So by now you’re wondering why I’m still writing on the past London 2012 Summer Olympics. Well, I do like to finish anything and start and if I could tell how it started and what happened in between, I think I owe you a conclusion to that journey for all those who missed it due to our country’s epileptic power sector. As you know, electricity in Nigeria is never really constant and this has a way of affecting everything from business to personal enjoyment of entertainment. Such disappointing moments with lack of electricity did affect my viewing of the closing ceremony as directed by Kim Gavin and David Arnold a great deal.
But from what I did see, I could tell that it was concluded with a few countries like Brazil receiving their gold medals before the musical fan fare began. It was such a pity we couldn’t glimpse Queen Elizabeth 11’s scowl but at least she was represented by the jolly Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton who were more than happy to be there. With a worldwide viewership of 750 million people (a few millions shy of the opening ceremony’s 1 billion people viewership), it was a night meant to be remembered.
The stadium glowed with the colours of the British flag (a tribute to the Union Jack) – and I’ve got to say, the lighting effects for both opening and closing ceremonies were spectacular – and the floor was covered in what looked like newspaper clippings. Once again, comic relief was provided but by a fat looking batman and an elderly robin character. Once the jokes were over, it was party time.
The crowd not only went wild as a series of popular British acts playing rock, rap, pop, etc hit the stage but they also sang along filling the arena with a thunderous chorus and applause. As for me, certain performances stood out. First on the list was Scottish singer, Emeli Sande’s vocal excellence as she sang an acoustic version of her song, "Read all about it". Next was the drum-roll of the street percussion group with drummers beating on aluminum dustbin bins/covers with drum sticks while the stomp and acrobatic dancers did moves that left me with one word ‘wow’. Unfortunately this moment was disrupted for me when Ryan Davis’ performance followed. Yeah I had lots of down moments but let’s stick to the good ones for now. I also was pleasantly surprised by the open party scene with volunteers wearing colourful plaid outfits, party hats, abstract fashion pieces and colour-coded suits as well as the royal guards trumpeting.
Lots of musicians made guest appearances and I was glad I could catch a glimpse of One Direction singing on what seemed to me like a dismantled truck. Spice girls made a grand entrance on moving vehicles and sang their signature songs, as did Jesse J, Tairo Cruz and Tinie Tempah who also came in moving cars. Other singers include: Madness, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Ed Sheena, Take That, etc.
Amidst the musical concert, the athletes were paraded one last time bearing their national flag. It was nice to see countries truly celebrating because they were returning home with gold medals like USA and China who walked away with the highest amount of medals won in the 2012 Olympics (104 and 88 medals respectively). Jamaicans had a lot to celebrate besides able to hold on to their world records; as the closing ceremonies coincided with their country’s 50th anniversary. On the other hand, Brazilians were excited about the prospects of hosting the next Olympic Games (Rio 2016).
I wasn’t too psyched to see Nigeria’s parade especially when we were coming back home empty handed. My disappointed was shared by so many other Nigerians on twitter, some of which made sarcastic jokes about the team. The word Nigeria was trendy that day on twitter as Nigerians vented their anger at seeing a fellow athlete dancing during parade of nations. Everyone felt our team should hang their head in shame especially when the disabled team did so well at the Summer Para-Olympics.
Let’s get back to the closing ceremony shall we? Talking of Nigeria could start a long chain of issues relating to what ails this ‘failed state’ as diagnosed by *a CIA report predicting our disintegration by 2015. Since we are on low moments, might I say I was irked by Jessie J’s off key as she made her way to sing with Tinie Tempah and Tairo Cruz. Thank God she redeemed herself by the time she sang a classic rock song “We will Rock you”with Bryan May. Beady Eye’s rock piece with Liam Gallagher, from Oasis band, had such a nasal pitch to it I almost wished PHCN had seized the light during his performance.
I’m sure glad I had no electricity to watch Russell Brand’s musical performance though (being divorced from a popular pop musician did not qualify him to imagine he could actually sing and if that was meant to be funny, I doubt it was). Think happy thoughts, happy thoughts *fore-fingers to my temple with eyes closed. Then I take in a deep breath*. 
*Smile on my face, commence conversation*. Once again the spirit of emotional freedom to cry was celebrated as pictures of athletes crying tears of joy and pain were displayed on projector screens, proving that it was now socially accepted in Europe to express emotion in public. Homage was also paid to minority groups like British Indians, though the gladiator’s dance part was lost on me sha. Don’t forget the stunts like the person who walked on a tight rope above the stadium or the human cannon ball. The London welsh choir performed the Olympic theme, soothing our ears and cleansing our memory from bad vocal performances of the night. Tribute was made to the Union Jack, Winston Churchill, Models and British fashion designers. Extinguishing of the Olympic torch which was the last feature of the celebrations was as glamorous as its lighting at the opening ceremony.
It would be hard to forget the London 2012 games especially since most of the clothes – t-shirts, leggings, jackets, etc –bearing the British flag which were used during the games will no doubt find its way to Nigeria in the form of Okrika. Or shall I say second clothing?
Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images, Copyright: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/Press Association Images.
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