Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney will end the Olympics opening ceremony with Hey Jude and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to join him for a sing-along (MAIL ON LINE) By IAN GARLAND

Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney will close out the Olympics Games opening ceremony with a performance of Hey Jude - and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to sing along with him.

One billion people are expected to tune in to watch the spectacular three-hour show, which is being directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and is costing £27 million to produce.

The largest harmonically tuned bell in the world will ring to mark the start of the ceremony at 9pm on July 27 - and the pop legend will bring it to a rousing finale at midnight.


McCartney prompted rumours Hey Jude was on his Olympics set list last month when he reportedly refused to perform the song at the Queen's Jubilee concert.

Sources now confirm to the Sunday Times the song will mark the end of the ceremony later this month.

They have also revealed a darker side to Danny Boyle's Isles of Wonder spectacular - named after a line in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

As well as a 'green and pleasant land' celebrating Britain's rolling fields and rural heritage - the show will include a 'History Parade' celebrating the NHS, immigration and protest movements, and shining a light on the country's darker past.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167232/London-Olympics-2012-Beatles-star-Sir-Paul-McCartney-end-Olympics-opening-ceremony-Hey-Jude-hell-ask-stadiums-60-000-spectators-join-sing-along.html

London 2012 Olympics: Elgar and Sir Paul McCartney to feature in opening ceremony (The Telegraph)

 Elgar is expected to feature in the London 2012 opening ceremony after forming part of the soundtrack to video presentations used to persuade David Cameron to stump up another £40 million to the staging costs.

 

Centre stage: Beijing's opening ceremony gives London much to live up to

By Paul Kelso

10:00PM GMT 03 Jan 2012

 

Cameron was shown two six-minute films by opening ceremony director Danny Boyle on a visit to Downing Street, one based on a £40 million ceremonies budget, the other on an £80 million spend.

The presentation was pivotal in Cameron giving the go-ahead for additional public spending, arguing
 that the ceremonies represent an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Britain to the world. In his New Year’s message the Prime Minister said: “We have to go for it.”

Elgar’s Nimrod, from the Enigma Variations, is thought to have featured in the films, though the man considered by some the greatest of English composers will be joined by far more contemporary music as Boyle seeks to marry tradition with the best of modern creative Britain.

Dance act Underworld, who collaborated with Boyle on Trainspotting, are musical directors for the show and will add a keener edge to the ceremony soundtrack. Sir Paul McCartney has also been tipped to perform at the opening or closing ceremonies in London, with organisers aware of the huge popularity of classic British acts with audiences round the world, especially in the US.

Boyle is also understood to be trialling state-of-the-art technology for the ceremony, including advanced CGI film techniques borrowed from film that will allow London to match-up to Beijing’s spectacular £65 million opening ceremony without being able to call on the massive number of performers present in China.

What's in a stadium name?

Naming rights will be crucial to the success of the London Olympic Stadium post-Games, but despite a lack of clarity about what is on offer there is understood to be some initial interest already. At least one major US brand is understood to have shown interest, but they will require a great deal more detail about what will be in the stadium — West Ham remain the favoured outcome for Olympic organisers but are yet to show their hand — before anyone starts to commit to substantial negotiations


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/8990819/London-2012-Olympics-Elgar-and-Sir-Paul-McCartney-to-feature-in-opening-ceremony.html

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr may perform for London Olympics opening ceremony

London 2012: 4 billion to watch ceremonies

The Associated Press

Last modified: 2011-12-04T17:44:51Z

Published: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 - 9:44 am

Copyright 2011 . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LONDON -- London 2012 organizers say more than 4 billion people will watch the opening and closing ceremonies for next year's Olympics and Paralympics.

About 20,000 people will perform in the four ceremonies but the local organizing committee has yet to announce the headline performers.

British media have speculated that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr may perform.   

Advertising executive Martin Sorrell says the huge audience means the ceremonies are worth $3.2 billion in advertising to Britain.
Sorrell adds that "with regards to perception of London and the UK and a tourism legacy, you could say that they will be priceless."

Sacramento Bee

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/04/4098708/london-2012-4-billion-to-watch.html#ixzz1fcKRqbgp