Olympics

Time to sort Gold anthem

by Nikki's world, with Nikki White Tuesday, March 6 2012

The first nationwide countdown to London 2012 started over the weekend.

Music Nation saw more than 100 live events across the UK and featured more than 10,000 people and 18 new works.

It was a cultured start to the festivities, but I have just one question – where’s Spandau Ballet?

Log onto the official 2012 website and they’ll tell you all about the must-haves: the parade of athletes, the speeches, receiving of the head of state, the oaths, the anthems and the raising of the flags. All grand stuff and traditions that should not be missed.

But what we really want to know is how the Olympic Cauldron is going to be lit (who can forget Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo, who shot an arrow into it at Barcelona 1992) and who’s headlining the big bash.

There’s been plenty of speculation, but nothing’s been confirmed, although Sir Paul McCartney did reveal he was in talks to do “something”.

What we do know is that film director Danny Boyle, who’s leading the creative team, pans to incorporate a 27-ton bell, nurses – to celebrate the NHS – and 900 children among a cast of 15,000.

What I want to see is someone back flip their way down the stadium, land on a trampoline and somersault their way over the top of the cauldron, lighting it with their outstretched hand as they fly over the top. And all to the strains of Spandau Ballet belting out “Gold” from the top of a London bus.

You cannot have an Olympics without them. Ever since the BBC used it in their coverage of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, you can’t watch an athlete run around the track without inwardly singing, “Cos, you are gold (gold); always believe in your so-oul, you’ve got the power to know, you’re in-de-struct-able, always believe i-in......”

Amazingly, it only got to number two in the UK singles chart, pipped to the number one spot by KC and the Sunshine Band’s Give It Up.

So now’s the time to put that right. Get Spandau Ballet to number one and have them perform at the opening ceremony. It’s about time the rest of the world had that song buzzing around their head all day, and not just us.

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Categories: Olympics

Civic Blues

by Tales from Gun Wharf Friday, May 13 2011

The next mayor of Medway will break a three year run of Tory Davids - he's called Ted.

Ted Baker is the latest Conservative to be appointed mayor.

He spares the party plenty of blushes. They seized the right to name the mayors a few years ago, and have kept the other parties out of the equation (and the Tudor robes) ever since.

This year no one was eager to grasp the right to be the Queen's Representative or to chair the warring factions at a much reduced number of political meetings to verify what the Cabinet decides. That's why Steve Kearney, the former Lib Dem Deputy Mayor, was being groomed. Then he was voted off the council.

As the days have got closer to the annual meeting, there have been some big sighs around Gun Wharf (and elsewhere) that the issue has been resolved.

So - who will succeed him?

Will the Tories once again sacrifice everything to go to Buck House, have their names inscribed on the mayoral plaques and be a Medway figurehead?

Or will they run out of willing subjects?

***

Rumours - subsequently confirmed by photographic evidence - show that two Medway councillors have got their hands on Olympic medals.

I don't know the full story, but it will be in the Medway Messenger next week.

Also in the news and in Monday's paper will be news of a leading politician from the past who has died.

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Categories: Mayoralty | Annual Meeting | Olympics

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