The Paralympic Opening Ceremony is still going on as I write this in bed at midnight.
It's been a stunning spectacular, with Stephen Hawking and Ian McKellen (in a star-spangled robe as Prospero) acting as Masters of Ceremonies with their own wheelchair-bound Miranda experiencing brave new worlds as the ceremony progressed through a series of tableaux that made the opening of the Olympics a few weeks back look like merely a warm-up act.
This is fucking brilliant!
Lots more classical music (which of course is more to my taste), our blind opera diva, umbrellas with everything (a brilliantly realised theme linking the scenes and fortunately keeping away the rain that had threatened all day but never came) flying ballet by paralympic athletes, a dance interpretation of Newton's Principia Mathematica, the Higgs boson (with umbrellas), Quinn's giant limbless sculpture from Trafalgar Square, the whole solar system inside the stadium, choral singing on a monumental scale, limbless dancing, Newton's/Yoko's apples a recurring theme, "gravitational choreography," Shakespeare, Ian McKellen with the biggest phallic telescope in the universe, the Large Hadron Collider smashing ideas into new understandings, "the shining, limitless possibilities of humanity" and Prospero's final message to his Miranda to "be yourself."
Linking the spectacles, reminders of the origins of the Paralympics here in England at the last London Olympics of 1948 and the rôle of the shattered soldiers and the groundbreaking surgeons and therapists who rebuilt them after the war and gave them new hope and dignity through sporting endeavour; reminders of the self-evident but rarely evinced equality of rights due to every human being.
Above all this opening ceremony has been about perception and enlightenment. Perception challenged and transformed. The definition of ability reforged by thousands of superhuman athletes inspiring and enlightening this and many future generations.
And didn't the athletes have fun? What a party!
Here comes the flame as I write. Amazing. Flown in to the stadium by a Royal Marine paralympian.
The cauldron is lit and the celebrations reach the fireworks stage. Woah, Nellie!
The Paralympics has come home to its birthplace and it's ready to seriously fucking rock! I can't wait!
13 comments:
Very awesome! One of my husband's former students participated as a blind powerlifter. I didn't see the opening ceremonies as of yet.
Well, I now know why they're not showing the Paralympics here - the networks feel it's too smart for their audience. Indicates just how low and loathsome we are in their estimation.
If we can't watch it, at least we have your description. Sounds amazing!
I'll have to look around for photos or videos online.
i guess we'll be watching it on youtube on this side of the pond, sugar! xoxoxoxo
I agree it was fantastic so much better I thought than the main opening, more easy to understand although the Olympics opening was great this was so brilliant.
Good write up Son that was a hell of a ride in on that wire for the Royal Marine with the flame! my heart was in my mouth.
Now lets hope the games go well for them all such brave people.
Bet you are not the only one tired this morning, I hope you can see it on u tube savannah
Neetzy, like I said in my comment a couple of posts back: I am astounded that your TV networks aren't covering an event that will shower glory on your country's athletes. The US team is enormous - look out for your powerlifter having a ball if you manage to track down any footage.
Speedway, it was definitely a few notches further up the intellectual ladder than the Olympic ceremony, but no worse for that (considerably better in my view).
American TV appears ashamed by its own paralympians but that merely makes America look shameful; North Korea has far better TV coverage. Sheesh! Talk about pariah states.
It was amazing indeed, Ms.M. I do hope someone has covered it over there.
A crying shame, Savannah. Enjoy what little bits of it you can find.
xoxoxoxo
Mum, the Royal Marine's flight was astonishing, wasn't it? Who needs legs?
I'm also astonished that I managed to write so half-decently while asleep. I woke up this morning and rushed to the bedroom laptop to check if I'd written drivel but I'm quite happy that I covered the event okay.
I cannot compete with your post tried to write on mine would have pinched your post if I could ha ha.
You can pinch my stuff if you want. Or just link to it. Your piece is good though.
Beautifully written dearest Dive. Did you see our Aussie swimmer? A boy without limbs from Iran adopted by an Australian woman; one of many adoptees. Such bravery is awe-inspiring.
Yes, I did! So many awe-inspiring stories. The games have been fantastic, just as good as the Olympics.
You are right on spot, Dive. The Americans don't give enough attention to this kind of thing...it's all Olympics and pro sports.
Thanks for posting a lovely tribute.
Hi, Liz! Great to see you again. I've been remiss in visiting people's blogs for a while now so thanks for waking me up.
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