London Olympics 2012: Elton John & Dizzee Rascal Among The 2,012 Songs To Boom Out To Sports Fans

Elton & Dizzee Amongst 2,012 Olympic Songs

Elton John and Dizzee Rascal will boom out to sports fans at the London 2012 Games to help them enjoy the events.

London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton said they will be played at venues as part of a programme of films, dance and commentary to help people understand and enjoy the action.

The aim of the sports presentation packages, including in-ear commentary, music and presenters for different sports, will be to try to make the atmosphere "electrifying," according to Mr Deighton.

He was speaking from the Main Press Centre (MPC), which will host up to 6,000 journalists during the Games, which was opened today.

A music library of 2,012 songs has been created to try to give each sport and venue its own personality.

Using the very different styles of cricket presentation as an example, Mr Deighton said: "We are really trying to identify which sports are more equivalent to Twenty20 and which are more equivalent to a Test Match (in this) which is why we have a suite of products effectively to suit that."

James O'Brien, London 2012's head of sport presentation, said: "A lot of thought has gone in to finding the music and entertainment to complement our sport, from the heritage of tennis to the energy of beach volleyball and more extreme sports like BMX or canoe slalom."

"While you may hear Elton John at the archery at Lord's, there will be Muse at the Olympic Stadium and Dizzee Rascal at the basketball."

It is all part of a programme of films, music and entertainment that will bookend the action. For most sports, these initiatives will be heard before or after the action or at half-time.

Presenters will be working with the crowds to help build the atmosphere so there could even be the chance of another Sir Cliff Richard at Wimbledon moment, Debbie Jevans, London 2012's sports director suggested.

She was referring to when the singer led a sing-along with the crowd when rain had stopped play at the Wimbledon tennis championships.

She said that while silence will be "sacrosanct" during key competition, the crowd will help with the atmosphere.

She said: "If you look at Cliff Richard all those years ago, they will absolutely be able to react to the situation and work with the crowds to help them create the atmosphere.

"It will in no way be piped music. What you are going to see is things that have been developed specifically for the Games in a unique and special way."

There will be a mixture of established presenters including Ben Shephard and Gethin Jones as well as up-and-coming talent such as Aissetou N'gom.

Other young presenters were also recruited through universities, sports clubs and drama and performing arts groups throughout the UK - over 750 budding presenters applied to work at the Games and 13 were selected to be part of the London 2012 presenting team.

There will also be "a unique music programme" called Rock the Games featuring live performances and newly recorded tracks at the Games, Mr O'Brien said.

London 2012 will have five official songs that have been composed for Rock the Games.

Chart-topping band Muse have recorded "an epic track" for this called Survival, inspired by the strength and determination of the competitors, he added.

It will be played at various sport sessions.

The other four official songs are by Elton John vs Pnau, Delphic, Chemical Brothers and Dizzee Rascal.

The tracks will be available for download.

Scissor Sisters and Rizzle Kicks are some of the artists who are set to play surprise gigs at some of the Olympic venues.

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