The London Olympics officially kicks off tonight with the Opening Ceremony.  It is expected that the ceremony will be watched by as many as 4 billion people worldwide.

I don’t know about all of you, but I will be one of the 4 billion watching tonight.  I can’t wait to see what Director Danny Boyle has planned for the evening.

Boyle has tried to keep the plans for the night under wraps, however has said the ceremony will depict Britain’s past, present and future.

I am very interested in the music for the event.  I read that:

• there will be a renowned orchestra of about 60 musicians
• 12 hours of music will be created
• The orchestra, conductor and composer have spent three months recording in the studio before the games begin.

Danny Boyle - Director of the Opening Ceremonies

Sounds like there will be some beautiful music throughout the Olympics.

According to Huff Post – Sports:

Boyle has stressed that the ceremony is not a concert – “the real stars are the athletes” – but music will play a key role, with musical direction by electronic duo Underworld, who have worked with Boyle since his 1996 movie “Trainspotting.”

Music heard coming from the stadium in recent days ranges from “Jerusalem” – of course – to songs by The Beatles, The Who, the Sex Pistols, and Vangelis’ theme from “Chariots of Fire.”

There are also songs by newer acts, including Dizzee Rascal and Tinie Tempah, two homegrown stars forged in the grittyLondonenvironment that Boyle is celebrating.

The final act will be former Beatle Paul McCartney – due to lead the audience in a sing-along of “Hey Jude,” with thousands of voices urging “take a sad song and make it better.”

There also will be a parade of athletes from the more than 200 participating nations, speeches by dignitaries – including the queen, who will officially declare the games open – and of course the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

The identity of the torchbearer who will ignite the cauldron it is the most closely guarded secret of all – and so far, that has not leaked.

Now, everything sounds great…except they forgot to include Clay Aiken…oh wait…it is an All-British cast.  They don’t know what they are missing!!

In addition to the athletes and performers, some 60,000 spectators will be in the stadium, including political leaders from around the world.U.S.first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters and a sprinkling of European and celebrity royalty will be among those attending.

The level of coverage for London 2012 is unprecedented. Between NBC and the UK’s BBC alone there will be more than 8,000 hours of content.  NBC has 5,535 hours of coverage planned over its free-to-air and cable channels and its online properties — that’s 2,000 more hours than in Beijing.

Television coverage on NBC will start with the Today show, which will broadcast fromLondon with a seven-hour daytime program and breaks for news. Primetime Olympics programming, hosted by Bob Costas, starts at 8 PM — when all other Olympic coverage on NBC’s other channels will stop.

I will watch swimming, diving, gymnastics and probably a bit of Track & Field.

What about you?  Do you plan on watching the London Olympics?  What sports are you most interested in watching?

So…it seems that the London Olympics will be a good distraction while Clay is taking his break from public life.  Of course, I would rather hear from him, but…I am excited about the Summer Games!!