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This is an account of life in an Olympic city. Capturing the final preparations before the Opening Ceremony as well as the Games themselves.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Opening Ceremony Part 1, what was not shown on TV
Just back from the Ceremony....I am very happily tired!
So lets take it from the beginning
The OAKA complex is a true gem, the use of steel is very cleverly designed and visually impressive.
The crowd was in a state of bliss... walking around trying to absorb what was happening around them.
I have to congratulate the volunteers, they were always happy and pleasant to talk to, I am very impressed by their attitude!
Now inside the stadium we found a nice cardboard "briefcase" in the colours of Athens 2004 that contained a beautifully designed programme for the Opening Ceremony. I suppose the text in the programme is similar to the scripts used by the newscasters. The briefcase also contained a mini keyring torch (all these tiny lights you saw on TV) and a miniature cowbell, you might have heard the ringing at various parts of the Ceremony.
The show for us started at 7:30, 1 hour before the TV feed. It started with a very British self sarcasm by showing 5 workmen bangning on the middle of the stadium and declaring: "At last it is ready" ;-)
It followed a warming up performance hosted by Nikos Aliagas (the most famous Greek in France, after Nana Mousaka) and Thalia. It included performances by Michalis Hadjiyiannis, a popular singer this summer, as well as the song of the flame (Pass the Flame) by Yiannis Kotsiras.
There is an amazing vibe and sense and anticipation in the air... waiting for the countdown to the start of the main part of the show
So lets take it from the beginning
The OAKA complex is a true gem, the use of steel is very cleverly designed and visually impressive.
The crowd was in a state of bliss... walking around trying to absorb what was happening around them.
I have to congratulate the volunteers, they were always happy and pleasant to talk to, I am very impressed by their attitude!
Now inside the stadium we found a nice cardboard "briefcase" in the colours of Athens 2004 that contained a beautifully designed programme for the Opening Ceremony. I suppose the text in the programme is similar to the scripts used by the newscasters. The briefcase also contained a mini keyring torch (all these tiny lights you saw on TV) and a miniature cowbell, you might have heard the ringing at various parts of the Ceremony.
The show for us started at 7:30, 1 hour before the TV feed. It started with a very British self sarcasm by showing 5 workmen bangning on the middle of the stadium and declaring: "At last it is ready" ;-)
It followed a warming up performance hosted by Nikos Aliagas (the most famous Greek in France, after Nana Mousaka) and Thalia. It included performances by Michalis Hadjiyiannis, a popular singer this summer, as well as the song of the flame (Pass the Flame) by Yiannis Kotsiras.
There is an amazing vibe and sense and anticipation in the air... waiting for the countdown to the start of the main part of the show
