Olympics ceremony writer takes on critic

THE CATHOLIC who wrote the script for the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony has defended it against claims that it demonstrated the disappearance of God from Britain.

In a book review in The Tablet, Dr John McDade, a lecturer in theology at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, claimed that the John Lennon song “Imagine” was played at the opening ceremony and led “the nation in the fond wish that we would be done for ever with God, religion and Heaven”. Dr McDade also called the ceremony “offensive”.

But Frank Cottrell Boyce, replying in a letter to this week’s Tablet, points out that Lennon’s song did not appear in the opening ceremony (it featured in the closing ceremony).

He points out that the opening ceremony, directed by another Catholic, Danny Boyle, was littered with Christian references.

These included the singing of hymns such as “Abide with Me”; and the title of the ceremony – Isles of Wonder – was coined in part from a G.K. Chesterton quote.

A spokesman for Danny Boyle said he was unable to comment due to his work schedule.