The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics has been cut, by 30 minutes. Academy Awarding winning-director Danny Boyle, notable for directing Slumdog Millionaire, is responsible for directing the opener and has been told to shorten the length of the ceremony
Rehearsals have been taking place throughout this week, but a 10 minute arrangement featuring a short stunt bike will be removed from schedule, however, cows, ducks, and sheep are still on the program.
British media reported the opening ceremony was shortened due to security and transportation fears, but Olympic organizers have dismissed those claims.
Like Us on Facebook :
Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the London 2012 committee, Jackie Brock-Doyle, said that rehearsals had been running over the projected three to three-and-a-half-hour slot and the show needed tightening.
"This is like any other piece of film that you would make," said Brock-Doyle. "Things end up on the cutting room floor. Also, a huge amount of the rehearsals have been done in the pouring rain so it is a matter of tightening. It's not cutting big chunks."
According to Brock-Doyle, the expected end-time of the opening ceremony is midnight or 12.30 a.m. (London time) at the latest, with their train network ending its run by 2.30 a.m. in anticipation of an overrun.
Boyle added there is a reluctance to cut a ceremony that has been in preparation for almost two years. Volunteer performers have been rehearsing for months under stormy conditions, as London has been experience rainy weather for weeks. Frustration among volunteers is that their work may be wasted due to rain.
Security concerns have said to be minimal after more than 3,500 British troops were called to assist in the Olympiad's security efforts, some troops include those coming from Afghanistan. The troops were needed after the G4S Security Company failed to recruit enough members to staff for the three-week event.
Due to G4S' failure, it is expected the company will lose between $54 million to $78 million from their contract.
The ceremony, costing $42.04 million to produce, has been labeled as an "Isles of Wonder" event. Up to 10,000 volunteers and will join Olympic athletes from 204 nations as Queen Elizabeth II open the Games on July 27, accompanied with over 100 world leaders, including Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney who had prior Olympic experience with the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.
News Source: http://www.latinospost.com
