One Night in 2012

Watched this with my 18 yr old son who, as a then 14 year old, played trombone with the London Symphony Orchestra at the event. Impossible to hear Elgar's Nimrod without feeling very choked up. The youngsters involved had all been sworn to secrecy and so we went off to a dress rehearsal at the stadium with little knowledge of what was about to unfold. Our son had muttered something about being in the world's biggest scene change - the LSO On Track Orchestra played all through the change from pastoral scene to industrial revolution - but the scale came as a wonderful shock.

What was brilliant was the outreach done by the arts organisations involved. I still remember getting a phone call from our local authority music services in the February before the event with the word's 'Will your son be available on July 27th for a special event and for a series of rehearsals leading up to then?' and I am so glad that I was able to say 'Yes'. I know that lots of kids living locally to the stadium were involved in choirs, dancing etc. The 80 kids who played with the LSO were so well looked after - chaperoned back and forwards to rehearsals, fed and watered, taken through all the procedures in such a way that they knew exactly where they were meant to be. On the actual evening of the performance all the families of the young musicians were invited to a party at the LSO's education base St Lukes. There we watched a live relay and part way through the evening there was a sudden fanfare of trumpeters from the Guildhall School of Music up in the balcony of St Lukes. As they played the kids and their conductor all processed in to mad cheering and each child was presented with a bound copy of the music. We got the tube back to Stratford where we were greeted with assorted NHS nurses and the like, still in costume, all drunk on the evening's proceedings. A year later there was a reunion concert at St Luke's at which it was conclusively proved that most of the youngsters could no longer fit into the brightly coloured converse style shoes they had been given for the event. Our son has a lovely collection of memorabilia from that 'one night in 2012' and memories of furiously listening in to click tracks. They recorded the music (they played as live but what you heard was a recording) at Abbey Road studios - another great memory for them.

We still live in Stratford and so pass the stadium most days. Memories of that evening are such a great legacy and the park is a real thing of beauty.

I watched it at home on TV and thought the whole thing was utterly brilliant! I got the CD of all the music as soon as it came out, and still play ""And I Will Kiss" (the pandemonium sequence) more than any other track from it. a few days later I went to London for a weekend and had a £10 ticket to be in the Olympic Park. there was a magical buzz in the whole city that I just wish was still there.

Jek - what did your son make of Mr. Bean in the "Chariots of Fire" performance?

I watched it and loved seeng how it was all put together. The scale of it was incredible, and getting an insight into the organisation was fascinating. I was there on Super Saturday but not in the athletics stadium unfortunately. Even so it was brilliant to feel part of it in some way.

I suppose the "Britain is a load of crap" crowd from the Brexit thread would disagree.

I'm looking forward to the Rio opening ceremony.

It certainly was a magical time. I was a volunteer (Games Maker), and it was the most amazing experience. Would do it all again at the drop of a hat!

Apart from the spectacle of it all, it was the human interactions that hold the most precious memories for me. People from all over the world coming together, the sheer joy of the people wandering around the Olympic Park, wrapped in their national flags, wearing their national colours, the festive atmosphere along the South Bank, etc, etc. Everyone so happy to just be in London, and a London in full party mode.

Absolutely loved the Opening Ceremony too,(watching it from Victoria Park) but still find it hard to listen to the music without becoming a sobbing mess.. Don't think the withdrawal symptoms are ever going to go away.

Just watched this, a really wonderful reminder of a magical night. So many theatre people involved and great to see them at work. It showed what an inclusive, creative and positive nation we can be.

(I was one of the lucky 80,000 or so who was in the Athletics stadium for Super Saturday and, to this day, I consider it and, probably until my last breath, will consider it to be the most incredible experience I've ever had).

What a joy to watch and see the total dedication of everyone involved. This programme brought back the emotion that the people taking part must have felt at the time. Thanks to Caiaphas for mentioning this otherwise I might have missed it.

I was in the stadium for the Opening Ceremony and it was the most spectacular thing I've ever seen (and also for the Closing Ceremony, which was like a huge party).

Will always be very grateful to those who volunteered in the ceremonies (real hard work and dedication) and as games makers.

I work (for a few more weeks anyway) in Stratford, and swim at the Aquatics Centre regularly. I recently rode the Orbit Slide, and visit the park often. It is one of my favourite places, and I feel very lucky to have it so close.

Watched it tonight sobbing with pride at the hope it promised. Perplexed how Britain could descend from those highs to the current lows in just four years?

Yes it's depressing how quickly we've fallen since 2012 when we looked organised, tolerant, modern and good humoured which isn't the case anymore.

I was lucky enough to be in the stadium for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as Super Saturday, an unforgettable two weeks.

Yes, I saw that a while back, but assumed it was a temporary display. Good to hear it's still there; it makes perfect sense that it lives there, I suppose. I love the way you can get really close to it. Some great photo opportunities... (I also managed to take a photo of Tom Daley's speedos, which were in another part of the same museum. )

(Alas he was not in them, but I used my imagination...)

(Just reminded myself that we visited the Olympic Park with my young nephew two years ago. Went inside the rather stunning looking pool, and were allowed in the spectators area to take photographs. Who was up on the diving board? Yup, Little Tom in his Little Speedos... Presumably not the same ones though. )

Reliving this day 10 years ago by watching the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Park right now.