How amazing is that? Right here.
The Olympics.
Ah, okay, okay I'm all caught up; The whole world clubbing together every 4 years for loads of sporting events, coming to Britain for the only time we may be around to see it... That really is quite exciting! Wowee!
This is all making a lot more sense now.
A month or so ago the Olympic Torch, on its journey from Greece, actually passed through our little town! Quite a momentous occasion for little St. Ives! The only problem was how early it was coming through, but on the upside it was being lit at the bottom of our road, so we could practically fall back into bed.
I was sleeping peacefully at the foot of Laura's bed when the alarm went crazy at half 6. We dragged ourselves out of bed and up to the end of the road, where we knocked on Laura's relative Nicky's house - who lives just in front of where the torch would be. Laura's Italian relatives were also there, and we had a wonderful breakfast together of tea and croissants, a rather lovely affair.
By the time the torch arrived it was drizzling with rain, so we grabbed our umbrellas and headed out onto the road. A parade of lit up buses floated past, blaring out various radio stations, closely followed by some police motorcyclists, and then, the 'awaited' moment.
The streets were absolutely littered with people! It was incredible, and very patriotic. Everywhere was again decorated with Union Flag bunting and Olympic flags (which I thought were just nifty art deco), and crowds gathered as the bus of Olympic Torch bearers arrived.
Now, we stood on the road and saw the audience cluttering around one area, and wandered:
'Hmm, I wonder what they're doing?' And carried on standing there with other confused people for a further 10 minutes before we realised, 'Oh, hang on, they're lighting the torch!'
We scuttled over and saw something like this:
 |
| The lighting of the Olympic Torch on it's travels through our humble little town |
Then, off he ran, and that was it. The streets emptied; some people took the 2 minute walk into town where shops had opened early and the Corn Exchange was offering breakfast, and our little group headed back to the house.
I stood with Laura, and gave her a look.
"Wasn't that exciting?" She said with a grin.
"Was that it?"
"Yup."
"A man with a stick."
"Well, a burning stick."
"A stick."
"A golden, burning stick."
"With holes in it, isn't that a fire risk?"
"I think they have it figured out. C'mon Fox, it came alllllll the way from Greece!"
"Oh, that's pretty impressive!"
"Yep. They lit it from the sun using a parabolic mirror."
"Pardon?"
"Parabolic. Yup. I don't know either. But it sounds kinda impressive."
"So he runs to London now?"
"Nope, to the end of the road, to hand it to the next person. It's a relay."
"Oh, well thats dissappointing. Then what?"
"When it gets to London, they use it to light a big flame to symbolise the games."
It was about 7 or 8 in the morning, I had been involuntarily awake for 1 or 2 hours, and I had to leave my tea to come out and watch a man run with a stick. I thought of the mug of re-heated warmth glowing within the house, and just decided to ask about the whole 'games' and 'big flame' thing later.
These humans, so peculiar.
*
So the Games started on Friday night, with the opening ceremony. We all sat in the lounge to watch it in anticipation.
I wasn't particularly sure what to expect. When they showed the stadium full of grass, hills, floating clouds, flowers, sheep, and a cottage in the centre with a smoking chimney, I must admit I wandered what on Earth we were watching. But actually, it turned out to be absolutely incredible.
Travelling through the history of Britain through visualness, it was remarkably well done. The grass was rolled away, and towering chimneys soared through blackened ground to symbolise the industrial revolution; The actors and actresses mining away, when a flurry of gold travels through the curving line they mine to form a ring. Four other rings hang above, and they unite to form the Olympic rings.
That, to the Great Ormond Street Hospital and NHS tribute, with lit up beds forming shapes, and then surrounded by terrifying nightmares. Progressing on to a hilarious act of Mr. Bean joining with 'Chariots of Fire', and the Queen jumping from a plane with James Bond. Then, on to the different eras of music by telling a cyber love story. At last, the teams from each country come through to the beat of drums.
I was doing very well, bearing in mind it only started at my bedtime (9pm), but I fell asleep when the alphabetical order reached the countries beginning with 'T', and awoke to people with wings flying around on bikes. Very bizarre.
Then, that footballing person David Beckham came through fireworks on a lit up boat, handed the holey fire stick to a famous Olympian, who ran through to the stadium and handed it to a young hopeful. Joined by a few other hopefuls, they ran through the stadium full of the teams and cheering fans with the torch in it's last stretch of the relay from Greece; flags from each country waving on a hill as they approached the cauldron.
Made of copper petals, one carried by each country as they entered, they held the flame against it and it caught, travelling amongst the copper. The petals lifted and met together, producing an incredible symbol of unity, and the most beautiful, (and only) representation of the cauldron I have ever seen.
To finish, the Queen opens the games.
I sat there, blinking rapidly, quite astonished.
It was like an incredibly bizarre dream that you tell people about, and they give you a look as if to say: 'Are you insane?'
But actually, I happen to love the quirky, confusing and astonishing; and found the whole thing pretty amazing.
I have been watching a few sports since, and am rather a fan of the diving in particular. I might even try out for it next time. I think my tail could make things quite streamlined, or I could use it to block out any errors I make on the somersaults.
Although, my fur does go very curly when its wet, and I'm not sure the world is ready to see that.
These games are actually quite good fun, I guess these humans do have some good ideas. Maybe I'll go back to my roots and start some Woodlandympics with the rabbits and shrews. They do love a good volleyball match.
Good luck team GB, and also team Italy! And best wishes to everybody else too!
Lets go get some chocolate coin necklaces! Yayyyyyyyyy!
