Glastonbury Tor will play a prominent part in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, it has been revealed this morning.
The £27 million ceremony takes place on July 27, and will see the Olympic Stadium transformed into a traditional British countryside, according to artistic director Danny Boyle.
The opening scene will be called Green and Pleasant, and the audience are promised that they will 'see a scene that represents a traditional and idyllic view of the British countryside'.
Included is a recreation of one of Somerset's most iconic landmarks, Glastonbury Tor, as well as a mock-up 'mosh pit' from the Glastonbury Festival.
A total of 157 cast rehearsals have already taken place for the opening ceremony, and the prop storeis preparing 2,956 props and 23,000 costumes.
One of the largest sets ever built, the ceremony setting will include meadows, fields and rivers, families taking picnics, sport being played on the village greens, and farmers tilling the soil whilst real farmyard animals graze.
These fields will include 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese, 70 sheep, and three sheep dogs.
Mr Boyle said: "The ceremony is an attempt to capture a picture of ourselves as a nation, where we have come from and where we want to be. The best part of telling that story has been working with our 10,000 volunteers.
"I’ve been astounded by the selfless dedication of the volunteers, they are the purest embodiment of the Olympic spirit and represent the best of who we are as a nation."
Lord Sebastian Coe, who chairs the Games organising committee LOCOG, said: "With only 45 days to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, one of the biggest sets ever built for a show is beginning to develop in the Olympic Stadium.
"With a worldwide TV audience of a billion people and a cast of over 10,000 talented volunteers, I’m sure that Danny’s ceremony will be a fantastic celebration that will welcome the 10,500 athletes from around the world and make our nation proud."
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Glastonbury-Tor-feature-London-2012-Olympic-Games/story-16346932-detail/story.html
Edited by king mob on 12-June-2012 at 7:09pm
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