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2020 London 2012: Olympic ode recited by Boris Johnson - BBC News

London 2012: Olympic ode recited by Boris Johnson

By Angela Harrison
BBC News correspondent

23 July 2012

London Mayor Boris Johnson is set to recite an Olympic ode in ancient Greek that he
commissioned for London 2012.

Mr Johnson, who studied classics at Oxford University, will read the poem in both ancient Greek and
English at a gala for the International Olympic Committee.

He asked Oxford academic Armand D'Angour to compose the ode - and gave him some tips on what to
put in it.

It includes references to athletes, including sprinter Usain Bolt.

Dr D'Angour wrote the ode in ancient Greek with modern lyrics, and said he translated the six verses into
"fun English rhyming couplets".

The English version includes puns on athletes' names - such as "lightning bolt" - a reference to Jamaica's
Bolt - an idea suggested by the mayor himself.

British diver Tom Daley and volleyball captain Ben Pipes feature in the poem, as does the London 2012
chairman Lord Coe.

In the Greek version, the poet says he has "cryptically embedded" about a dozen names.

'You're famous'
The poem in English begins: "This new Olympic flame behold, that once burned bright in Greece of old;
with happy hearts receive once more these Games revived on London's shore."

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13. 4. 2020 London 2012: Olympic ode recited by Boris Johnson - BBC News

The ode has been engraved on a plaque which will have a permanent home in the Olympic Park. The
words are in ancient Greek with the official, formal translation, rather than the modern one shown here.

It is the second time the Oxford academic has written an Olympic ode. The first time was for the Athens
Olympics of 2004.

He told the BBC News website that Mr Johnson approached him at a classics event.

"He said to me: 'You're famous; you wrote the Olympic ode. I want you to write me one for London'."

Dr D'Angour said: "It will certainly be fun to hear the ode read by the mayor in his inimitable style, and I
hope people will enjoy seeing the plaque when visiting the area in years to come."

He said he wrote the ode in the style of classical poet Pindar, using what is called alcaic metre.

"Writing an ode for the Games revives a musical and poetic tradition from ancient Greece, where odes
were commissioned to celebrate athletic winners at the Games," he said.

"Pindar was the greatest poet of his time and sponsors paid a great deal of money for athletic victors to
be honoured with an ode by him."

He feared some "may groan" at the puns, but added: "Pindar's audiences may have done so too".

Mr Johnson, who studied classics at Balliol College, Oxford, said: "I was delighted to have the opportunity
to declaim Dr D'Angour's glorious Olympic ode at the opening gala.

"It is a work that breathes new life into the ancient custom of celebrating the greatness of the Games
through poetry."

Speaking ahead of the gala at the Royal Opera House, he added that he would have to "resist the
temptation to regale the attendees a further time in Latin".

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