With 43 days to go work has now started to install the set for the opening scene of the Opening Ceremony, which is called Green and Pleasant. On entry to the Olympic Stadium the audience will see a scene that represents a traditional and idyllic view of the British countryside.
The Stadium will be transformed into the rolling British countryside as the London 2012 Ceremonies Team creates one of the largest sets ever built. The set will be complete with meadows, fields and rivers, and featuring families taking picnics, sport being played on the village green and farmers tilling the soil whilst real farmyard animals graze including 12 horses, 3 cows, 2 goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, 9 geese, 70 sheep, and 3 sheep dogs. Each of the four nations will be represented by their national flower the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and flax from Northern Ireland.
Danny Boyle, London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Artistic Director, 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. Ive 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.
There have already been 157 cast rehearsals for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. The prop store is currently looking to complete the production of 12,956 props, while staff in the costume department are working hard to produce 23,000 costumes, including sewing 24,570 buttons onto the costumes for one of the opening sequences of the Opening Ceremony.
Installation will begin shortly for the lighting which includes 1,100 automated lamps, 1,000 conventional lamps, 500 LED fixtures, and 32 follow spots. This will be accompanied by a million watt sounds system using more than 500 speakers.
The BBC was today officially announced as the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies Featured Film Producer, with the news that it will make two short films for the Olympic Opening Ceremony. With the title Isles of Wonder, the first film will be at the very opening of the show. The other will appear later.
