything went well in Beijing. 19 gold medals. I

0:25:20 > 0:25:25think we can sneak into the twenties. Where will they come

0:25:25 > 0:25:29from? They will come from the main sports that have done it before.

0:25:29 > 0:25:33Cycling will still be our best sport. Rowing and sailing will be

0:25:33 > 0:25:38up there. There's a few good chances in athletics. Swimming we

0:25:38 > 0:25:42are looking strong in. Taekwondo, triathlon, a lot of sports that

0:25:42 > 0:25:46will bring in a lot of medals. The overall target we will hit easily,

0:25:46 > 0:25:53but the gold medal won will be difficult. Her you have won five of

0:25:53 > 0:25:59them! They don't count any more! You have a halo over your head.

0:25:59 > 0:26:01There's more to him than meets the eye! We can go behind the scenes

0:26:01 > 0:26:11where Clare Balding has got someone with her.

0:26:11 > 0:26:15I'm right down here beside the track. The ceremony has a lot of

0:26:15 > 0:26:19Britain about it and that means a sense of humour. These people in

0:26:19 > 0:26:24the centre have got the most amazing seats. Fees are fee-paying

0:26:24 > 0:26:27members of the audience, they are not actors. They will be part of

0:26:27 > 0:26:31the show. Tell us how you got the tickets, what you are looking

0:26:31 > 0:26:35forward to and why you're here. got the tickets from my son, I'm

0:26:35 > 0:26:41here with my sister. The thing I'm looking forward to is the parade

0:26:41 > 0:26:44and the atmosphere. Everybody has been so friendly. It is brilliant,

0:26:44 > 0:26:49what has taken place here, the transformation, absolutely

0:26:49 > 0:26:53brilliant. You're a Londoner? from Walthamstow and I'm here to

0:26:53 > 0:26:58celebrate the Jamaican team and the Great Britain team. Enjoy the show.

0:26:58 > 0:27:03Where are you from? Woolwich. what about you? Leighton, just down

0:27:03 > 0:27:09the road. It is amazing, the spectacle as you walk on to the

0:27:09 > 0:27:12island. It is only when you get into the stadium that you realise

0:27:12 > 0:27:18what a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle this will be. What an opportunity

0:27:18 > 0:27:24for you guys to be here and be part of it. What about you? I'm living

0:27:24 > 0:27:33locally and this is a nice crowd. Everyone is cheerful. Everyone

0:27:33 > 0:27:36really liked that. Nice one. Nice experience. It has made such a

0:27:36 > 0:27:40difference in Stratford and everybody, as they come out of the

0:27:40 > 0:27:43park and going across into the shopping centre, last night

0:27:43 > 0:27:48everyone was smiling and everyone in the stadium is smiling,

0:27:48 > 0:27:52including phrase two ladies. They are in the show. We are part of the

0:27:52 > 0:27:57mechanical team. We have to do audience leader, get them involved

0:27:57 > 0:28:02in the show. But in 3D glasses on. And keep them energised, which

0:28:02 > 0:28:06shouldn't be difficult. It is a wonderful atmosphere tonight and we

0:28:06 > 0:28:09are really, really enjoying it. Well done to you because you are

0:28:09 > 0:28:19both volunteers and part of the huge band of volunteers, but

0:28:19 > 0:28:19

0:28:19 > 0:29:05Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

0:29:05 > 0:29:09particularly you guys, enjoy Now we really can't wait because

0:29:09 > 0:29:13there's just an hour and a half before the Opening Ceremony starts

0:29:13 > 0:29:18in the Olympic Park, but it's not just about London. Football matches

0:29:18 > 0:29:22are taking place all around Britain and tonight big screens have been

0:29:22 > 0:29:27assembled in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Let's take you

0:29:27 > 0:29:29around a few of them now and to Belfast. They will be watching on

0:29:29 > 0:29:36the big screen to see the Opening Ceremony, to see the Olympics get

0:29:36 > 0:29:39under way. There they are. screens all around Britain this

0:29:39 > 0:29:44evening. Everyone has been looking forward to this Opening Ceremony

0:29:44 > 0:29:49for a long time. This is Edinburgh. They are clapping, they are not

0:29:49 > 0:29:53clapping us! The pipes. The pipes are playing and the build-up

0:29:53 > 0:29:59continues. Tower Bridge, that is where the flame is at the moment.

0:29:59 > 0:30:03It made its way up the River Thames to there. Steve Redgrave is still

0:30:03 > 0:30:07not giving anything away about who might light the flame. That is

0:30:07 > 0:30:12where it will be coming from later. Every time I see a flotilla, I get

0:30:12 > 0:30:22slightly nervous! Let's get onto the beach. Glorious evening in

0:30:22 > 0:30:22

0:30:22 > 0:30:29Doesn't that look wonderful? Not long to wait for all of them down

0:30:29 > 0:30:34there. Great scenes all around and here in the stadium, too, it is

0:30:34 > 0:30:38getting gradually more full. It's 50%, 60% full now. Yeah. Everyone

0:30:38 > 0:30:43who is lucky enough to have a ticket tonight is going to enjoy

0:30:43 > 0:30:47themselves, from what we have heard. The biggest cheer was when the

0:30:47 > 0:30:50first cloud came into the stadium - it got a massive cheer. LAUGHTER

0:30:50 > 0:30:54Imagine what will happen later this evening. There will be a few

0:30:54 > 0:30:58occasions when rehearsals will be going on behind us. We don't want

0:30:58 > 0:31:04to spoil it for you. We will pop across to the other side of the

0:31:04 > 0:31:10Olympic Park to our studio. There it is. It's that blue structure

0:31:10 > 0:31:15there. I was in there last night for the Great Britain team playing

0:31:15 > 0:31:18against Senegal. It is a great spot. Who is in there? I know, Jake

0:31:18 > 0:31:22Humphrey and Mishal Husain. You found us! Welcome to our side

0:31:22 > 0:31:25of the Olympic Park and this fantastic view of the stadium. What

0:31:25 > 0:31:28an incredible night for London and for the whole of the UK. It is so

0:31:28 > 0:31:32exciting, particularly those shots looking around the UK. I would like

0:31:32 > 0:31:35to be on Weymouth beach this evening! We weren't lucky enough to

0:31:35 > 0:31:40get a ticket to be inside. We will be joined by people who know what

0:31:40 > 0:31:43it feels like to carry their country's flag, to march proudly

0:31:43 > 0:31:49into the stadium and to stand on the top step of the podium, people

0:31:49 > 0:31:54just like this. As the hosts, Team GB will go last into the Athletes'

0:31:54 > 0:32:04Parade. It is an honour to be asked to carry the flag. Sir Steve

0:32:04 > 0:32:09Redgrave has done it twice - 1992 and then again in 1996. Sir Matthew

0:32:09 > 0:32:17Pinsent has done it once - that was in Sydney in the year 2000, the

0:32:17 > 0:32:21Sydney Olympics. And in Beijing, it was swimmer, Mark Foster.

0:32:21 > 0:32:25incredible honour for all of them. Welcome to some distinguished

0:32:25 > 0:32:29company, Sir Chris Hoy. A man who deals with the pressures of the

0:32:29 > 0:32:36Velodrome is taking his flag- bearing duties in his stride. Let's

0:32:36 > 0:32:38see how he is feeling with Sir Matthew Pinsent. I am. Let's be

0:32:38 > 0:32:44clear, this isn't the Parade uniform you are standing in front

0:32:44 > 0:32:48of us with? No, this is the regular village wear. I'm going to get

0:32:48 > 0:32:51changed in a few minutes. What does the uniform look like? I wouldn't

0:32:51 > 0:32:57want to give too much away. It is very bright and there is a bit of

0:32:57 > 0:33:00gold in there. It's going to be an eye-catching outfit. Describe the

0:33:00 > 0:33:04mood within the British team at the moment? I arrived in the village

0:33:04 > 0:33:09about an hour or two ago. There's just this electric atmosphere from

0:33:09 > 0:33:12everybody, not just the British team, but in the cycling team in

0:33:12 > 0:33:17particular, we have been up in Newport and there's been some

0:33:17 > 0:33:22incredible performances by the team. We are ready to get on with it. It

0:33:22 > 0:33:26is such an exciting time. Can you describe what it means to carry the

0:33:27 > 0:33:30British flag tonight? It is not easy to explain just how proud you

0:33:30 > 0:33:33feel when you are asked to lead the whole team out there and it is

0:33:33 > 0:33:38something you have experienced. I will be speaking to you about it

0:33:38 > 0:33:40later on! It won't hit me until I walk into the stadium. It's such an

0:33:40 > 0:33:45historic moment and to be the person that carries the flag, it is

0:33:45 > 0:33:50a huge honour. That little bit extra special because it was voted

0:33:50 > 0:33:54by the other athletes? You are their choice? Very flattering. I

0:33:54 > 0:33:58hope I will do the job well and I can do them justice and carry the

0:33:58 > 0:34:03flag high with pride. Steve Redgrave and I used to have this

0:34:03 > 0:34:08thing about arms straight - you are not going to use the holster. What

0:34:08 > 0:34:12is your decision? You have to carry it. You can't have the holster!

0:34:12 > 0:34:18Mark Foster got some stick last time because of that. LAUGHTER

0:34:18 > 0:34:27Thank you very much. Enjoy it. Thank you, Matt. If one man is not

0:34:27 > 0:34:30going to go with the holster, that man is! Now to Ian Thorpe and

0:34:30 > 0:34:34Sharron Davies. Thank you for coming in and joining us up here.

0:34:34 > 0:34:38You will break a habit of a lifetime this evening, Ian. You

0:34:38 > 0:34:45will go to the Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games. You have never

0:34:45 > 0:34:51been before? I have never been before. Most of the swimmers

0:34:51 > 0:34:58haven't been because they have to compete on the first day. You made

0:34:58 > 0:35:03home advantage work for you? worked for me and no holster for

0:35:03 > 0:35:13me! LAUGHTER Your medal moment was in 1980. What are your Olympic

0:35:13 > 0:35:13

0:35:13 > 0:35:18memories? The Olympics are so special. Lots of memories. Winning

0:35:18 > 0:35:23my medal in 1980 was important, but every Games has a character about

0:35:23 > 0:35:27it. These Games are the best so far. Everyone is so friendly. The

0:35:27 > 0:35:32facilities are beautiful. Everyone is so excited to get going. What is

0:35:32 > 0:35:38the atmosphere like in the stadium? About five minutes ago, you got the

0:35:38 > 0:35:41call to come over here! So you have not lost your pace! There's a few

0:35:41 > 0:35:45of us over there that are all dressed this way. Very excited to

0:35:45 > 0:35:52be asked. We only got asked about a month ago. We didn't even know. We

0:35:52 > 0:35:55are all in there and we have a bit to do later on. You look great.

0:35:55 > 0:35:59haven't seen a lot of each other. We will talk more swimming in a

0:35:59 > 0:36:08second. All the swimming action here in London is going to happen

0:36:08 > 0:36:15at the Aquatics Centre. We have a fantastic view of it just here. It

0:36:15 > 0:36:19was designed by Zaha Hadid. Inside, it is a stunning interior, one you

0:36:19 > 0:36:24will see a lot of in the coming weeks. The swimming pool at one end,

0:36:24 > 0:36:30the diving pool at the other. The star swimmer of Beijing's Water

0:36:30 > 0:36:33Cube is Michael Phelps. He is going to be competing here. He's had a

0:36:34 > 0:36:42remarkable tally of 14 gold medals. A few more in London will take him

0:36:42 > 0:36:52to a new record. The great Michael Phelps is only 19, going for eight

0:36:52 > 0:37:04

0:37:04 > 0:37:14COMMENTARY: That's the fourth gold medal of these Games to Michael

0:37:14 > 0:37:49

0:37:49 > 0:37:55COMMENTARY: Still on for eight COMMENTARY: Waiting for history.

0:37:55 > 0:38:05# And a real hero. # The greatest Olympian, ever! If you

0:38:05 > 0:38:06

0:38:06 > 0:38:10dream as big as you can dream, A physique I'm always jealous of!

0:38:10 > 0:38:1414 golds. If he picks up another three, Michael will have more

0:38:14 > 0:38:18medals from the Olympics than any other athlete in the history of the

0:38:18 > 0:38:22Games. Will it happen? If we are talking about three gold medals

0:38:22 > 0:38:26here, I'm confident in Michael being able to secure that kind of

0:38:26 > 0:38:29number. Looking at eight compared to that, Michael in what he's

0:38:29 > 0:38:37swimming has the potential to win more than that. I spoke to his

0:38:37 > 0:38:41sister today, actually. She said he is looking pretty good. It's not a

0:38:41 > 0:38:48foregone conclusion, is it? He has stiff competition from the US team?

0:38:48 > 0:38:56Very much so. He has sort of lost his way a little bit. But he has

0:38:56 > 0:38:59found his mojo again. Ryan beating him on a couple of occasions has

0:38:59 > 0:39:05given him drive. He's made a big comment about wanting to enjoy

0:39:05 > 0:39:09these Games because it will be his swansong. He will be retired after

0:39:09 > 0:39:19this. It is important for him to take up every bit of the atmosphere.

0:39:19 > 0:39:20

0:39:20 > 0:39:30Talking about being relaxed, Hannah Miley is known as "Smiley Miley."

0:39:30 > 0:39:30

0:39:30 > 0:39:35To win gold is going to be so difficult? I have a soft spot for

0:39:35 > 0:39:40her, it is my event. It is going to be tough. Out of eight of them, six

0:39:40 > 0:39:44stand a chance of winning that gold medal. Could she take gold? She is

0:39:44 > 0:39:49ranked two in the world on the time she has done this year. He's only

0:39:49 > 0:39:53just behind the American by half a second. Steph Rice is defending

0:39:53 > 0:39:57champion. She will be in good form. She is coming back into form as

0:39:58 > 0:40:03well. It will be tough. It won't be easy. It is a tough event. We will

0:40:04 > 0:40:10have that rice live here tomorrow morning on BBC One. -- that race

0:40:10 > 0:40:13live here on BBC One. What about Rebecca Adlington? How is she

0:40:13 > 0:40:20looking? She is really relaxed coming into this competition. She

0:40:20 > 0:40:23has a tremendous amount of pressure on her, not only being at a home

0:40:23 > 0:40:29Olympic Games, but defending champion in some of these events.

0:40:29 > 0:40:36I'm hoping she does well. She has a big challenge in the 400 m. This is

0:40:36 > 0:40:40what the Italians are talking about. The French girl is looking good. I

0:40:40 > 0:40:44put money on the 800! LAUGHTER is going to be. Tomorrow morning,

0:40:44 > 0:40:49that is when we will see that action get under way. Thank you

0:40:49 > 0:40:53very much. Well, already the Torch relay has been an amazing part of

0:40:53 > 0:40:58this Olympic story. After a 70-day journey, the last time we saw the

0:40:58 > 0:41:04Torch today was at Tower Bridge. That is where it disappeared from

0:41:05 > 0:41:08view after travelling along the Thames this morning. There were

0:41:08 > 0:41:15once concerns over the public embracing and relating to the Torch

0:41:15 > 0:41:19as it travelled the UK. What an incredible success it has been. I'm

0:41:19 > 0:41:24going to miss checking out torchcam every morning! The final leg

0:41:24 > 0:41:34remains top secret. We do know it will end in the same place that Sue

0:41:34 > 0:41:38

0:41:38 > 0:41:43and Gary are, inside the Olympic The crowd is building up and the

0:41:43 > 0:41:48wait is almost over. Jake was talking about the Torch relay and

0:41:48 > 0:41:548,000 lucky people had the honour of carrying that Torch all the way

0:41:54 > 0:41:58around the country. In fact, it was a man on my right also, Gary

0:41:58 > 0:42:02Lineker, he got the chance to carry the Flame. He did it in Leicester.

0:42:02 > 0:42:08It was an early start for you? 7.30am in the morning! I had to be

0:42:08 > 0:42:12there at 5.30am, but it was an amazing experience. Very emotional.

0:42:12 > 0:42:20Despite the early morning start, a few people came out. Did you enjoy

0:42:20 > 0:42:25it? I loved it. I'm not the only one, am I, Sue? You did it in

0:42:25 > 0:42:30Sutton? I did. The crowds were tremendous. It was such a "feel-

0:42:30 > 0:42:33good factor", the cheering, everyone had such a positive vibe

0:42:33 > 0:42:38going forward. Still the "golden girl"! Look at that. Michael, you

0:42:38 > 0:42:44impressed with the running style there? I am. I was going to talk

0:42:44 > 0:42:49about your knee lift, though! LAUGHTER She's not got your running

0:42:49 > 0:42:57style. Shall we have a look at your style? You did it in Stonehenge?

0:42:57 > 0:43:03did. At least Sue was running(!) LAUGHTER It was a great experience.

0:43:03 > 0:43:08I had never been to Stonehenge before. Carrying the Torch, it was

0:43:08 > 0:43:17phenomenal. The sunrise that morning, a beautiful day. Your halo

0:43:17 > 0:43:24is still there, Steve! You have carried the Torch already?

0:43:24 > 0:43:31Henley. That is where the rowing was in 1908 and 1948. Rowing with

0:43:31 > 0:43:38one arm? I carried the flag with one arm, I carried the Torch with

0:43:38 > 0:43:43one arm as well. We crossed the line, the two finishing lines. I

0:43:43 > 0:43:45was blase about it beforehand. The emotion of doing it was

0:43:45 > 0:43:50unbelievable. I'm surprised that would be so significant after what

0:43:50 > 0:43:54you have achieved? All those gold medals. You have done everything?

0:43:54 > 0:43:59It's a home Games. I was with Michael a couple of weeks ago and

0:43:59 > 0:44:03we were at a dinner together. I have been telling everybody I would

0:44:03 > 0:44:06have loved to have been competing at 2012. I think I have probably

0:44:06 > 0:44:14got the better place. I have done my Olympics. Now I can enjoy every

0:44:14 > 0:44:20minute of it. I'm enjoying today and what is going to happen in the

0:44:20 > 0:44:27next hours. If we sneak between - you can see Huw with Hazel Irvine.

0:44:27 > 0:44:31That is the commentary position. Nice to see you! Can you see me?!

0:44:31 > 0:44:35Take it away. Hazel is with me. We were in

0:44:35 > 0:44:39Beijing together. We were. first thing we should do is remind

0:44:39 > 0:44:43people at home that there is a big purpose to this event, which is not

0:44:43 > 0:44:48just drama and spectacle, it is to do with welcoming thousands of

0:44:48 > 0:44:54rather special people? Indeed. Danny Boyle says his primary

0:44:54 > 0:44:57function is to do that. 10,490 athletes from all over the world,

0:44:57 > 0:45:07204 nations and territories all competing in 26 different sports.

0:45:07 > 0:45:11It is when they come in here that we will have our work cut out.

0:45:11 > 0:45:18mentioned four years ago. We did leave the Bird's Nest stadium

0:45:18 > 0:45:28saying, "Nothing will ever beat that!" Yes. We have seen lots of

0:45:28 > 0:45:29

0:45:29 > 0:45:31this ceremony. It's got the It does. Four years ago it was or

0:45:31 > 0:45:35precision and wonderful stage management and the formality of

0:45:35 > 0:45:40thousands of people. This has energy and dynamism. A lot of

0:45:40 > 0:45:47people involved in it. It will be very different in tone from four

0:45:47 > 0:45:52years ago. It is very, very compelling in its own way. The man

0:45:52 > 0:45:56responsible for that compelling note is Danny Boyle. It is time to

0:45:56 > 0:46:06hear from him. I had a word with him about his vision for tonight's

0:46:06 > 0:46:10

0:46:10 > 0:46:18Where do we start? Trying to construct an event on this scale.

0:46:18 > 0:46:22We sat down with a bunch of people. It is a wonderful thing to do. You

0:46:22 > 0:46:26focus on the best of us. You have to be slightly critical, as part of

0:46:26 > 0:46:33that process, but you realise that the evening is a festival of

0:46:33 > 0:46:37celebration of the best of us. One of our key people is an American,

0:46:37 > 0:46:42Suttirat Anne Larlab. I have worked with her many times and she is

0:46:42 > 0:46:46great. She did not grow up here. She will tell you, I don't know

0:46:46 > 0:46:53what you're talking about, the international audience will be

0:46:53 > 0:46:57completely bemused, if you are going on about the Clangers. You

0:46:57 > 0:47:02have to keep an international perspective. It has to represent us

0:47:02 > 0:47:05and feel truthful about the details of our heritage and growing up. But

0:47:05 > 0:47:11you also have to make sure it doesn't just befuddle everybody

0:47:11 > 0:47:17abroad. What are the British values, in simple terms, that come out of

0:47:17 > 0:47:20this show? The place we are in the world is a very different place now,

0:47:20 > 0:47:27economically and politically, compared to the last time we hosted

0:47:27 > 0:47:31the Games, when we brought together the world after the war. As the

0:47:31 > 0:47:35flame drew nearer, vast crowds poured into the stadium in the

0:47:35 > 0:47:40blazing sunshine that graced this opening day. There's a modesty

0:47:40 > 0:47:43about it as well. We are aware of our place in the world now. The

0:47:43 > 0:47:49Olympics helps you do that because it is the coming together of all

0:47:49 > 0:47:54different nations and although we had booked -- we hope to be fourth

0:47:54 > 0:47:58in the medal table, most of all you hope to be in the mix. To what

0:47:58 > 0:48:02extent did you manage to balance the past, the present and what you

0:48:02 > 0:48:07think will be the future? You have to remember where you come from,

0:48:07 > 0:48:12you have to have respect for the past, but you are pushing forward.

0:48:12 > 0:48:16This is really about youth. Not just in a PR sense, this is about

0:48:16 > 0:48:20the next generation. To what extent have you been conditioned by

0:48:20 > 0:48:26previous shows and are you reacting against some of them? Are you

0:48:26 > 0:48:31borrowing elements from others? There are certain things in built

0:48:31 > 0:48:38that you can't avoid and you don't want to avoid, like drumming. There

0:48:38 > 0:48:42will be some drumming! They are wonderful. One of the Games we

0:48:42 > 0:48:46valued was Sydney. They rightly called that the People's Games.

0:48:46 > 0:48:50They managed to generate a feeling of inclusive a T. It felt like it

0:48:50 > 0:48:54belonged to the people and they were preventing this -- presenting

0:48:54 > 0:48:59this festival. If we get compared to that, I will be very proud. I

0:48:59 > 0:49:04don't think you can be compared to Beijing, it was an awe-inspiring

0:49:04 > 0:49:08spectacle, we wanted hours to be spectacular but also feel inclusive.

0:49:08 > 0:49:14And have a warmth about it that might surprise people.

0:49:14 > 0:49:19SUE BARKER: London is waiting. Danny's story will look at the

0:49:19 > 0:49:23history of Britain and the future. London 2012 is all about leaving a

0:49:23 > 0:49:27legacy. The logo of the Games is inspired a generation, as they hope

0:49:27 > 0:49:31youngsters will want to follow their heroes. Every athlete has a

0:49:31 > 0:49:41story to tell and this is the story of one hour -- one of our Golden

0:49:41 > 0:49:46girls. Denise Lewis is the Olympic champion! I remember grinning, just

0:49:46 > 0:49:52grinning from ear to ear. dazzling smile appears. My mum was

0:49:52 > 0:49:57in the stands at the time. She was emotional, but also very proud.

0:49:57 > 0:50:07What a picture. I felt I had come such a long way to get to that

0:50:07 > 0:50:09

0:50:09 > 0:50:14point. On your marks, get set... was a sporty kid. Primary school, I

0:50:14 > 0:50:18couldn't wait for break times when I could just run up and down the

0:50:18 > 0:50:21yard and race against people. I wanted to take on the best in the

0:50:22 > 0:50:28year and once I had dealt with all the girls, I wanted to take on the

0:50:28 > 0:50:35boy's! Fantastic to see so many of you turn up even though it is

0:50:35 > 0:50:42raining! We are still having fun! My mum was always there. It was

0:50:42 > 0:50:46just me and my mum. I grew up watching her, I was at nursery at a

0:50:46 > 0:50:52very young age because she had to work. She had to put food on the

0:50:52 > 0:50:58table, pay the bills. We were like a little team. There was something

0:50:58 > 0:51:03about athletics, feeling free and just challenging myself. I went to

0:51:03 > 0:51:08my mum and said, unique to take me to the nearest track. To a degree I

0:51:08 > 0:51:13think my mum kind of went along with it at that time. You are still

0:51:13 > 0:51:17very much heavily into school life. I was constantly worried about

0:51:17 > 0:51:21school because I thought that was more important. We had a lot of

0:51:21 > 0:51:27arguments about that, as you can imagine. For me, it was always

0:51:27 > 0:51:33about me doing it, me needing it and not being held back. When I

0:51:33 > 0:51:42used to finish school, I would be here in this patch with my big

0:51:42 > 0:51:45kitbag. This is my sleeping patch. I used to get maybe half an hour,

0:51:46 > 0:51:5040 minutes' sleep in this corner before I had to start training and

0:51:50 > 0:51:57warming up. I don't know how she did that because I can never sleep

0:51:57 > 0:52:07in half-an-hour. Competition morning, I learnt to keep away from

0:52:07 > 0:52:11her. If I saw her at breakfast, she doesn't want anything to eat.

0:52:12 > 0:52:19Everything is fine, Mum, leave it! She would put her music on and she

0:52:19 > 0:52:25would go into her zone. This stadium is home. I'm a lifetime

0:52:25 > 0:52:32member of Birchfield Harriers. It is a breeding ground for talent, it

0:52:32 > 0:52:39really has. Their first Olympic champion. What a moment for Great

0:52:39 > 0:52:49Britain and what a wonderful moment for Denise Lewis. If you would like

0:52:49 > 0:52:50

0:52:50 > 0:52:54to get involved in Olympic sports, Here she is, Denise Lewis. She

0:52:55 > 0:52:57sleeps on the floor. Can't believe that! In many ways you can be a

0:52:57 > 0:53:02world champion and European champion, but there's more to life,

0:53:02 > 0:53:07you have to win a gold medal and that is the difference. It is. You

0:53:07 > 0:53:12dream about being a big champion, that is what most of our sportsmen

0:53:12 > 0:53:15and women dream about. It is not about being world champion, it is

0:53:15 > 0:53:20about being Olympic champion, emulating the stars you have seen

0:53:20 > 0:53:26from yesteryear and wanting to be that person. What a magical feeling

0:53:26 > 0:53:30it must be. The best feeling in the world. It has given me such a great

0:53:30 > 0:53:35life. Standing on the podium is important, but what I've been able

0:53:35 > 0:53:40to give back to my community, my friends, my family, the next

0:53:40 > 0:53:45generation of sports stars is priceless. She has certainly

0:53:45 > 0:53:50inspired so many young girls to take up sport and in 2012, almost

0:53:50 > 0:53:545,000 women will compete in London. Women's boxing makes a first

0:53:54 > 0:53:59appearance at the Games and for the first time in Olympic history, all

0:53:59 > 0:54:09200 for participating nations will include female athletes. Quite a

0:54:09 > 0:54:12

0:54:12 > 0:54:17He won the modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896, women were

0:54:17 > 0:54:21perfectly welcome, as spectators. Fuelled by the turmoil of World War,

0:54:21 > 0:54:27female emancipation was slowly becoming a reality in life and in

0:54:27 > 0:54:35sport. In 1928, days after voting equality was achieved in Britain,

0:54:35 > 0:54:39the first women's Olympic 800m started in Amsterdam. Germany's Li

0:54:39 > 0:54:44Na Red Cap won gold, but some for the spectacle unedifying. The Daily

0:54:44 > 0:54:49Mail said there was sobbing girls, all of the women collapsed and it

0:54:49 > 0:54:54was a terrible sight. But it is just not true. This was the

0:54:54 > 0:55:04testimony of one finalist, American Florence McDonald. I think the goal

0:55:04 > 0:55:05

0:55:05 > 0:55:08that won the race did OK. -- girl. Sport was controlled by men of

0:55:08 > 0:55:15certain parts of society and the reaction to seeing women in the

0:55:15 > 0:55:21sporting arena was, this is unladylike. It was much more about

0:55:21 > 0:55:28that than it was about worrying about the health, that was a red

0:55:28 > 0:55:32Hering. The IOC women could not or should not run such distances. They

0:55:32 > 0:55:36would come -- banned from competing beyond 200m until beyond -- until

0:55:36 > 0:55:40the Rome Olympics of 1960 ft up the Second World War not only changed

0:55:40 > 0:55:45the course of history but also the cause of women's lives. In

0:55:45 > 0:55:50emergency, they had led the way and post war, they wanted to maintain

0:55:50 > 0:55:56the sense of responsibility. In 1948, a 30-year-old mother of two

0:55:56 > 0:55:59from Utrecht came to embody that ethos. But when Fanny Blake has

0:55:59 > 0:56:04going arrived at the London Games, she was not universally welcomed.

0:56:04 > 0:56:09She was criticised. She received letters from people saying she

0:56:09 > 0:56:13should not leave her children. She had a hard time in being accepted.

0:56:13 > 0:56:21The critics soon revise their views as the so called Flying housewife

0:56:21 > 0:56:27stormed Dugald in four of the nine women's events. Stash stormed gold.

0:56:27 > 0:56:32And she had one last surprise. When her third child was born in 1949,

0:56:32 > 0:56:37it became clear that she had competed in London while pregnant.

0:56:37 > 0:56:43Sex, drugs and rock and roll, but the 1960s was also an era of

0:56:43 > 0:56:48demonstration, of civil unrest and Women's lip. As feminism performed

0:56:48 > 0:56:56-- forge forward, so did sportswomen on the world stage.

0:56:56 > 0:57:05is poised to jump into Olympic history. A beautiful jump! She will

0:57:05 > 0:57:09take the gold medal! Ann Packer of Great Britain. Come on, Mary!

0:57:09 > 0:57:13has the gold medal! You don't realise it at the time and you are

0:57:13 > 0:57:19breaking down barriers for women. But as you look back, you realise

0:57:19 > 0:57:23that yes, we were doing something right at the time. In Montreal in

0:57:23 > 0:57:301976, women's handball, rowing and basketball were added to the

0:57:30 > 0:57:38Olympic programme and a woman achieved the impossible. Perfection.

0:57:38 > 0:57:45Verity is! 10. Olympic history. -- there it is. Her by the 1980s,

0:57:45 > 0:57:51women were reading the news and they were the news. The dramas of

0:57:51 > 0:57:54the female players on the Olympic stage were just as compelling. The

0:57:54 > 0:58:00rivalry of Fatima Whitbread and Tessa Sanderson. The acrimony of

0:58:00 > 0:58:04Zola Budd and Mary Decker. And the incredible exploits of Florence

0:58:04 > 0:58:07Griffith-Joyner. After nearly a century of Olympic competition,

0:58:07 > 0:58:13this was author of the decadent that finally delivered the holy

0:58:13 > 0:58:20grail for female athletes. The marathon. 90,000 people greeted the

0:58:20 > 0:58:25victory in Los Angeles, a win that was nearly 100 years in the making.

0:58:25 > 0:58:30By the 1990s, sport was big business, advertising, sponsorship,

0:58:30 > 0:58:33marketing, all meant your body was your brand and four women in

0:58:33 > 0:58:39particular, that meant that what it looked like was just as important

0:58:39 > 0:58:46as what it could do. Women and women in sport are judged on how

0:58:46 > 0:58:52they look. It is not right. You only have to look at the magazine

0:58:52 > 0:58:57covers to see what type of women make it onto the front cover.

0:58:57 > 0:59:01inclusion of women's boxing is historic, symbolic and it is real.

0:59:01 > 0:59:05It means that London 2012 finally offers women's -- women sporting

0:59:06 > 0:59:12parity with men and that will have ramifications far beyond these

0:59:12 > 0:59:16Olympic Games. In his Opening Ceremony, the

0:59:16 > 0:59:21history of the women's movement is reflected, particularly the

0:59:21 > 0:59:27suffragettes, Emmeline Pankhurst, who won women the right to vote,

0:59:27 > 0:59:34and got equal rights for men and women in 1928. We do just tough her

0:59:34 > 0:59:38relatives -- and a representative, but also relatives. My name is

0:59:38 > 0:59:43Helen Pankhurst and I am the great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.

0:59:43 > 0:59:46What is the vision of Danny Boyle in terms are reflecting your great-

0:59:46 > 0:59:50grandmother's struggle. importance was the suffragette

0:59:50 > 0:59:52movement and the contribution they made to British history. They

0:59:52 > 0:59:58fought for women's right to vote and that wasn't just about voting,

0:59:58 > 1:00:03it was about equality, political equality. To get that into a show

1:00:03 > 1:00:09like this has been really important. What about you? You are 17, still

1:00:09 > 1:00:14at school. It has been amazing, but more than that, it is really

1:00:14 > 1:00:20important to me personally because of my background, but also because

1:00:20 > 1:00:24inequality and equality, it is so unequal globally as well as here.

1:00:24 > 1:00:28It is incredible that we get to spread the message to such an

1:00:28 > 1:00:34enormous audience, especially as my relatives had to fight so hard,

1:00:34 > 1:00:41even for a tiny audience, and we have a billion people. What we do a

1:00:41 > 1:00:46It's amazing that you're representing everything the

1:00:46 > 1:00:51Pankhurst family has done. Good luck. Thank you very much. There it

1:00:51 > 1:00:57is, it's livening up inside the stadium. The crowds are in and we

1:00:57 > 1:01:01have animals, lots of them. Geese, obviously, it's a farmyard view

1:01:01 > 1:01:05here. Shire horses, it's hard to know what they're going to do with

1:01:05 > 1:01:11them all. It's open to your imagination at home. All will be

1:01:11 > 1:01:15revealed, of course, pretty shortly. Cows and goats, all sorts.

1:01:15 > 1:01:18Fantastic stuff. One of the many aspects to look forward to in

1:01:18 > 1:01:22tonight's ceremony, about an hour from now. Not all the competitors

1:01:22 > 1:01:25will take part though. No the spotlight, pressure lies heavily on

1:01:25 > 1:01:28the shoulders of the British competitors. To protect the track

1:01:28 > 1:01:32and field team, who don't start their campaign for eight days, UK

1:01:32 > 1:01:36athletics have taken them to Portugal to the resort there as

1:01:36 > 1:01:43keeping them fit and focused on the challenge ahead. Our man there is

1:01:43 > 1:01:48Phil Jones. First of all, I hear you were doing my job last night?

1:01:48 > 1:01:53Oh, I promise your job is well and truly safe! I did host a question

1:01:53 > 1:01:57of sport for the athletes here last night. Not surprisingly it got

1:01:57 > 1:02:03competitive. There were four teams of four, two lofts semi-finals. Two

1:02:03 > 1:02:08of the teams were led by Lawrence Clark and Andy Turner, two of our

1:02:08 > 1:02:13hurdlers. The final teams were led by Dai Greene and Christian Malcom.

1:02:13 > 1:02:17It was Christian who won by a couple of points. But it was more

1:02:17 > 1:02:23about the taking part that counted than the winning. At the end of it

1:02:23 > 1:02:27all, it did the trick. We rallied the troops. There were a few laughs

1:02:27 > 1:02:31and the team spirit seemed to shine through.

1:02:31 > 1:02:34The athletes have been here for three of the last four years before

1:02:34 > 1:02:38major championships to prepare. On the last couple of occasions it

1:02:38 > 1:02:41seems to have worked a treat. They've gone on to have successful

1:02:41 > 1:02:45campaigns. We hope for more of the same this time. The fact that

1:02:45 > 1:02:50they're here means they can't be at the Opening Ceremony tonight. Trust

1:02:50 > 1:02:55me when I say they're very much with you in spirit.

1:02:55 > 1:03:00It's a home away from home for Britain's athletes. Monte Gordo was

1:03:00 > 1:03:04the base in 2009 and Barcelona Europeans a year later, both

1:03:04 > 1:03:09successful championships for Team GB. It's a so-called holding camp,

1:03:09 > 1:03:16a pause for final preparation, a haven away for the hype -- from the

1:03:16 > 1:03:20hype for the medal hopefuls. takes the Gold Medal! For one

1:03:20 > 1:03:25Olympic champion it's not only a question of avoiding the hype, but

1:03:25 > 1:03:28also an invasive sentimentality. The emotion has gone out. It's pure

1:03:28 > 1:03:32business. At the same time, when everybody's gone home, I'll still

1:03:32 > 1:03:35be there. It's something that I'll always remember and be proud that

1:03:35 > 1:03:39somewhere I've grown up has been able to host one of the most

1:03:39 > 1:03:42amazing, important events in the world. Being in the UK, with all

1:03:42 > 1:03:47the hype surrounding the Olympics is not good for British athletes.

1:03:47 > 1:03:53We've come away. We get no distractions out here. We focus on

1:03:53 > 1:03:56our training, recovery. Everyone's been on teams together before. The

1:03:56 > 1:04:00new recruits seem to find their footing in the squad. There's a

1:04:00 > 1:04:06fantastic atmosphere. It's a pleasure to be around the other

1:04:06 > 1:04:09athletes. The Jessica Ennis is here, ready for her close up. The mood in

1:04:09 > 1:04:13the camp is good. It's nice to be out here finally. Everyone's

1:04:13 > 1:04:17feeling positive and training well. We're going to watch the Opening

1:04:17 > 1:04:21Ceremony together in our uniform. We can't be there, but we'll be

1:04:21 > 1:04:24here together as a team. It would have been nice to experience it,

1:04:25 > 1:04:28there but we're going to do something with everyone and we have

1:04:28 > 1:04:32our Opening Ceremony kit. So it will be exciting to be with the

1:04:32 > 1:04:37whole team. Not all star athletes are here to share in the team

1:04:37 > 1:04:41viewing. Mo Farah, Gold Medal contender over 5,000 and 10,000

1:04:41 > 1:04:44metres is at altitude in Europe, fine tuning for his pursuit of

1:04:44 > 1:04:48Olympic history, four years after disappointment in Beijing. He's

1:04:48 > 1:04:53going through a bit of a bad patch. He's in serious trouble now.

1:04:53 > 1:04:57wasn't easy. It was the hardest time in my life. As an athlete you

1:04:57 > 1:05:00know you can do better, but you didn't do it. It's hard to deal

1:05:00 > 1:05:05with yourself. Something you work so hard and you know you could have

1:05:05 > 1:05:10done, but you didn't do it. I think there's going to be a few Dark

1:05:10 > 1:05:15Horses and underdogs who will be a shock and surprise people. You

1:05:15 > 1:05:19might not know who they are now, but by the end of the Games they

1:05:19 > 1:05:21will know. We all want to excel in London. Everyone knows we're on the

1:05:21 > 1:05:25verge of perhaps achieving something great. There Just having

1:05:25 > 1:05:31a home crowd and you know, it's the Olympics, it's a huge occasion.

1:05:31 > 1:05:38That's just going to bring out extra performances in all of us.

1:05:38 > 1:05:42I'm joined now by two of our medal hopefuls inage letsics, Dai Greene,

1:05:42 > 1:05:46Robbie Grabberts in the high jump. It's a special night across the UK.

1:05:46 > 1:05:50You're here in Portugal, you have separate plans tonight? Yes indeed.

1:05:50 > 1:05:54The athletics squad is preparing for the Games. We won't be in

1:05:54 > 1:05:57London tonight, sadly, but we're all gathering together to watch the

1:05:57 > 1:06:00occasion and we'll all be glued to the TV all night. I know you have

1:06:00 > 1:06:05this particular kit on here, but the special unveiling of another

1:06:05 > 1:06:11kit later I hear? Yeah, there's a slight strip show and then

1:06:11 > 1:06:15transformation into a surprise outfit. Part of that, I've heard,

1:06:15 > 1:06:21there might be spectacles, tell me about that? That's also a secret.

1:06:21 > 1:06:24Keep your eyes peeled for the team photos. One thing that struck me,

1:06:24 > 1:06:30we saw the question of sport clip from last night, you were part of

1:06:30 > 1:06:34that. There's a great team unity here. You as team captain are at

1:06:34 > 1:06:37the forefront. There's a good mix of youngsters coming into the squad.

1:06:37 > 1:06:41Athletes who have been in the squad for many years too. There are

1:06:41 > 1:06:45friends in the squad and I think that just goes a long way to

1:06:45 > 1:06:48creating a positive attitude in the squad. We all feel like friends. We

1:06:48 > 1:06:53all want each other to succeed. It's great having that feeling

1:06:53 > 1:06:57going to the Olympics. Robbie, I'm sure you need to be focused but

1:06:57 > 1:07:01trying to deliver an air of relaxation before the big job.

1:07:01 > 1:07:04nothing more than that. I'm all about having fun. It's nice to

1:07:04 > 1:07:10share that with other people as well. Relax those who may be a

1:07:10 > 1:07:13little tense and let the relaxation rub off on everyone else. You might

1:07:13 > 1:07:17be hundreds of miles away from the Opening Ceremony tonight, I know

1:07:17 > 1:07:20you'll be there in spirit, is there a message to send back to the

1:07:20 > 1:07:23millions watching at home? I hope all of Britain try to tune in,

1:07:23 > 1:07:27enjoy the moment. It's a fantastic achievement to have the Olympics.

1:07:27 > 1:07:31I'm sure we'll do a great job. Everyone should dot upmost to get

1:07:31 > 1:07:41behind the team and enjoy tonight. Enjoy the Opening Ceremony, enjoy

1:07:41 > 1:07:51

1:07:51 > 1:08:01the Games. Thanks for talking to us. Every pull of an oar, every lap,

1:08:01 > 1:08:10

1:08:10 > 1:08:20every sprint for the line, every mile every tack of the sail, for

1:08:20 > 1:08:23

1:08:23 > 1:08:28one obsession. So much to look forward to. Look

1:08:28 > 1:08:35who's joined us, the one and only John McEnroe. Have you met John?

1:08:35 > 1:08:40Long time no see! '77 was the first year we saw each other. Sue should

1:08:40 > 1:08:44have won Wimbledon. Don't start that! She just got over it. No, I

1:08:44 > 1:08:49haven't. Do you two know each other? We do. It's a pleasure to be

1:08:49 > 1:08:54sitting next to Michael especially at my first Olympics. I'm pumped up.

1:08:54 > 1:08:58You never competed in an Olympics. Plenty of chalk dust but no gold

1:08:58 > 1:09:02dust. Well put. What are your first impressions? I'm excited. I don't

1:09:02 > 1:09:07know about this scene, this rural England or whatever it is, it's

1:09:07 > 1:09:11pretty awesome. I had a chance in '88 to play, but didn't participate

1:09:11 > 1:09:15because I felt like tennis players shouldn't be in the Olympics. But

1:09:15 > 1:09:20this year at Wimbledon, quite a bit more exciting for the players. Soy

1:09:20 > 1:09:24think this is, I'm missing it. I wish I had the chance to play. I've

1:09:24 > 1:09:27got to ask one question though, the British track and field team, I

1:09:27 > 1:09:35never had a chance to participate in an Olympics, it is a regret. I

1:09:35 > 1:09:38wish I did. A lot of these guys I'm guessing, may never be here again,

1:09:38 > 1:09:43couldn't they have flown them in and flown them back to resume

1:09:43 > 1:09:47training in the moment? Gary, come on? Nothing to do with me. I'd have

1:09:47 > 1:09:52had them here. Ask this man. Even those who will get this opportunity

1:09:52 > 1:09:55again, you're right, it won't be in London again. This is a once in a

1:09:55 > 1:09:57lifetime opportunity. In 1996, Atlanta Olympics, I understand

1:09:58 > 1:10:01where they're coming from. You don't want to be in this

1:10:01 > 1:10:04environment. I flew in and flew right back out. I flew in the day

1:10:04 > 1:10:06before, for the Opening Ceremony, and then flew right back out. They

1:10:06 > 1:10:11could have done that as well. You'll never have this opportunity

1:10:11 > 1:10:15again. I remember walking, it's the one moment when you realise, I'm an

1:10:15 > 1:10:19Olympian, when you walk in the stadium and it's a home Games.

1:10:19 > 1:10:24can see behind us, actually, that the Countdown is on. The ceremony

1:10:24 > 1:10:31is not far away. And that is the Countdown to the magnificent Red

1:10:31 > 1:10:36Arrows, who will be coming across Olympic Park. This will be the

1:10:36 > 1:10:39moment that will really start the Opening Ceremony. The Red Arrows

1:10:39 > 1:10:42have been making their journey around the country, the four

1:10:42 > 1:10:48capitals and the nations of Great Britain, but this is their final

1:10:48 > 1:10:55stop, to come here to get this Opening Ceremony under way.

1:10:55 > 1:11:01Hopefully we'll get a glimpse of them soon. There they are. Look at

1:11:01 > 1:11:05that, what a spectacular sight that is. They fly towards the stadium.

1:11:05 > 1:11:10They're flying from east to west. So I can yell as loud as I want now

1:11:10 > 1:11:20in 50 seconds and no-one will hear a word I'm say sning Quite possibly

1:11:20 > 1:11:21

1:11:21 > 1:11:29John and that will probably be a GB colours, how about that?!

1:11:29 > 1:11:33far away. They have been such an iconic sight around the nation. The

1:11:33 > 1:11:37crowd now beginning to cheer. They've been told that the Red

1:11:37 > 1:11:44Arrows are not far away, just Arrows are not far away, just

1:11:44 > 1:11:54metres away. Faster even than Usain Bolt. Looking overhead here, I'm

1:11:54 > 1:12:08

1:12:09 > 1:12:15waiting to see them Sue. There's that we've heard here in the

1:12:15 > 1:12:20stadium. There will be many, many more to come here tonight. They

1:12:20 > 1:12:25hoed off west into the sun set and their way home. They've travelled

1:12:25 > 1:12:35all around the country, this, their last destination. Is it really

1:12:35 > 1:12:39

1:12:39 > 1:12:49seven years ago that this all The Games of the 30th Olympian in

1:12:49 > 1:12:51

1:12:51 > 1:13:002012 are awarded to the City of The City that welcomes the world

1:13:00 > 1:13:10with open arms but also with an open mind. The handover is complete,

1:13:10 > 1:13:33

1:13:33 > 1:13:37London's vision of inspiration and legacy, to inspire young people to

1:13:37 > 1:13:47choose sport wherever they live, whatever they do, whatever they

1:13:47 > 1:13:57

1:13:57 > 1:14:00Looking at those pictures, you mentioned your first Olympics, I

1:14:00 > 1:14:07know you're heavily involved with the tennis. What are you looking

1:14:07 > 1:14:14forward to? Would love to be at the 100m and 200 m final. That is THE

1:14:14 > 1:14:20race. I did a race for the Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps rivalry.

1:14:20 > 1:14:24I'm scieked for that. And I'm a bicycling fan. I'm excited for that

1:14:24 > 1:14:28to get going. I know Great Britain looks promising there. Of course,

1:14:28 > 1:14:32tennis, you know I'm only doing probably one match and I'm hoping

1:14:32 > 1:14:37that in this case a guy by the name of Andy Murray is able, after

1:14:37 > 1:14:41Wimbledon, that he can win the gold. Let's hope so. John great to see

1:14:41 > 1:14:45you. Thanks for having me. recent Olympic Games Britannia has

1:14:45 > 1:14:49ruled the waves. With four golds won in Beijing, this year's sailors

1:14:49 > 1:14:54have much to live up to. They've been introduced to the crowd in

1:14:54 > 1:15:00Weymouth, which is the only venue where there is no seating. That's

1:15:00 > 1:15:04my dad fact of the night. It's the only one we're going to allow you.

1:15:04 > 1:15:07Those are the scenes there. The sailing team being introduced on

1:15:07 > 1:15:17the stage. The star is Ben Ainsworth. Can he strike gold for a

1:15:17 > 1:15:25

1:15:25 > 1:15:30Welcome to Weymouth. It is a beautiful evening here. Even you

1:15:30 > 1:15:37must be blown away by the number of people who have turned out here to

1:15:37 > 1:15:41cheer you on your way. Yes, it is great, such a great atmosphere, for

1:15:41 > 1:15:44our home Olympics. To see so many people here are supporting us in

1:15:44 > 1:15:47Weymouth and Portland, and of course, up in London, on a

1:15:47 > 1:15:51beautiful English summer evening, it is fantastic. You were the very

1:15:51 > 1:15:55first person to carry the torch on British soil, and I know you got

1:15:55 > 1:15:58emotional about it, because you believe the Olympics is not just

1:15:58 > 1:16:01about the athletes, it is a celebration for absolutely

1:16:01 > 1:16:05everyone? That's right. The great thing about the torch was that it

1:16:05 > 1:16:09went all round the country, it was a chance for everyone to get

1:16:09 > 1:16:14involved. Certainly, the Olympics is about the youngsters, the young

1:16:14 > 1:16:18people coming through. Hopefully, this Games will inspire future

1:16:18 > 1:16:22generations to come into sport, and from what I can see, it has already

1:16:22 > 1:16:26started. We know you're going for gold, the entire nation is behind

1:16:26 > 1:16:31you, but what would it mean to do it here in home waters, surrounded

1:16:31 > 1:16:35by all these people who have helped you on your amazing 16-year

1:16:35 > 1:16:39journey? It is hard to describe what it would mean for any of us,

1:16:39 > 1:16:45competing on home waters, in the sailing. It is so special, such an

1:16:45 > 1:16:51incredible opportunity. Also, it is a huge responsibility to perform

1:16:51 > 1:16:55when it counts. We hope we can do everyone proud. On behalf of the

1:16:55 > 1:17:00entire nation, may you have the most fabulous of fortnights. We

1:17:00 > 1:17:04hope you can do it. The party will continue here in Weymouth, and it

1:17:04 > 1:17:09really feels as if we are so lucky to be part of something which is

1:17:09 > 1:17:11going to be so very, very special. And it is not any special in

1:17:11 > 1:17:14Weymouth, it is very special here Weymouth, it is very special here

1:17:14 > 1:17:19in east London as well. It is starting to fill up nicely, but

1:17:19 > 1:17:24they are about to do so rehearsals, so we had better not show you any

1:17:24 > 1:17:26more for now. With us now, two men who know how it feels to fight for

1:17:26 > 1:17:31who know how it feels to fight for an Olympic medal, and to be

1:17:31 > 1:17:39successful. Lennox Lewis won gold for Canada in 1988, and Amir Khan

1:17:39 > 1:17:45was a sensation in 1994, winning a silver medal. -- in 2004. But you

1:17:45 > 1:17:49have let the American boxers training your gym?! They came to

1:17:49 > 1:17:54look at our facilities, and they said they needed somewhere to train.

1:17:54 > 1:17:59Bolton is a long way from London, about 300 miles away, but I said,

1:17:59 > 1:18:04if you want to come and train here, boxing is a team sport, we are a

1:18:04 > 1:18:11family. They were in the gym, very dedicated, and to be honest, they

1:18:11 > 1:18:18did not want to go out. Lennox Lewis, you have got so many

1:18:18 > 1:18:22highlights from your career, so how does that gold-medal compare?

1:18:22 > 1:18:27definitely compares with one of the goals which I wanted to achieve.

1:18:27 > 1:18:32There is nothing like winning a gold medal at the Olympics. Nothing

1:18:32 > 1:18:37really compares to it, maybe a world heavyweight championship, but

1:18:37 > 1:18:42once you have won the Olympic medal, it is like you have completed a

1:18:42 > 1:18:47goal. Mohamed Ali was my hero, and the fact that she had one, I wanted

1:18:47 > 1:18:52to get one as well. Athens was amazing for you, what is your

1:18:52 > 1:18:57stand-out memory? It totally changed my life. Winning that

1:18:57 > 1:19:02silver medal, when I came back to England, I was treated like I had

1:19:02 > 1:19:06won the gold medal. Everybody knew who Amir Khan was. It is like

1:19:06 > 1:19:11changing, and I have been speaking to a cup of the athletes in the

1:19:11 > 1:19:14boxing team, and I told them, trained hard and do not give up,

1:19:14 > 1:19:20because this is like changing. If you win a medal, it can change your

1:19:20 > 1:19:26life. All the boxing this time around in London is going to be

1:19:26 > 1:19:29taking place at the ExCel Arena, which is in east London, very near

1:19:29 > 1:19:31the Olympic Park, so let's just take you to show you what it looks

1:19:32 > 1:19:35take you to show you what it looks like. It has a capacity of 10,000.

1:19:35 > 1:19:40It is also going to be the home of other sports, including fencing and

1:19:40 > 1:19:44judo. But British boxing has come a long way in recent years. There are

1:19:44 > 1:19:48seven men and three women in the squad. Women boxers are competing

1:19:48 > 1:19:58in the Olympics for the very first time. Here's what you can expect

1:19:58 > 1:20:12

1:20:12 > 1:20:16Team GB boxing is in rude health, and ready to take on the world. Of

1:20:16 > 1:20:20the 10 athletes representing their country, seven are ranked in the

1:20:20 > 1:20:25top three in the world. They have come a long way since Athens 2004,

1:20:25 > 1:20:28when Amir Khan came away with silver. He was Britain's only

1:20:28 > 1:20:37representative in the ring. The performance director has said he

1:20:37 > 1:20:41wants a minimum of three medals in 2012. Hoping to stand on top of the

1:20:41 > 1:20:44medal podium will be the team medal podium will be the team

1:20:44 > 1:20:48captain, Tom Stalker, ranked world number one at light-welterweight.

1:20:48 > 1:20:53It is all about the draw, you do need a bit of luck on your side.

1:20:53 > 1:20:57For me to win a gold medal, I have got to win five fights, basically.

1:20:57 > 1:21:00That's what I am thinking about when I go to bed every night, could

1:21:00 > 1:21:04see the whole of work that I have put in over the years. It is

1:21:04 > 1:21:09something you dedicate your life to, and you get the rewards. I have

1:21:09 > 1:21:16never wanted anything as bad as I want this. That is why I will be

1:21:16 > 1:21:21giving 110% when I fight. Another hopeful is super-heavyweight

1:21:21 > 1:21:26Anthony Joshua. I have just got to keep it low key, and hopefully get

1:21:26 > 1:21:29the job done. We are not doing it for ourselves, we keep doing it for

1:21:29 > 1:21:33the country. It is another day in The Office, going out to defeat the

1:21:33 > 1:21:39opponent. It is nothing to get excited about. I know there is

1:21:39 > 1:21:42going to be an amazing atmosphere and an amazing crowd, when they

1:21:42 > 1:21:46seek two 20 stone guys walking in, the crowd will get excited. But I

1:21:46 > 1:21:50have got to keep my head on my shoulders and stick to my game plan.

1:21:50 > 1:21:57At the end of the day, as long as good at winning, that's what

1:21:57 > 1:22:04matters. Andrew Selby, the flyweight, last year became the

1:22:04 > 1:22:10first Welshman to win gold at the European Championships in 86 years.

1:22:10 > 1:22:16Let them come forward, and I will pick punches. My style of boxing is

1:22:16 > 1:22:21just hit and move. London 2012 will see Women's boxing making its

1:22:21 > 1:22:26Olympic debut. Natasha Jonas won Brawns in the recent World

1:22:26 > 1:22:31Championships, and is under no illusions about the task ahead.

1:22:31 > 1:22:36London is massive for me as an athlete, being the first women to

1:22:36 > 1:22:41compete there in our sport. We are pioneers. But boxing is boxing,

1:22:41 > 1:22:50whether you're a man or woman. great teams comes a heavy

1:22:50 > 1:22:54expectation, but Britain's boxers could be now up there with the best

1:22:54 > 1:23:00of them. Times have really changed, because we have got 10 boxers in

1:23:00 > 1:23:04the squad, whereas in Athens, it was just you! Yes, it shows how

1:23:04 > 1:23:08much boxing has come on. We have got some great fighters in the Team

1:23:09 > 1:23:13GB camp. I really think this could be one of the best Olympics we have,

1:23:13 > 1:23:17especially in boxing. It is not just the fact that we have got more

1:23:17 > 1:23:22boxers competing, it is that for the first time ever in the Olympic

1:23:22 > 1:23:28Games, women will be competing. What are your thoughts? I think it

1:23:28 > 1:23:32is great. It is exciting times. When men are out there boxing, I'm

1:23:32 > 1:23:36sure a lot of women will be saying, I can beat them. Now, they will

1:23:36 > 1:23:41have the opportunity to go and compete. I always thought Mohamed

1:23:41 > 1:23:44Ali's daughter was very good. She led the way for women boxing. I'm

1:23:44 > 1:23:54sure there's a lot of women who will want to follow in her

1:23:54 > 1:23:57footsteps. Of course, and we must mention Anthony Joshua, he came out

1:23:57 > 1:24:03of nowhere to win silver in the World Championships - can he turn

1:24:03 > 1:24:07that into gold here at the Games? We are hoping for great things from

1:24:07 > 1:24:11Anthony Joshua. I think he is going to do well. He just has to relax

1:24:11 > 1:24:15and do what he does best. He has got a magnificent physique. He has

1:24:15 > 1:24:20got a really strong punch as well. So, we're hoping that he will come

1:24:20 > 1:24:25through with a gold medal. Amir Khan, any particular ones to look

1:24:25 > 1:24:30out for for you? Tom Stalker is one of the best in the world, I think

1:24:30 > 1:24:36he can win a medal. We have got some good fighters, they just have

1:24:36 > 1:24:39to stay calm. It is a big occasion. Going to a World Championships and

1:24:39 > 1:24:44European championships, it is amazing, but the Olympics is

1:24:44 > 1:24:48something else. There's a lot of pressure on these fighters. Behind

1:24:48 > 1:24:58us is the Olympic village, if there are any boxers who have decided not

1:24:58 > 1:25:04to come down tonight, surely, your watch is all the inspiration they

1:25:04 > 1:25:09need! I hope so! Winning a medal will totally changed her life

1:25:09 > 1:25:15around. It has changed my life in a big way. I turned professional and

1:25:15 > 1:25:19everything. It was a great platform for me. Life-changing for you as

1:25:19 > 1:25:23well, the next? Absolutely. Stepping into the ring, everybody

1:25:23 > 1:25:27is looking at you, they do not know if you're going to win or not. And

1:25:27 > 1:25:30then all of a sudden, you win the fight, you come out of the ring,

1:25:30 > 1:25:35and everybody wants to take your picture, everybody wants your

1:25:35 > 1:25:39autograph, it is night and day. Thank you very much for joining us.

1:25:39 > 1:25:44You will be commentating on Radio 5 Live for the duration. Thank you

1:25:44 > 1:25:54very much, guys. Now, to some more potential winners, some people that

1:25:54 > 1:26:14

1:26:14 > 1:26:24Every early morning, three miles. Every twist and turn, every kick.

1:26:24 > 1:26:36

1:26:36 > 1:26:39Every sprint for the line. One Rehearsals are still going on in

1:26:39 > 1:26:45the stadium. But I can tell you, the umbrellas are up as well, it

1:26:45 > 1:26:52has just started to rain! We have got the clouds out, and now we have

1:26:52 > 1:26:58got the rain. We have got animals everywhere. There is a strange bit

1:26:58 > 1:27:02of countryside activity going on about there. One of the best-kept

1:27:02 > 1:27:07secrets is who's going to light the flame. It is not going to be that

1:27:07 > 1:27:13scarecrow, is it? The second best secret is how it will make its way

1:27:13 > 1:27:17from City Hall to the stadium tonight. The torch has made its way

1:27:17 > 1:27:24the length and breadth of Britain, passing within 10 miles of all of

1:27:24 > 1:27:31you at home. Touch down in the UK - final destination, London, but only

1:27:31 > 1:27:34after 8,000 miles, 70 days, with 8,000 torchbearers. As the relay

1:27:35 > 1:27:40begins, the message goes from runner to run a - this is your

1:27:40 > 1:27:45moment to shine. It has been really emotional, I am going to start

1:27:45 > 1:27:55crying. I am not really anybody, and people are cheering me on, it

1:27:55 > 1:28:00is ridiculous! I was in Wonderland. Throughout Britain, the sight of

1:28:00 > 1:28:03the torch touched millions. It was carried by famous names, and by

1:28:03 > 1:28:08people simply nominated by family and friends, each with a story to

1:28:08 > 1:28:18tell. The guys have come down to support him, he means a lot to the

1:28:18 > 1:28:19

1:28:19 > 1:28:26regiment. They gave me my date, and I was due to give birth, but I said

1:28:26 > 1:28:29a little prayer! You have got two choices in life - sit and do

1:28:29 > 1:28:34nothing, or get up and live your life exactly as you did before,

1:28:34 > 1:28:38which is exactly what I do. Olympic spirit swept through the

1:28:38 > 1:28:44nation, and the public turned out in force to cheer on their loved

1:28:44 > 1:28:50ones, or just to see the world's most famous flame. A little bit

1:28:50 > 1:28:56emotional, it is just extraordinary. The experience of a lifetime.

1:28:56 > 1:29:05does not bother us, we have done that, got the T-shirt. It is only a

1:29:05 > 1:29:12bit of water. A little bit wet, but totally worth it. Each day brought

1:29:12 > 1:29:20a new story, a new memory to cherish, a new beginning. I cannot

1:29:20 > 1:29:27believe how sneaky he was to do that! I do not want to let anybody

1:29:27 > 1:29:32down, you know. And so to the last stage of the torch relay, the last

1:29:32 > 1:29:37of the 8,000 runners, the last few steps of the 8,000 miles. This is

1:29:37 > 1:29:42the host city, but if the past 70 days have shown one thing, it is

1:29:42 > 1:29:47that the spirit of the Olympics reaches way beyond London to the

1:29:47 > 1:29:57for corners of the United Kingdom. Through rain, and more rain, the

1:29:57 > 1:30:10

1:30:10 > 1:30:13message was never forgotten - this Wonderful im ages. I was in south-

1:30:13 > 1:30:17west London and watched the torch. I saw it in Sheffield and near my

1:30:17 > 1:30:20home in North London. Got the kids out of bet early on their summer

1:30:20 > 1:30:24holidays. It was strangely emotional. No-one really expected

1:30:25 > 1:30:28it to be as successful as it has. But it was. You know what, they

1:30:28 > 1:30:31weren't put off when it was raining and the torch game by. They will

1:30:31 > 1:30:34not be put off this evening, stkpwiet the fact that the breaking

1:30:34 > 1:30:38news here at the Olympic Park is that the heavens have opened and

1:30:38 > 1:30:42below us there are thousands of people walking past going into the

1:30:42 > 1:30:47stadium. You know what, we always come prepared. There they are, the

1:30:47 > 1:30:50ponchos in just about every colour you can get them in. We knew that

1:30:50 > 1:30:54clouds were always part of the Opening Ceremony in one way or

1:30:54 > 1:30:58another. The real things are actually here now. We're going to

1:30:58 > 1:31:05talk cycling next here in the studio. This is one of Britain's

1:31:05 > 1:31:08big sports. With us now are Chris Boardman who won gold in 1992 and

1:31:08 > 1:31:11Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson who is not only talking about the road race

1:31:11 > 1:31:15tomorrow but also Britain's most successful Paralympic athlete. The

1:31:16 > 1:31:18torch relay, how was it for you? It's been amazing. I live in the

1:31:18 > 1:31:22north-east of England. We went to a back road in Stockton an hour

1:31:22 > 1:31:25before it came through and it was packed. We had to elbow our way to

1:31:25 > 1:31:29the front. I think 14 million people have come to see it. That's

1:31:29 > 1:31:33amazing. We didn't expect those kind of numbers. It grabbed

1:31:33 > 1:31:36people's attention in the build up to the Games. Now cycling is

1:31:36 > 1:31:41grabbing people's attention. We've heard John McEnroe say he is

1:31:41 > 1:31:46looking forward to it. Steve Redgrave too. The sport is on a

1:31:46 > 1:31:50high. It is an unprecedented time for us with success in the Tour De

1:31:50 > 1:31:53France, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins winning first time. This is

1:31:53 > 1:31:59the strongest team we've ever fieldled for an Olympic Games.

1:31:59 > 1:32:05inspiration from the man who won gold in 92. Yes I am responsible

1:32:05 > 1:32:08for all this success! Course you are. The road race starts tomorrow.

1:32:08 > 1:32:12As Chris told me earlier Mark Cavendish will be fine. After all

1:32:12 > 1:32:16he's had six days rest since the Tour finished. After sufferinging

1:32:16 > 1:32:19heart break four years ago, being the only track cyclist to leave

1:32:19 > 1:32:23Beijing without a medal, tomorrow he will be inspired to make 2012

1:32:23 > 1:32:28his year. Can you believe that the biggest

1:32:28 > 1:32:38name in cycling, you're the winning of the Tour De France? I am

1:32:38 > 1:32:42officially bigger than Cavendish? big part of sprinting is confidence.

1:32:42 > 1:32:49He's got bucket loads of it. COMMENTATOR: Cavendish takes

1:32:49 > 1:32:54victory and it's sweet. He's an all or nothing kind of guy. That's key.

1:32:54 > 1:33:00It's something I strive to be. leads a race incredibly well.

1:33:00 > 1:33:05Whereas you or I would see a mess of bodies everywhere, Mark just

1:33:05 > 1:33:11sees gaps. His genius is his ability to stay completely rational.

1:33:11 > 1:33:15It's the most hectic and uncontrollable moment in cycling.

1:33:15 > 1:33:22People forget they see the last 500 metres of a stage and you have to

1:33:22 > 1:33:26ride for five hours before that and to unleash the sprint at the end.

1:33:26 > 1:33:28People ask who would win between us two, I wouldn't even be at the

1:33:28 > 1:33:34finish. COMMENTATOR: Mark Cavendish wins

1:33:34 > 1:33:38for the fourth year running. I know I have to do, make the calculations,

1:33:38 > 1:33:45the decisions in an instant, it's close to instinct as you can get

1:33:45 > 1:33:51from learning to ride a bike. Somehow he sees everything

1:33:51 > 1:33:54happening in slow motion. He sees things happen that others aren't

1:33:54 > 1:34:00seeing. He's making decision that's other people are panicking about.

1:34:00 > 1:34:06He's the only guy in the ruck us that isn't losing his cool. But

1:34:06 > 1:34:12when he finishes the -- crossings - - crosses the finishing line, it

1:34:12 > 1:34:17all comes out. It's a big honour to represent my country, to ride as a

1:34:17 > 1:34:27team, doing it for that honour, for the country, not for a commercial

1:34:27 > 1:34:28

1:34:28 > 1:34:32wage, it's a big, big thing. To us he's just Mark, you know. Even the

1:34:32 > 1:34:35last few days, you can see he's getting excited and he's

1:34:35 > 1:34:39approaching the thing he's been looking at for the last 12 months.

1:34:39 > 1:34:43We are almost trying to calm him down all the time. He's going

1:34:43 > 1:34:47through the full spectrum. He makes himself angry, nervous, confident.

1:34:47 > 1:34:52He can be practising a victory salute one moment to being

1:34:52 > 1:34:57terrified the next. That's just him. He's a wonderful personality.

1:34:57 > 1:35:00super excited. He's getting his shoes ready, his glasses ready.

1:35:00 > 1:35:03He's ready to go. He's as fit as I've ever seen him. He was

1:35:03 > 1:35:07complaining on the road that we were going too hard and smashing

1:35:07 > 1:35:12his head in. We said this is your fault, you asked for us to be here.

1:35:12 > 1:35:15We're here to dot job for you. have four Tour De France stage

1:35:15 > 1:35:19winners in the team, guys who really want to do this. We were

1:35:19 > 1:35:27training today and it was just like, oh, my God, this is a dream team.

1:35:27 > 1:35:31It's a big thing to have, guys who can win in their own right,

1:35:31 > 1:35:40dedicate themselves to a cause and you know, I can't let my team down,

1:35:40 > 1:35:47that's it. That's the biggest thing. What a talent. Remember, he has

1:35:47 > 1:35:51unfinished Olympic business. A simple tweet from him tonight

1:35:51 > 1:35:54saying "I am nervous." I think he's talking about tomorrow, not tonight.

1:35:54 > 1:35:57But it is one of the highlights of tomorrow morning, first day of

1:35:57 > 1:36:01sporting action, we'll be talking about it here on BBC within. Of

1:36:01 > 1:36:04course he's known as a fantastic sprint cyclist, we saw that in the

1:36:04 > 1:36:09Tour De France. This is a long course, though. I think everyone's

1:36:09 > 1:36:12been talking about him potentially winning it for a long time. It will

1:36:12 > 1:36:16be interesting, how many people going up against him, what they do,

1:36:16 > 1:36:20whether they try to break him early on. People who haven't been exposed

1:36:20 > 1:36:26to cycling and watch the Tour will be fascinated by the team and the

1:36:26 > 1:36:32whole do or die that their job is to get him to the finish line first.

1:36:32 > 1:36:36We cycled the road racecourse today, we just went up, that was fine for

1:36:36 > 1:36:40us. We didn't go down. As far as Cav is concerned, he has trained to

1:36:40 > 1:36:45take on box hill nine times and still be in the count for the

1:36:45 > 1:36:51sprint at the end. He's ridden the course a lot. He has lost a little

1:36:51 > 1:36:57bit of weight. He took the edge off his speed in the first week of the

1:36:57 > 1:36:59Tour De France. I think the climb is not his problem. It's his

1:36:59 > 1:37:02reputation. There's a lot of good riders out there. It will be a

1:37:02 > 1:37:08really attacking race. He has the whole team behind him, the best

1:37:08 > 1:37:11they've ever had. There are only four guys. You can't control the

1:37:11 > 1:37:14race. The team strength is there. They're very strong and they will

1:37:14 > 1:37:18ride for him. It will be fascinating. They have a lot of

1:37:18 > 1:37:22experience. David Miller will be captain on the road and calling the

1:37:22 > 1:37:26shots. No race radios this time around. Enjoy being there tomorrow

1:37:26 > 1:37:30soaking up the atmosphere. Chris comentaits on the race as it

1:37:30 > 1:37:33unfolds. Thank you both. The Opening Ceremony is now about 20

1:37:33 > 1:37:39minutes away. For the final time, Gary and Sue, back to you in the

1:37:39 > 1:37:43stadium. I imagine the atmosphere is something quite special.

1:37:43 > 1:37:47It certainly is. It is fantastic here. And I think it's stopped

1:37:47 > 1:37:52raining. The brollies have gone down. That's great news. Danny

1:37:52 > 1:37:55Boyle has been out and asked it to stop. That's how good the

1:37:55 > 1:37:58organisation is. Just 20 minutes away, the start of the greatest

1:37:58 > 1:38:02show on earth. That's only the appetiser, of course, for 16 days

1:38:02 > 1:38:10of the very best of the sport, which you can enjoy in all sorts of

1:38:10 > 1:38:15different ways on the BBC. The BBC is covering the 2012

1:38:15 > 1:38:19Olympics like never before. Whether it's on TV, online, on the radio or

1:38:19 > 1:38:24through your mobile. We'll make sure you never miss a moment of

1:38:24 > 1:38:29these historic Games. On BBC One, we'll broadcast from breakfast

1:38:29 > 1:38:34right through until 1am. BBC Three will show live action,

1:38:34 > 1:38:38uninterrupted from 9am to 11pm. We'll be showing more sports on the

1:38:38 > 1:38:44red button, just click to see what's available. The BBC website

1:38:44 > 1:38:50will cover up to 24 live streams of every event. Go to bbc.co.uk/sport

1:38:50 > 1:38:54to see our new interactive sport player. We'll have every session of

1:38:54 > 1:38:57every sport, every day live. On the website you'll find a page for

1:38:57 > 1:39:03every athlete, sport, venue and country, as well as all the news as

1:39:03 > 1:39:07it happens. If you're on the move, access the latest news through our

1:39:07 > 1:39:13new Olympic app or on the BBC mobile website. You can listen to

1:39:13 > 1:39:18the live coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Olympics

1:39:18 > 1:39:23extra, the new Olympic station. you've got a 3-D TV and you want to

1:39:23 > 1:39:29see the Games in 3-D, you can. We broadcast daily highlights on the

1:39:29 > 1:39:34HD channel and live coverage of the ceremonies and 100 metres final.

1:39:34 > 1:39:37London 2012 on the BBC. We've got the Olympic Games covered.

1:39:37 > 1:39:40There's only one thing to watch right now, the Opening Ceremony not

1:39:40 > 1:39:44far away. We heard a short time ago from Mark Cavendish. He'll be

1:39:44 > 1:39:48hoping to get the team off to a flying start with a Gold Medal on

1:39:48 > 1:39:54the opening day. As far as rowing is concerned, there is one athlete

1:39:54 > 1:39:57who is desperate to get her hands on an Olympic gold medal. Katherine

1:39:57 > 1:40:03Grainger has competed in three Games and won three silver medals.

1:40:03 > 1:40:08Surely this time it will be gold. There's nothing like an Olympic

1:40:08 > 1:40:18final. Great Britain currently in bronze position. Girls, don't give

1:40:18 > 1:40:24

1:40:24 > 1:40:30up on that sex offender. Glrb on We got it.

1:40:31 > 1:40:39Great Britain must go now. 75 metres remain. Let's go Great

1:40:39 > 1:40:45Britain. Up and give it everything! They take the silver medal.

1:40:45 > 1:40:51Katherine Grainger adds another silver medal to her collection.

1:40:51 > 1:40:57This has got to be gold for Katherine Grainger. Great Britain

1:40:57 > 1:41:02there now easing out to half a length. China is coming. They have

1:41:02 > 1:41:11to move. And the Chinese have unleashed an

1:41:11 > 1:41:14incredible amount of speed. It is China for the Gold Medal. Utter,

1:41:14 > 1:41:24utter disappointment for Great Britain and also for Katherine

1:41:24 > 1:41:32

1:41:32 > 1:41:41Grainger. Silver again for Katherine Grainger.

1:41:41 > 1:41:45Emotional scenes. What do you think? She's rowing in a double

1:41:45 > 1:41:49with Anna watt kins. They're unbeaten. They're in good form.

1:41:49 > 1:41:53They're in relaxed mood. I think it's time. The nation will be

1:41:53 > 1:41:59rooting for her. Generally in rowing, we'll do well, won't we?

1:42:00 > 1:42:05Very well. We had a very good World Championships last year. We had ten

1:42:05 > 1:42:08medals in the Olympic event. Certainly medal chances in almost

1:42:08 > 1:42:12every event. We have four days of finals and Gold Medal chances on

1:42:12 > 1:42:15every one of those days. Do you miss it? Do you feel like, here in

1:42:16 > 1:42:19this country, you'd like to be part of it? There's part of me that

1:42:19 > 1:42:24would like to be part of it. There's a lot of me that will not.

1:42:24 > 1:42:28I can imagine! The pre-show is continuing and singing live right

1:42:28 > 1:42:34now is Frank Turner, a regular on the festival scene and a particular

1:42:34 > 1:42:40favourite of the show's artistic boss, Danny Boyle. He's on

1:42:40 > 1:42:45Glastonbury Tor there, in the fields transformed into the British

1:42:45 > 1:42:52countryside. This song's called I Still Believe.

1:42:52 > 1:42:58# Hey, friends and Romans, countrymen, hey, hey, punks and

1:42:58 > 1:43:08skins and journeymen # Hey, hey my sisters and my

1:43:08 > 1:43:13

1:43:13 > 1:43:23brethren, the time is coming near # Come, yeah,

1:43:23 > 1:43:24

1:43:24 > 1:43:30# Come yeah, to the sound, is ringing clear, now who'd have

1:43:30 > 1:43:34thought that after all something as simple and rock'n'roll would save

1:43:34 > 1:43:44us all? # Who'd have thought that after all

1:43:44 > 1:43:50

1:43:50 > 1:44:00it was rock'n'roll # Hey, hey, now anybody could take

1:44:00 > 1:44:08this stage. # Think miracles on minimum wage

1:44:08 > 1:44:18# The songs through the modern age # Right here, right now

1:44:18 > 1:44:41

1:44:41 > 1:44:51# Who'd have thought that after all # It was rock'n'roll

1:44:51 > 1:44:52

1:44:52 > 1:45:02# I still believe in the saints in Gerry Lee and Johnny and the greats.

1:45:02 > 1:45:02

1:45:02 > 1:45:49Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

1:45:50 > 1:45:59# I still believe. # Now who'd have thought that after

1:46:00 > 1:46:00

1:46:00 > 1:46:09all. # Something as simple as rock all. # Something as simple as rock

1:46:09 > 1:46:14'n' roll would save us all. # Now who'd have thought that after all.

1:46:14 > 1:46:22# Something so simple, something so small.

1:46:22 > 1:46:32# Who would have thought? # That after all.

1:46:32 > 1:46:40

1:46:40 > 1:46:45# It's rock'n'roll. But # thank you And don't forget, this is just a

1:46:45 > 1:46:55warm-up, the Opening Ceremony is not yet begun. We are getting close,

1:46:55 > 1:46:55

1:46:55 > 1:46:58though. Andrew Marr now charts the proud history of this magnificent

1:46:58 > 1:47:03city. city.

1:47:04 > 1:47:09Back at the turn of the last century, the founder of the modern

1:47:09 > 1:47:12Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, came up with the five rings to represent

1:47:12 > 1:47:16the five continents competing together. He said, in the Olympic

1:47:16 > 1:47:20Games, the most important thing is not to win, but to take part, just

1:47:20 > 1:47:27as in life, the most important thing is not the triumph but the

1:47:27 > 1:47:32struggle. This, you might think, is a bit defeatist, particularly for a

1:47:32 > 1:47:38Frenchman. On the other hand, the Games was all about people pouring

1:47:38 > 1:47:43in from all parts of the world, and all about resilience, so it is not

1:47:43 > 1:47:48a bad fit, you might think, for the City of London. After all, this is

1:47:48 > 1:47:54a city which has faced disaster many times in the past. Roman

1:47:54 > 1:48:00London was virtually wiped out by rebel British tribes, and the city

1:48:00 > 1:48:04lost around a fifth of its population in the Great plague of

1:48:04 > 1:48:111665, and then had its heart burned out in the Great Fire one year

1:48:11 > 1:48:15later. Then was the Blitz, which knocked much of London to pieces.

1:48:15 > 1:48:20The aerial bombardment was not just supposed to destroy buildings and

1:48:20 > 1:48:26the transport system, but actually to strangle the optimism of the

1:48:26 > 1:48:32people. NEWSREEL: there are no words to

1:48:32 > 1:48:36describe what is happening in London these days. In 1940, the

1:48:36 > 1:48:42tunnels of the Underground, which today are the rather clogged

1:48:42 > 1:48:47arteries supporting working life in London, would protect life itself.

1:48:47 > 1:48:49There was no government planned to start with, but eventually, 150,000

1:48:49 > 1:48:55Londoners would be sleeping on station platforms as the bombing

1:48:55 > 1:49:05went on overhead. Huge numbers of people were killed, but life also

1:49:05 > 1:49:12

1:49:12 > 1:49:15went on, despite 57 consecutive nights of air raids. Some of the

1:49:15 > 1:49:19scars are still visible, some of which is due to the cheaper

1:49:19 > 1:49:27rebuilding in the decades after the war. Just three years after the war

1:49:27 > 1:49:33ended, in 1948, London hosted the first Olympics since the infamous

1:49:33 > 1:49:38Berlin Games. The international Games of the 14

1:49:38 > 1:49:42for modern Olympiad began at Wembley... The chairman of the

1:49:42 > 1:49:46Organising Committee said that London represented a warm flame of

1:49:46 > 1:49:50hope for better understanding in the world, which has burnt so low.

1:49:50 > 1:49:58We may think that we have got things hard today, with austerity

1:49:58 > 1:50:04and all that. We know nothing. 1948 was the real austerity Olympics.

1:50:04 > 1:50:11Britain's economy was on its knees. There were no new venues, no

1:50:11 > 1:50:15village for athletes. Their rations were limited to 5467 calories a day,

1:50:15 > 1:50:23the same as for dockers and miners, which was really quite generous.

1:50:23 > 1:50:33Anyone else was restricted to half that. As for all the freebies, well,

1:50:33 > 1:50:38there was free Bovril and bring your own towel. Building an Olympic

1:50:38 > 1:50:42village? No, that was considered to be far too expensive, so the

1:50:42 > 1:50:47athletes were housed in RAF camps in Uxbridge, west Drayton and

1:50:47 > 1:50:53Diversity. Female competitors had rather basic rooms in London

1:50:53 > 1:50:58colleges. Legacy? Well, the real achievement was holding the Games

1:50:58 > 1:51:02at all. London had held the Olympics before, in 19 a late,

1:51:02 > 1:51:07Games which were most famous for the gallant attempt of this Italian

1:51:07 > 1:51:13to finish the Marathon he was leading. But he was helped in the

1:51:13 > 1:51:16final phases and was disqualified. But he was given a special, gilded,

1:51:16 > 1:51:21Silver Cup, presented by Queen Alexandra the next day. Now, more

1:51:21 > 1:51:26than a century later, London is to hold the Games for a record third

1:51:26 > 1:51:31time. The morning after the award had been announced, when there was

1:51:31 > 1:51:37a wonderful bubble of euphoria, and expectation was at fever pitch,

1:51:37 > 1:51:43London's commuters were targeted by Al-Qaeda terrorists. Four suicide

1:51:43 > 1:51:47bombers detonated devices on free Tube trains and a bus. 52 innocent

1:51:47 > 1:51:57people were killed. Once again, rather than dwelling on this

1:51:57 > 1:52:02savagery, Londoners managed to absorb the blow, and keep going. So,

1:52:02 > 1:52:07why is London sometimes a target? These days, because it is a world

1:52:07 > 1:52:11city, as near as we have to a genuine global village, one of the

1:52:11 > 1:52:17most diverse places on the planet, with more than 300 language groups

1:52:17 > 1:52:21and huge overseas populations. Five rings for five continents -

1:52:21 > 1:52:26certainly, people from all five continents are bouncing and rolling

1:52:26 > 1:52:34around the streets of London every day of the year. This is not an

1:52:34 > 1:52:39easy place, it is always crowned, fast and changing, and often raw,

1:52:39 > 1:52:44as the summer riots last year reminded us. But London's response

1:52:44 > 1:52:49to that low point was, thank goodness, predictable - get back to

1:52:49 > 1:52:53work, get on with it. Because London understands, as Pierre de

1:52:53 > 1:53:01Coubertin nearly said, that you get absolutely no way in life without a

1:53:01 > 1:53:05bitter struggle. These are the sites in London, as

1:53:05 > 1:53:09darkness descends upon us, which is the reason why the Olympics

1:53:09 > 1:53:17ceremony is due to start at 9 o'clock. Danny Boyle wanted it to

1:53:17 > 1:53:22be dark to show the stadium off to full effect. The austerity Games,

1:53:22 > 1:53:29back in 1948. We have been sent in a programme from those Games. What

1:53:29 > 1:53:35about that? If anyone has got one from 1908, we would like one of

1:53:35 > 1:53:42those as well! That was your first gold, wasn't it, Steve? A little

1:53:42 > 1:53:46bit before that, I took a year off. Steve, everyone's so proud to have

1:53:46 > 1:53:51the Games back in London. Everybody must be proud to see how the venues

1:53:51 > 1:53:55have come together. Certainly. In Beijing, they had stunning venues,

1:53:55 > 1:54:01and everybody thought, there is no way we will be able to match that,

1:54:01 > 1:54:06but I think we have. Mark Spitz came to look at the Aquatics Centre,

1:54:06 > 1:54:09and he was absolutely blown away with it, and so was I. I was in the

1:54:09 > 1:54:13board meetings, when they were sketching a round, regarding what

1:54:13 > 1:54:22the venues might look at. But it is all about the use afterwards.

1:54:22 > 1:54:26Michael, are we ready to host the Games? Tap do so, despite what Mitt

1:54:26 > 1:54:29Romney says. And he is not our president, just a guy trying to

1:54:29 > 1:54:35become president. No, I think so. I have seen the work that has been

1:54:35 > 1:54:40done, and I think absolutely. The IOC got it right when they said,

1:54:40 > 1:54:44this is the most prepared team they have ever seen. Steve, are you

1:54:44 > 1:54:50staying with us? You have got a telephone! Anyway, the waiting is

1:54:50 > 1:54:57almost over. There are other ways almost over. There are other ways

1:54:57 > 1:55:04to watch. For the first time ever, there's live? In 3D, which has just

1:55:04 > 1:55:08got under way on the HD Channel. Also, for viewers who are blind or

1:55:08 > 1:55:17partially sighted, will offering audio description via the red

1:55:17 > 1:55:20button. Finally, a warning that the ceremony will include flashing

1:55:21 > 1:55:26images and fireworks - you would not expect anything else. It is

1:55:26 > 1:55:36going to be special. Our, NATO's for the Opening Ceremony are Trevor

1:55:36 > 1:55:38

1:55:38 > 1:55:44Nelson, Hazel Irvine and Huw 80 young musicians joining together

1:55:44 > 1:55:48to perform Nimrod by Edward Elgar, starting with a celebration of

1:55:48 > 1:55:52Britain's maritime tradition. The world is waiting to see what London

1:55:52 > 1:55:56has to offer. The journey is almost complete, the moment has arrived,

1:55:56 > 1:56:06the Opening Ceremony will take us through the great revolutions in

1:56:06 > 1:56:06

1:56:06 > 1:58:48Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

1:58:48 > 1:58:53MUSIC: "Nimrod" from Enigma Stand by for a few surprises along

1:58:53 > 1:58:58the way. We will be making our way from the Industrial Revolution,

1:58:58 > 1:59:05which changed Britain and the world, to the full-blown digital