London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

Wow o wow o wow! The London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony involved thousands upon thousands of volunteers, and I was one of them. I was part of the industrial revolution, I was a soldier during the remembrance and I got to stand beneath the Olympic rings as they were forged together. I am the luckiest guy in the world.

This page is a place to find out about the whole experience, the rehearsals, the rain, the stadium, the electric atmosphere and how an insignificant guy from south London became involved in The Greatest Show On Earth.



The Greatest Show On Earth - One Volunteer’s Experience Performing In Front Of Billions


During the preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, I kept a diary of what was going on. All the entries have been collated into a book which you can download for FREE. Follow the journey from the first rehearsal to the final show night, from frustrations to goosebumps and everything in between. What a ride!

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!


And here is that crucial final chapter: Friday 27 July 2012 - Show Day



Pictures

My cast pass - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsInside 3 Mills Studio - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsInside the tent @ Dagenham - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsWatching the other rehearsals suring a tea break - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsA special Volunteers Oyster card - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Getting used to our props - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsPracticing striking the fences in Dagenham - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsWaiting around for another strike - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Waiting around for another strike in the sunshine - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsThe shuttle bus from the station to the rehearsal - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsLining up for some of Toby Sedgewick's choreography experiments - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Danny Boyle's green & pleasant land recreated in Dagenham - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsNatalie & some other members of County k joking in the sunshine - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsA group of children come to practice their trampolining - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

A packed tent in Dagenham as lots of groups come together - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsChilling in the Sunshine - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsArriving into the Olympic Park for the first time - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals Luke in the Olympic Stadium - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Passing under the aquatics centre - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsThe Field of Play at one stadium rehearsal - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsBen, Dean and I having our lunch on the back row - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Getting Up Close to the Olympic Stadium - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsSitting with Natalie, Shirley & Andrew - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsDanny Boyle Signing Some Volunteer's Momentos - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Natalie's message into Danny Boyle's Book - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsJoe Briefing County Kent - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsTim & Rob Looking a Bit Confused - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsThe Field of Play in the Pouring Rain - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Soggy Volunteers Wait in the Stadium Stands - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsA Group Shot of County Kent on the Field of Play - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsThe Field of Play at Night- London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

The Towering Chimneys - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony RehearsalsHanging Around the Trapdoor - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyA Technical Malfunction - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony RehearsalsThe Olympic Rings during Rehearsals - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Dressing Up as Soldiers - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsA Volunteer's Birthday Cake - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsSave The Suprise! - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsGetting Dressed - London 2012 Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Waiting for Showtime - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsOllie Wasting Time In Costume - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsJame's Drawing of Me During the Waiting - London 2012 Opening Ceremony RehearsalsMarie & her Soldiers - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony Rehearsals

Meeting Rick Smith of Underworld - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyOllie with some Real Soldiers - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyOutside the Dress Rehearsal - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

A Good Luck from Jonathan - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyAll the Soldiers with Make Up on Show Night - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyCombination While the Rings Forge - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

Stood under the Olympic Rings on Show Night - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

The View from Our Seats - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyOPEN! - London 2012 Olympic Opening CeremonyThe Lit Cauldron - London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

All images are © Olly Offord unless otherwise indicated.