The 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony was held on 29 August 2012, starting at 20:30 BST and marking the official opening of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England. The show, named Enlightenment, had Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings as its artistic directors, leading a team that included Jon Bausor as set designer and Moritz Junge as costume designer. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Games. The ceremony was performed in the Olympic Stadium in London in front of a capacity audience of 80,000 people.
Production Students from local schools who are part of the get set network were part of the under-16 cast. These include Millfields Community School in Hackney, Eastlea Community School in Newham and Trinity School in Barking and Dagenham. A total of 110 days of rehearsals took place in Dagenham. The ceremony had an adult volunteer cast of over 3,000 people, along with over 100 children and over 100 professional performers. Among the professional performers were 73 deaf and disabled performers and among the volunteers were 68 people with disabilities. In the build-up to the opening ceremony, an eight-week circus skills training programme took place at The Circus Space in Hoxton, London, and was run by 50 specialist performers. Participants included professional artists and many people who were new to the arts scene, such as soldiers undergoing rehabilitation and non-competing disabled athletes. The programme was funded by Arts Council England, and was part of the Enlightenment section, performing on a 35-metre high platform above the stadium floor.
Stephen Daldry commenting on the ceremonies of London 2012 noted that "if Danny Boyle's was very much about two revolutions and popular culture and Kim Gavin's was very much about a symphony of British music, then what you will get from Jenny and Bradley is something very different." Daldry also stated that "there will be an extraordinary number of disabled performers in the cast." Sealey introduced Stephen Hawking, the "most famous disabled person alive", as a narrator focusing on science and culture of the 18th century. As with the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, The Tempest featured heavily and the character Miranda from the story starred in the ceremony, being the eyes for the audience. Sealey said that the character "sees everybody but she doesn't judge. That is fundamental to our personal and political ethos," adding that it is "fundamental, [that] you look without judging. It's about removing those attitudinal barriers." Sealey said that it was pure coincidence that she and Hemmings had chosen a line from the same play that was used by Boyle in the opening ceremony of the Olympics. "When we found out Danny Boyle was going to reference Shakespeare's The Tempest we burst out laughing." Hemming, when comparing the Games to the Large Hadron Collider, said that the LHC "transforms our perception of our place in the universe in the same way that the Paralympics transforms our perception of what's possible," while Sebastian Coe said that the ceremony would be a "great showcase of the skills and excellence of disabled artists."
Sealey and Hemming were determined to "pay tribute to the contributions that science has made to the able bodied and impaired alike." The pair approached Hawking in late 2011, who was adamant that he would write his own part. Hawking commented on his role that "to use this stage to show the world that regardless of differences between individuals, there is something that everyone is good at, is very important." Sealey and Hemming worked closely with Hawking to develop a series of messages for the ceremony and spent time with him in Cambridge; Hemming said Hawking had been "incredibly gratified with him giving his time." Sealey said that although the ceremony has Hawking and Ian McKellen narrating, "what we all need to remember: don't just look down at your feet, look at the stars, be curious."
Officials and Guests The programme was attended by the Queen's grandson Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, David Cameron, the Prime Minister, with his wife Samantha Cameron and by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Foreign dignitaries included : Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso Vice President of United States Joe Biden President of France Francois Hollande President of Germany Joachim Gauck President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev Prince of Monaco Albert II Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Proceedings Before the ceremony at 20:12 local time a flypast by Aerobility took place. Aerobility are a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots.
Miranda The Ceremony started with a countdown featuring shots of the universe starting from Earth working outwards. Stephen Hawking then appeared on the Moon stage and talked about science and reason, which was followed with the "big bang" taking place with people holding umbrellas. Fireworks were released as the audience was cast into deepest space. The audience was brought back to modern day London as Flawless performed a street-dance on the moon stage to Rihanna's "Umbrella", as several people holding coloured umbrellas floated around the stadium. One of the performers floating around the stadium was introduced as Miranda, portrayed by Nicola Miles-Wildin. The stadium was also greeted by Prospero (Ian McKellen). Prospero encouraged Miranda to go out and be our eyes on our journey of discovery in science. Hawking meanwhile encouraged Miranda to be curious while the cast created an eye symbolising Miranda's. Three vehicles with motifs from the history of science appeared followed by a performance of "Principia" by Errollyn Wallen which featured lyrics about science.
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Philip Craven entered the stadium, after they were seated the Union Flag was raised and the national anthem of the United Kingdom was played. Corporal of the Horse Brophy – The Household Cavalry Mounted Division; Lance Corporal Steane – Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards; Warrant Officer Vaughan – RM Poole; Chief Petty Officer Appleton – HMS Raleigh; Leading Hand Campbell – HMS Coniston; Warrant Officer Grundy – RAF Cranwell; Sergeant Hyde – RAF Valley; Lance Corporal O'Mahoney – The Household Cavalry Mounted Division; marched the flag to the flag pole under the leadership of Flight Lieutenant Marsden – RAF Halton. As they marched William Walton's "A Wartime Sketchbook" was heard. The flag was raised to the national anthem by Able Seaman Patel – HMS King Alfred; Corporal Penman – RAF Lossiemouth; Lance Corporal Peelo as a 430 strong choir performed the song and 12 people signed the song. Whilst the umbrellas in the centre of the stadium formed a representation of the flag.
Spirit in Motion
The Parade of Athletes then began. Teams entered in alphabetical order, according to the English language translation of their names. In accordance with tradition, the host country, Great Britain, marched into the stadium last. 165 countries were to participate in the Paralympics. However, neither Botswana nor Malawi, who were due to participate for the first time, sent their delegations. During the parade, a mix of global music was played by local DJs DJ Walde, DJ Excalibah, and Goldierocks.
After the parade Denise Leigh, who is blind and was the winner of Channel 4's reality competition show Operatunity, sung Wallen's new piece "Spirit in Motion." Leigh was joined by deaf actress Deepa Shastri who signed the lyrics.
Homecoming London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games chairman Sebastian Coe and President of the International Paralympic Committee Sir Philip Craven addressed the audience. Coe welcomed the Paralympic Games home before telling the story of the precursor to the Paralympic Games in 1948. Coe said the Paralympic movement shows "what sport is all about, sport is about what you can do, what you can achieve, the limits you can reach, the barriers you can break, sport shows what is possible, sport refuses to take no for an answer; and everything that sport stands for we are going to see right here right now and in these Paralympic Games." Coe said that his team were determined to raise the bar for the Olympics and Paralympics, and that he wanted London 2012 to be an advance for the Paralympic movement and a landmark for disability worldwide and for the progress of mankind. Coe, talking to the athletes, stated that "they will hear us [the crowd]" and added that "the enthusiasm for these Games is extraordinary. The crowds will be unprecedented. These will be Games to remember." Coe told the world, "prepare to be inspired, prepare to be moved, prepare to be dazzled by the Paralympic Games of London 2012!"
Craven said that it was the start of the biggest Paralympic Games ever and the night was a celebration of the development human spirit and the Paralympic Games coming home and of dreams becoming reality. Craven said that "what would happen at the Games had the energy to change each and every one of us." Craven then paid tribute to Sir Ludwig Guttmann and the people who helped him in 1948 to create the first sparks of the Paralympic movement. Craven continued by paying tribute to the people who made London 2012 possible, particularly the Games Makers and the people of London, and noted that Coe's team exceeded everyone's wildest dreams with the Olympics. Craven stated that he was delighted to be joined by the President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge and his wife Anne in the stadium. Craven said that Britain had an insatiable appetite for sport and that London 2012 had done a tremendous job in making everyone feel like it was their Games, and spoke of his pride of the mascot, Mandeville, being hand-crafted by a retired steel worker from his home town of Bolton. Craven then thanked all the international sport federations who held qualifying competitions and welcomed a record 164 National Paralympic committees. Craven stated that these were the best prepared athletes ever and welcomed them to London. To the athletes, Craven stated that they "have some of the finest sporting stages upon which to perform", every step of the way cheered on by the "most passionate sport fans you will ever have seen or heard." Continuing, he said that they would inspire many generations to come and their stories and performances will challenge people to think about themselves and others. Craven then stated that the athletes are all catalysts for change and role models for an inclusive society. Craven then asked the athletes to "abide by the rules and show the world why you are all proud Paralympians." He added that they were there to continue the story that Guttmann started and stated that they had the "ability to win medals and change the world". Craven wished the athletes the very best of luck and reminded them to have fun. Craven "with honour and great pleasure" asked Queen Elizabeth II to officially open the Games.
Once the Games were declared open, the Paralympic flag was carried into the Stadium by eight members of the Great Britain Under 22 Wheelchair Basketball team: Billy Bridge, Harry Brown, Emmanuel Filson, James MacSorley, Philip Pratt, Richard Sargent, Gregg Warburton and Joseph Williams. This was hoisted into the air as the Anthem was played.
Swimmer Liz Johnson, Wheelchair rugby official Richard Allcroft, and David Hunter of the ParalympicsGB equestrian team took oaths on behalf of all the athletes, judges, and coaches, vowing to compete, judge, and coach according to the rules of their respective sport.
Brave New World