Fourth-Place Medal

The mysteries of the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony

timothy spallThe Closing Ceremony of the London Summer Olympics was full of music, stars, and culture. Below, a recap of some of the moments that may have had non-Brits saying, "Wait, what just happened?"

Is it Prince Henry or Prince Harry?

When Prince Harry made his grand entrance at the start of the Games, you might have done a double take when his name was announced. "Prince Henry," the announcer said.

Did somebody just make an epic mistake, calling the redheaded prince by the wrong name? Nope. While the English may know this already, for those who don't, the prince's official name is Henry Charles Albert David. Folks call him Harry for short.

Who was the guy playing Winston Churchill?

That was popular character actor Timothy Spall. The London-born actor has appeared in several "Harry Potter" flicks as well as "Sweeney Todd," "Enchanted," and "The King's Speech" (in which he played Churchill).

Spall wasn't quoting Churchill after he emerged from the top of Big Ben. The words were from Shakespeare's "The Tempest." "I dreamed of clouds opening up and dropping such riches on me that when I woke up, I cried because I wanted to dream again." Indeed, dreams and imagination came back again and again as themes of the Closing Ceremony.

What's with Batman and Robin?

At an early part in the Ceremony, Michael Caine's iconic voice echoed through the stadium. "Five, four, three, two, one," Caine said, a line from "The Italian Job." A small car in the middle of the stadium exploded, and out came rotund versions of Batman and Robin.

Great Scott! Had Christian Bale gone to seed? Negative, Alfred. Those were actors David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, reprising a famous moment from their sitcom, "Only Fools and Horses." You can watch the original clip here.

Why did they single out the marathon in the middle of the ceremony?

One word: Tradition. Every four years, the Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony also serves as a medal ceremony for the winner of the Men's City Marathon. The winner's national anthem is performed. Medals are awarded. The whole deal. Hey, after running 26.2 miles in August, they deserve something special, right?

models

Why was Naomi Campbell there?

No clue, even though there was an official reason.

Why don't the athletes march out behind their flags?

They used to. But then in the 1956 Melbourne Games, at the height of the Cold War, there was so much tension that organizers were worried about fights between athletes. A young Chinese man, John Ian Wing, who was an apprentice carpenter in Australia, suggested that the organizers mix the athletes together. It worked. And the Peace March has been a tradition ever since.

Who was that awesome dancer/street sweeper in orange near the end of the Ceremony?

That would be Renato Sorriso of Rio. Sorriso was an actual street sweeper from Brazil. He became famous for his spectacular dance moves during Rio's Carnival. Now, thanks to his performance in London's Closing Ceremony, he's gonna be really, really famous.

Related Videos

  • Saudi cleric says using air-conditioners by women 'immoral'

    Washington, May 22 (ANI): A self-proclaimed Saudi cleric said that if women turn on air-conditioners at home in their husband's absence could lead to moral depravities.

  • NRI teen invents 30-second phone charger

    Indian-American teen invents gadget that can charge phone in 30 seconds

  • O.J. compared me to Nicole everyday, says ex-girlfriend

    New York, May 22 (ANI): The former girlfriend of O.J. Simpson, Christie Prody, has revealed that the retired footballer was so obsessed with his former spouse, Nicole Brown, that he mentioned her every single day during their long-term relationship.

  • Sanjay Dutt shifted to Pune jail

    Mumbai, May 22 (IANS) In a surprise move, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was secretly shifted from a Mumbai prison to a Pune jail early Wednesday, official sources said.

  • Sahara pulls out of IPL, not to renew BCCI sponsorship

    New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Pune Warriors India, owned by Sahara India Pariwar, pulled out of the already scandal-hit Indian Premier League (IPL) Tuesday and announced that they will not renew their sponsorship of the Indian cricket team after the present contract expires in December 2013.

  • Manmohan vs Sonia: Policitical ambitions clash
    Manmohan vs Sonia: Policitical ambitions clash

    After nine years in Government, the political ambitions of Manmohan and Sonia are at clash point. The trust deficit is widening. With the Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, both sides are positioning themselves-Manmohan for a dignified exit, if not a third term, and Sonia for a clean slate for son Rahul Gandhi. Manmohan and Sonia are locked in an uncomfortable embrace. The tensions are bound to simmer even if the endgame unfolds months later. Unfortunately, the Congress can no longer blame

  • Galaxy S3 to get S4's features via Android 4.2.2 update
    Galaxy S3 to get S4's features via Android 4.2.2 update

    Samsung Galaxy S3 owners will be able to enjoy a few of the software features in the Galaxy S4 through an upcoming Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update.

Yahoo! Sports Authors

Yahoo! Sports Blogs

Olympic, Olympiad, the Olympic rings, Faster Higher Stronger, Citius Altius Fortius and related marks are owned by the International Olympics Committee, the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, or their related entities. This site is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with any of these entities.