Open Brainstorms

actually, the busses can have the choir on them so when the outside busses align, the people get off, dressed like ordinary british people on a work commute from a and then they do their singing thing.... scrap the oval, a rectangle would look better... but in the middle would have to be some sort of pedastal for the band to be on aswell as the camera crew to film the close ups...

!!!...and during my idea (bittersweet syphony/fireworks) maybe have the london bus/union jack thing inside a circle of the choir people making an oval shape union jack rather than a rectangle (strobes could be used to colour the buses so the image can change ect ect...)

i think at the begining we should have The Verve perform Bittersweet Symphony with a full orchestra and the bands electric guitar ans synths with the stadium full of seemingly average people who then begin 'aahhh-ing' along like a choir to the songs base line whilst in sync with a huge firework display.... i know what i'm talking about and i think it would beat beijing in terms of awe-ness.

One thing we're really good at is technology -- how about giant holograms in the form of impressive structures, aircraft, dinosaurs etc.

Have double decker buses that drive in and form a filled in rectangle. Painted on top of the buses is the Union Flag. So when they are all in position you can see a Union Flag.

Renew Olympic spirit by inviting some of greats from the past/ create a small movie about big moments of the Games' history. Or improvements made in the present.

Have fireworks that are different events (such as a basketball, a swimming pool, etc)

Get every competitor to sign a kind of "guest book". Sell the guest book on eBay to raise money for a suitable charity.

Leave a permanent record (and tourist attraction) by getting every competitor to make a hand print in some cement.

Create a huge glass canopy to protect the entire crowd from the London rain.

Everyone gets a sticker that has flags of all participating countries and gets to use it as face-paint.

Get helicopters for every athletic team and do an air show.

Use one of the compartments of the London Eye to hold the torch.

Build community in the stands. Have people meet the people sitting behind or in front of them and find 3 things they have in common with each other.

Invite the stadium to join in walking with the athletes

Pick a person at random from the crowd to light the torch.