London 2012: Coldplay to perform at Paralympic Games closing ceremony - london24.com
The London 2012 Paralympic Games closing ceremony, called Festival of Flame, will see Coldplay take to the stage and perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium. Picture: Sarah Lee/eyevine
Sarah Shaffi, Olympics editor (news)
Sunday, May 20, 2012
4:28 PM
British band Coldplay will play at the Paralympic Games closing ceremony, marking the end of the London 2012 Games.
The announcement that the group will perform at the ceremony on September 9 has been made ahead of tomorrow’s milestone of 100 days to go until the start of the Paralympic Games.
More than 1million tickets for the Paralympics also go on sale tomorrow at 11am.
The Paralympic Games closing ceremony is called Festival of Flame and will see Coldplay perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750m people.
The band has been working with Kim Gavin, artistic director of the Olympic and Paralympic closing ceremonies, and Coldplay’s live show co-designer and Paralympic Games closing ceremony designer, Misty Buckley.
They will play a set of their most iconic music alongside a cast of almost 2,000 performers in the Olympic stadium, providing the soundtrack to a celebration of Britain’s rich culture of festivals.
Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead singer, said: “Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us.
“Kim Gavin and Misty Buckley are working hard to put on a spectacular Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony for the athletes and spectators in the stadium, and everyone watching around the world, and we are so happy to be involved.
“It will be one of the biggest nights of our lives and we’re very excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that will close London 2012 in style.”
Mr Gavin said: “The closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games is essentially a celebration of the achievements of amazing athletic endeavour of Paralympians from around the world over the previous 11 days.
“What better way to demonstrate our respect and commitment to these athletes than by celebrating with Britain’s most internationally renowned band.
“Working with Coldplay for the closing ceremony will be a great way to close the Paralympic Games and audiences will have the chance to see and hear their music in a totally unique way. Our show will be a celebration of the UK as a centre for festivals, which is a fitting finale to the amazing festival of sport that is the London 2012 Games.”
Tickets going on sale tomorrow include those to the Paralympic Games’ opening and closing ceremonies, and to all sports, including athletics, which has been the biggest seller so far.
Last year’s sale of Paralympic tickets saw more than 1m snapped up by fans.
Seb Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), said: “The London 2012 Paralympic Games are going to be spectacular.
“I am delighted that Coldplay are going to be helping us celebrate not only the end of a fantastic Paralympic Games, but also the end of a seven year journey.
“With tickets back on sale tomorrow I can guarantee that whatever ticket you decide to go for that Paralympic sport will leave a deep and lasting impression on you.
“The athletes involved in the Paralympic Games are incredible sportsmen and women and I urge everyone to take this chance to be there and to form memories that will last a lifetime.”
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Chelsea fans pay tribute to players with west London parade - The Independent
Hoards of jubilant supports are expected to salute their heroes during a victory open-top bus parade less than 24 hours after the Blues' dramatic Champions League penalty triumph in Munich.
The rolling procession will kick off from Stamford Bridge at 4pm with interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, captain John Terry and the rest of the double-winning Chelsea team set to display their newly-won silverware.
The Blues were crowned European club champions for the first time in their history after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Germany last night.
They overcame Bayern Munich in their home stadium after the match went to extra time.
Around 25,000 Chelsea fans packed behind one of the goals in the Allianz Arena, while many more crammed into bars in London and around the UK to follow the action live on TV.
Even Prime Minister David Cameron managed to catch the nail-biting shoot-out, watching the drama unfold alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders at the G8 summit at Camp David.
Didier Drogba was Chelsea's hero, scoring the equalising goal in the dying minutes of normal time and netting the spot-kick to win the shootout 4-3.
It followed his match-winning goal which saw the west Londoners overcome Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley earlier this month.
Drogba was nearly the villain last night when he conceded a penalty in the first half of extra time, but Dutchman Arjen Robben's shot was saved by Chelsea's other hero on the night, goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, joined in the celebrations from the stands.
The team's last victory parade saw around 70,000 excited fans flock to the streets to celebrate the club's 2010 Premier League and FA Cup double.
Today's bus celebration will follow the same route, travelling along streets including Fulham Road and King's Road before ending in Parsons Green.
Local roads will be restricted and some closed to traffic from early this morning until the crowds disperse, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham said.
Councillor Nick Botterill, H&F Council Deputy Leader, said: “Chelsea's historic Champions League and FA Cup double is a monumental achievement that will never be forgotten in these parts.
“Like a phoenix from the flames Roberto Di Matteo turned around what could have been a disappointing year for the Blues to deliver the top prize in world club football to west London.
“This will forever be remembered as the year the Blues achieved their European destiny.”
PA
London 2012 torch for sale on eBay - Yahoo! Eurosport
The unnamed seller's location was given as Probus in Cornwall, the south-west English county where the relay had started in the morning after the flame was flown in from Greece on Friday.
The Sun named the seller as Andrew Bell, who finished his leg of the relay in Marazion. He was nominated for the relay as a result of his coaching and fundraising efforts for a local rowing club.
He told the paper that the torch - pictured with triple Olympic yachting gold medallist Ben Ainslie - looks "weird" in his home and said he needed the money.
"I understand some people may find the idea of selling an Olympic torch offensive but we could genuinely use the money," he said.
"Without giving you a sob story, we've a lovely baby boy and my wife has just gone back to work after maternity leave.
"Also, the torch is nearly a metre long and looks weird on the mantelpiece."
Put on sale at midday, the items had attracted 24 bids by 5.30pm with the price soaring above £3,000.
However a raft of what appeared to be fake bids sent the figure to £50,000 and Bell ended the auction early shortly after 6pm, cancelling all bids.
Some of the bearers nominated by the relay sponsors have been allowed to keep their triangular-shaped torches, made of gold-coloured aluminium and perforated with 8,000 holes, at no cost while others have been asked to pay for theirs.
Several other torches have since been listed on the auction website, most of them in advance of the people taking part in the relay.
Organisers LOCOG had set a cost for their nominees of £199 if paid for before May 1 and £215 thereafter. They said they are actually worth £495.
"The torch and uniform are the torchbearer's to do what they want with, we hope they find a good home," said a London 2012 spokesperson when asked about the eBay sale.
Some 90 per cent of the torchbearers were nominated through public campaigns, with the emphasis on rewarding local heroes and those who have made a difference to the communities in which they live, and the rest selected by invitation.
Banners and publicity emphasise it as the "Moment to Shine".
The relay started at Land's End on the south-west tip of England just after 7am with Ainslie handed the honour of completing the first 300 metres.
Some 8,000 people are due to take part in the relay around Britain and into Ireland before the cauldron is lit at the opening ceremony on July 27.
One seller jokingly listed 'Not a London 2012 Olympic Torch' with the following description:
"I don't have an Olympic torch or uniform and, to be honest, couldn't give a monkeys about the Olympics.
"However, I am skint and as the whole thing appears to be coming out of my taxes, I wouldn't mind a bit of cash back.
"Therefore, please only bid if you are willing to give me some money and get nothing in return except good feedback and a warm feeling having done a good deed.
"Remember, you are bidding to be the person that gives me some money and will get nothing in return except my thanks. Paypal only please. Non payers will be hunted down and made to watch repeats of the X Factor for 24 hours non stop."
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