U2log.com’s Patrick Lynch reports on the Special Olympics opening ceremony.
7.05pm – 10, 9, 8, 7…After much rehearsal and Mexican wave practise, the 2003 Special Olympic Games went live on air from Dublin. Irish comedian and TV host Patrick Kielty welcomed a capacity crowd that included more than 7,000 special needs athletes from all corners of the globe, their family, friends, coaches, crews, and minders.
For the first time since its 1968 inception, the Special Olympics is being held outside of America — not that you’d have noticed too much, with the newly revamped Croke Park now rivaling the best of its stateside counterparts for capacity and facilities.
I count four tiers of seating before me, having traveled up seven storeys in a lift to take U2log.com’s place among the world press and local media. From the tops of the city’s rooftops to the vast stadium-width stage, or from the 20 blocks of seating lining the white tiled pitch, to the multicoloured-flag waving hordes, there was no camera lens big enough to take in the spectacle, no speaker loud enough to take in the din of the cheers. Tonight Ireland was playing host to one of its biggest events ever.
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and Belgium to Yemen, delegations of athletes were welcomed into the stadium from all its corners. Over the next seven days, they will participate in a full range of games including sporting categories from aquatics to gymnastics and volleyball.
Spotted among the delegations were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jon Bon Jovi, Colin Farrell, and the legendary Muhammad Ali, in addition to many other luminaries from the worlds of politics, film, sport, and royalty. But even the Lords and Ladies, the Princes and Princesses didn’t quite manage to outshine the beaming smiles and unconditional good nature of the participants among whom they were privileged to walk.
It took over an hour and half to get all the teams seated, with particular enthusiastic cheers going to countries like Iraq and Libya — reminders indeed that sport (like music) really can transcend all political boundaries and that this was about people power at its very peak.
At 8.45pm, Irish President Mary McAleese arrived onstage to reiterate the heart-warming message that is at the very core of these very special games. The motto being that ‘Win or not, be brave in the attempt’.
A few moments later, The Corrs provided the first contemporary music performance of the evening. Starting with a full on clap-along version of ‘Breathless’, they finished with a traditional Irish piece that reminded everyone it is possible to raise the spirit of St Patrick for more than just one day per year.
At 9.00pm, the Special Olympics flag was paraded around the stadium to a dramatic loud drum roll. A train passing on the tracks outside hooted as it passed, as roughly the same moment that a Dublin pigeon swept and soared in around the spectacle. The flag was eventually hoisted and — if the crowd reaction to it was anything to go by — the moment of glory was felt by all.
Today being the longest day of the year, Open House gave ‘Solstice’ the full Irish medieval treatment. Taking the summer solstice themes as its core, a number of black-gowned, Celtic-shield-yielding clanlike druids transformed to a series of colourful rays, eventually hoisting a giant fiery yellow and red tipped sun. After some more stage addresses, video footage of the extraordinary international journey of the Olympic flame was aired.
By 9.30pm, a 150-plus choir were leading the chorus in the athletes’ song ‘May We Never Have To Say Goodbye’. Ten minutes later Colin Farrell was presenting Macnas, Ireland’s favourite performing arts group (and no stranger to witnesses of U2’s Zooropa tour). Tonight taking their cue directly from the title of ‘The Ball’, they presented a colourful interpretation of a world ball, with one man running around the stadium’s perimeter inside of one. How he got in there and still managed to breathe was any one of more than 60,000 guesses.
At 9.50pm, Ronan Keating was followed by Samantha Mumba in numbers that stylishly filled the evening’s pop quota. Seven minutes later, Pierce Brosnan (Ireland’s very own James Bond) was on stage to present an expanded ensemble of Riverdance, who in turn performed the 1995 classic that elevated Irish traditional dance hundreds of years from its past to a new nineties turn of the century worldwide platform. Enjoying its biggest ever ensemble, the performance reached — if not surpassed — its original ground-breaking birth and received the biggest response of the night so far.
Just past the hour of 10, Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister, acknowledged all relevant parties for their input and support to the success of the event. In her Founder Member’s address, Eunice Kennedy Shriver reminded us that the special participants in these games were ‘the world’s most innocent victims who can suffer only because they are different’. She also noted another important date in the relevance of the games moving from America this year to Ireland, namely the visit of her late brother President John Kennedy to this isle some 40 years ago this week. Her speech went on to urge that if we ‘seek pain and understanding…and courage then come see the Special Olympics.’
At 10.20pm, Katie Meade, a small girl with a huge charisma, had the honour of presenting U2. There followed a massive, unified response — one that even had the toughest of fellow press corps to their feet and shouting their approval — and then a moment’s silence as we waited to see just what U2 had picked from their repertoire to best rise to the occasion.
A fully orchestral-backed ‘One’ eloquently fitted the bill, its message of hope and unity totally in synch with the ceremonies ‘Share the Feeling’ banners. But if that performance was touching and poignant, then only ‘Pride’ could best rouse an irrepressible audience. On the monitors of the various TV crews around me, I could see the performance captured better than on the giant screens to either side of the stage, which tended to stick on delayed close-ups of the band.
When Bono swaggered around the stage (in his jacket and tight black pants, his green guitar slung low on the hip), looking more like the rocker we haven’t seen in a long-time, the shots of him pitched against the audience took on Live Aid proportions. When he disappeared off stage, it seemed a pure U2 moment of Bono mischief, but he returned, escorting Nelson Mandela. Calling him ‘a president of the world and everyone interested in freedom’ Bono reminded us that the Special Olympics were about ‘the freedom to compete’.
All in all, it’s another special U2 moment, although given that the event is bigger than all assembled, they do for tonight feel like guests in their home city and indeed in the Croke Park venue that they last played on their 1987 Joshua tree tour, just a week short of sixteen years to the day.
There can be no band bigger nor music better, and so what remained of the evening was the hugely symbolic and hair-raising key moments of the arrival and lighting of the Olympic torch, which ended in a series of fire jets around the stadium roof to which I’m close enough to almost get singed!
For those who came to see U2, we got to see and feel a whole lot more. This evening seemed to encompass not only the goodwill and determination of a lot of wonderful people, but it also seemed to ring through on every dream U2 have shared with us. Inspired by the event, they in turn inspired a wonderful occasion.
After wars and terrorism, through famines and epidemics, for a solid three hours black man sat with white, Muslim sat with Christian, and Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya sat with America. For all lucky enough to witness the magic that was the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics the flame of hope in humanity, and faith in its spirit was lit again.
Photos: Special Olympics, used with permission
great performace by the lads, love the lyrics during Pride… but not to detract from the performance in any way shape or form..(and I know people that have brought this up before have been critisized)..but is it more evident than ever now that the B man is losing the battle with baldness ?
great performace by the lads, love the lyrics during Pride… but not to detract from the performance in any way shape or form..(and I know people that have brought this up before have been critisized)..but is it more evident than ever now that the B man is losing the battle with baldness ?
Bono needs to shave it off Popmart style again. He’s starting to look like
geddy lee.
man, I can’t believe I just became one of those fans who comments on bono’s hair. I FEEL SO SHALLOW…as shallow as bono’s hairline.
Bono needs to shave it off Popmart style again. He’s starting to look like
geddy lee.
man, I can’t believe I just became one of those fans who comments on bono’s hair. I FEEL SO SHALLOW…as shallow as bono’s hairline.
Thanks for making even the special olympics another political event for your left wing views Bonehead. I am disgusted this guy calls Nelson Mandela president of the world especially after Mandela recently made very critical remarks about the US. How come in NY Bono is all for the US but outside the US he never misses a chance to bash it. Madela is a joke. Look at S Africa after he comes in power, economy worse than ever, people being killed, and his own wife going to jail for wrong doings and Bono wants him to be presdient of the world. But I guess I should expect much from Bonehead, after all he was the guy who was praising Alan Ginsberg a few years ago as a great man who turns out to be a known advocate of pedophilia.
Thanks for making even the special olympics another political event for your left wing views Bonehead. I am disgusted this guy calls Nelson Mandela president of the world especially after Mandela recently made very critical remarks about the US. How come in NY Bono is all for the US but outside the US he never misses a chance to bash it. Madela is a joke. Look at S Africa after he comes in power, economy worse than ever, people being killed, and his own wife going to jail for wrong doings and Bono wants him to be presdient of the world. But I guess I should expect much from Bonehead, after all he was the guy who was praising Alan Ginsberg a few years ago as a great man who turns out to be a known advocate of pedophilia.
Thank you Patrick for that wonderful report. Saw it on Real Video, the beat was a bit funky on One towards the beginning, but otherwise great performance. Go finish that album now, guys… 🙂
Thank you Patrick for that wonderful report. Saw it on Real Video, the beat was a bit funky on One towards the beginning, but otherwise great performance. Go finish that album now, guys… 🙂
Kelly, don’t you have a funeral to heckle at?
Kelly, don’t you have a funeral to heckle at?
Well, while our Pat was covering the Special Olympics, your editor in chief was living it up at the start of R.E.M.’s world tour in a 800 capacity club in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Arriving at the scene I spotted non other than Willie Williams (show director for their tour) tapping out the gig’s setlist on his laptop on a bench on a little bridge outside the venue – wish I’d had a camera on me, for anyone who knows the Oude Gracht will know how pretty (and old) the area is. Shook hands with him for the first time (we had communicated often over the course of my writing the update of U2 Live – A Concert Documentary). When I commented on R.E.M. having rehearsed 75 songs for the tour he said: “We’re up to 110 now.”
Anyway – great stuff Pat, hope you got a good night of sleep after what must have been an all nighter writing this piece.
Well, while our Pat was covering the Special Olympics, your editor in chief was living it up at the start of R.E.M.’s world tour in a 800 capacity club in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Arriving at the scene I spotted non other than Willie Williams (show director for their tour) tapping out the gig’s setlist on his laptop on a bench on a little bridge outside the venue – wish I’d had a camera on me, for anyone who knows the Oude Gracht will know how pretty (and old) the area is. Shook hands with him for the first time (we had communicated often over the course of my writing the update of U2 Live – A Concert Documentary). When I commented on R.E.M. having rehearsed 75 songs for the tour he said: “We’re up to 110 now.”
Anyway – great stuff Pat, hope you got a good night of sleep after what must have been an all nighter writing this piece.
What the hell was Bono doing with that guitar for Pride? Wished he’d gotten rid of it – he looked like a right poseur, LOL.
What the hell was Bono doing with that guitar for Pride? Wished he’d gotten rid of it – he looked like a right poseur, LOL.
kelly- dont get carried away now. people have opinions about things… he likes america’s people, the culture, but he doesn’t like the foreign policy– and i dont see why you should be hurt by that anyways.. its not like the people decide what the politicians do these days… there is nothing wrong with telling people about the good of someone- now slandering is something that should be looked down upon… im not sure if bono has ever done it, but its definately something thats not consistent in his character to do
so cut the guy some slack, he does a lot of good stuff, and he had no wrong intentions when he said that about nelson mandela– and i think a lot of people love mandela unlike you… i havent really looked into what hes done but from what i gather 99% of people love him
kelly- dont get carried away now. people have opinions about things… he likes america’s people, the culture, but he doesn’t like the foreign policy– and i dont see why you should be hurt by that anyways.. its not like the people decide what the politicians do these days… there is nothing wrong with telling people about the good of someone- now slandering is something that should be looked down upon… im not sure if bono has ever done it, but its definately something thats not consistent in his character to do
so cut the guy some slack, he does a lot of good stuff, and he had no wrong intentions when he said that about nelson mandela– and i think a lot of people love mandela unlike you… i havent really looked into what hes done but from what i gather 99% of people love him
any idea what Bonoman was saying at the end of One? “no man is…” or something like that
any idea what Bonoman was saying at the end of One? “no man is…” or something like that
i think he said “there’s no them, there’s only us” at the end of one.
i think he said “there’s no them, there’s only us” at the end of one.
K.K., K.K…
Funny how those who scream freedom the loudest, particularily economic freedom, are the first to slam down on social freedom like freedom of speech.
Nationalist utopian anarchists…arg!
K.K., K.K…
Funny how those who scream freedom the loudest, particularily economic freedom, are the first to slam down on social freedom like freedom of speech.
Nationalist utopian anarchists…arg!
vonb, I’ll be seeing REM in washington DC later this summer… I’ll keep my eyes open for willie. 🙂 I am highly impressed you guys got a press pass for the special olympics opening! good work, great writing. and isn’t it nice to see rock star bono again? I missed him.
vonb, I’ll be seeing REM in washington DC later this summer… I’ll keep my eyes open for willie. 🙂 I am highly impressed you guys got a press pass for the special olympics opening! good work, great writing. and isn’t it nice to see rock star bono again? I missed him.
Anyone care to talk about music? What a bunch of babies!!! Who gives a shit about the man’s hairline or politics!!! U2 are a great band! Celebrate the music, not all the garbage that comes along with it! Now go see the Hulk and shut up!!!!
Anyone care to talk about music? What a bunch of babies!!! Who gives a shit about the man’s hairline or politics!!! U2 are a great band! Celebrate the music, not all the garbage that comes along with it! Now go see the Hulk and shut up!!!!
Hey Fireman,
I would like to know where in my post I said Bonehead does not have freedom to state his point of view? Quote it jerk! I only said I thought it was low class for him to use a non-political event like the Special Olympics to promote his own political viewpoints. This jerk can’t resist himself. In fact, political celebrities like Bono influence political nit wits like yourself into believing everything he says or promotes is good. You don’t have the brain cells to decide for yourself so if Bonohead says it is good it must be.
Fireman if you want to debate Bonehead with me you should stop trying to put a spin on my comments. It is an obvious sign that you don’t have a good argument if you have to spin my arguments. Really you are a lightweight compared to me so debating with you is not even a challenge.
Hey Fireman,
I would like to know where in my post I said Bonehead does not have freedom to state his point of view? Quote it jerk! I only said I thought it was low class for him to use a non-political event like the Special Olympics to promote his own political viewpoints. This jerk can’t resist himself. In fact, political celebrities like Bono influence political nit wits like yourself into believing everything he says or promotes is good. You don’t have the brain cells to decide for yourself so if Bonohead says it is good it must be.
Fireman if you want to debate Bonehead with me you should stop trying to put a spin on my comments. It is an obvious sign that you don’t have a good argument if you have to spin my arguments. Really you are a lightweight compared to me so debating with you is not even a challenge.
kelly: dude? dudette? …. bono’s said stupid things in the past and he’ll say stupid things in the future…granted…. he’s just a human trapped in his capacity as one… but ur level of namecalling (ad hominem attacks like “bonehead”) or self-serving statements (like “you’re a lightweight compared to me”) do not even rise to the level of what you miscall a “debate.” keep ur vitriole in its proper place and lift ur bumpersticker logic off the back of ur ’73 impala… and leave it us (the readers) to figure out if ur a stupid knee-jerk reactionary or just a knee-jerk reactionary.
kelly: dude? dudette? …. bono’s said stupid things in the past and he’ll say stupid things in the future…granted…. he’s just a human trapped in his capacity as one… but ur level of namecalling (ad hominem attacks like “bonehead”) or self-serving statements (like “you’re a lightweight compared to me”) do not even rise to the level of what you miscall a “debate.” keep ur vitriole in its proper place and lift ur bumpersticker logic off the back of ur ’73 impala… and leave it us (the readers) to figure out if ur a stupid knee-jerk reactionary or just a knee-jerk reactionary.
Who’s fighting and in what war?
Enjoyed the article and video. Thanks!
Who’s fighting and in what war?
Enjoyed the article and video. Thanks!
kelly said: >This jerk can’t resist himself.< Was that an autobiographical comment or what? LOL
kelly said: >This jerk can’t resist himself.< Was that an autobiographical comment or what? LOL
TO MOBO:
AMEN TO WHAT YOU’RE SAYING!!!!
And HULK rules!
TO MOBO:
AMEN TO WHAT YOU’RE SAYING!!!!
And HULK rules!
does kelly even like U2 (their music) or is she just in here to stir things up? Sure everyone has a right to voice their opinion but namecalling..that’s not necessary.
I’d say maybe she should find somewhere else to vent that is pro (her opinion). Go find an anti-bono message board or something..
I think the majority of us here don’t fault someone for being human..even our “godlike Bono” LOL
does kelly even like U2 (their music) or is she just in here to stir things up? Sure everyone has a right to voice their opinion but namecalling..that’s not necessary.
I’d say maybe she should find somewhere else to vent that is pro (her opinion). Go find an anti-bono message board or something..
I think the majority of us here don’t fault someone for being human..even our “godlike Bono” LOL
Anyone know where i can find bigger versions of the pictures shown on the getty images page?
Anyone know where i can find bigger versions of the pictures shown on the getty images page?
kelly:in light of gracing us with, clearly, a superior intelect. I’d like to point out to you and all the free-thinking, brilliant, albeit modest primates who’ve come that:
kelly’s on the rag!
kelly:in light of gracing us with, clearly, a superior intelect. I’d like to point out to you and all the free-thinking, brilliant, albeit modest primates who’ve come that:
kelly’s on the rag!
enough nonsense… let’s get back to a more imp’t topic. this particular photo has a hairstyle i’ve never, ever seen on bono, our hero. it’s quite extraordinary.
enough nonsense… let’s get back to a more imp’t topic. this particular photo has a hairstyle i’ve never, ever seen on bono, our hero. it’s quite extraordinary.
Kelly-dear, how about adding another k to your intitials?
Kelly-dear, how about adding another k to your intitials?
Hey pc,
If that is the best comeback you could think of then I would quit now because you said it in a room of other people you would be only one laughing out loud. Obviously, you are not the most witty guy around.
Flygirl, your post is so lame that a any third grader could of thought of that one. In fact, it make no sense to call me a KKK member because I never said anything bad about non-whites in my message, moron! Come on!! At least if your gonna insult me try to make it relevant to the argument. You just pick the typical left wing argument that if I don’t agree with you I am a racist.
Quiv your such an idiot you don’t even have the insight to know I am not a woman. You stupidity really shows in your response. I am sure all the feminists love your comment. If you were not defending a lefty like Bono they would all be bashing you for it.
Hey pc,
If that is the best comeback you could think of then I would quit now because you said it in a room of other people you would be only one laughing out loud. Obviously, you are not the most witty guy around.
Flygirl, your post is so lame that a any third grader could of thought of that one. In fact, it make no sense to call me a KKK member because I never said anything bad about non-whites in my message, moron! Come on!! At least if your gonna insult me try to make it relevant to the argument. You just pick the typical left wing argument that if I don’t agree with you I am a racist.
Quiv your such an idiot you don’t even have the insight to know I am not a woman. You stupidity really shows in your response. I am sure all the feminists love your comment. If you were not defending a lefty like Bono they would all be bashing you for it.
kelly:i have the insight to know you are a woman. yuou just don’t know it yet. but please leave your gender issues out of this.
kelly:i have the insight to know you are a woman. yuou just don’t know it yet. but please leave your gender issues out of this.
Come on quiv, you think your comment was appropiate to women? Hey girls, quiv thinks women are lesser human beings than men. And I am the one who gets bashed. This forum is like the bizarro world. QUiv I have enough insight to know you cannot debate me on my original post because your not smart enough so you start to call names but even by doing that your so dumb you can’t even see what a fool you look like.
Come on quiv, you think your comment was appropiate to women? Hey girls, quiv thinks women are lesser human beings than men. And I am the one who gets bashed. This forum is like the bizarro world. QUiv I have enough insight to know you cannot debate me on my original post because your not smart enough so you start to call names but even by doing that your so dumb you can’t even see what a fool you look like.
there is no debate. how bono chooses to use his celebrity is his business. you can buy it or buy something else. no one holds a gun to your head. and you are afforded the right to express your opinion. you created a debate where one doesn’t exist. you don’t share bono’s opinion. on the other hand your behaviour is quite clearly evidence that your out of your league, and no one has the time to respond to something that exists only in your tiny little head. this response is more of a helping hand to say, “i can see you have sexual issues, unresolved, that make you lash out at others over the internet.” obviously someone so uncomfortable in his own skin, hasn’t the true courage to vent elsewhere. where physical human reaction becomes a factor. where the bitterness and nastiness of your words and insults could result in a physical situation that your ass cannot cash.
there is no debate. how bono chooses to use his celebrity is his business. you can buy it or buy something else. no one holds a gun to your head. and you are afforded the right to express your opinion. you created a debate where one doesn’t exist. you don’t share bono’s opinion. on the other hand your behaviour is quite clearly evidence that your out of your league, and no one has the time to respond to something that exists only in your tiny little head. this response is more of a helping hand to say, “i can see you have sexual issues, unresolved, that make you lash out at others over the internet.” obviously someone so uncomfortable in his own skin, hasn’t the true courage to vent elsewhere. where physical human reaction becomes a factor. where the bitterness and nastiness of your words and insults could result in a physical situation that your ass cannot cash.
kelly- have a cup of coffee and cool down :)… this argument is going nowhere.. when you go to a website like u2log which is filled to the brim with DIEHARDS even if you are saying a legit argument you’ll be talking to a brick wall so no point… btw you totally ignored responding to my post but thats okay
and about the hair (agh please dont bash me about this i love the b-man but i just gotta say something!) i think he really needs to do something new with that because the way he’s looking right now hes not gonna fly in mainstream with the new album… i dont care if he shaves it all off, goes transplant, or shortens it and combs it forward… maybe it was just because he combed it all the way back instead of parting it like he usually does? heh.. he looked fine at the oscars.. and he did something really wierd at pavrotti&friends because he cut the front really short..
kelly- have a cup of coffee and cool down :)… this argument is going nowhere.. when you go to a website like u2log which is filled to the brim with DIEHARDS even if you are saying a legit argument you’ll be talking to a brick wall so no point… btw you totally ignored responding to my post but thats okay
and about the hair (agh please dont bash me about this i love the b-man but i just gotta say something!) i think he really needs to do something new with that because the way he’s looking right now hes not gonna fly in mainstream with the new album… i dont care if he shaves it all off, goes transplant, or shortens it and combs it forward… maybe it was just because he combed it all the way back instead of parting it like he usually does? heh.. he looked fine at the oscars.. and he did something really wierd at pavrotti&friends because he cut the front really short..
“how bono chooses to use his celebrity is his business.”
The statement of true dim wit. When he chooses to use his celebrity to promote his personal political viewpoints it becomes everyones business. To say otherwise is ridiculous. I have the right to post my opposition to his viewpoints even more than he has the right to state this because he has more influence over sheep like yourself.
Come on answer the question, was it appropiate for him to make political statements at the special olympics? You never answer this because you know it is absolutely wrong. What if other celebrities like Charlton Heston, Arnold Shwarznegger made their views at this event. You would be all up in arms because you don’t agree with them. Why should Bonehead be any different? And you won’t see these other celebrities doing it because they are smart enough to know it was not the correct forum. By they way, if you think I would back down from meeting you in person just try me tough guy. You have my email address mail me a time and place.
“how bono chooses to use his celebrity is his business.”
The statement of true dim wit. When he chooses to use his celebrity to promote his personal political viewpoints it becomes everyones business. To say otherwise is ridiculous. I have the right to post my opposition to his viewpoints even more than he has the right to state this because he has more influence over sheep like yourself.
Come on answer the question, was it appropiate for him to make political statements at the special olympics? You never answer this because you know it is absolutely wrong. What if other celebrities like Charlton Heston, Arnold Shwarznegger made their views at this event. You would be all up in arms because you don’t agree with them. Why should Bonehead be any different? And you won’t see these other celebrities doing it because they are smart enough to know it was not the correct forum. By they way, if you think I would back down from meeting you in person just try me tough guy. You have my email address mail me a time and place.
Kelly, go troll some other site.
The rest of you: stop feeding trolls, please.
Can’t leave this place unattended EVER, it seems.
Kelly, go troll some other site.
The rest of you: stop feeding trolls, please.
Can’t leave this place unattended EVER, it seems.