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Dancing Seb Coe launches London 2012 Open Weekend
Evening Standard 24 Jul 2009Former Olympic champion Lord Coe today proved his versatility as he made an impressive debut as a ballet dancer.
Displaying poise and balance to rival Wayne Sleep, the ex-middle distance runner launched himself several feet in the air surrounded by dancers from the English National Ballet in an event to mark the three-year milestone until the London Olympics.
Accompanied by beach volleyball players and singers Ms Dynamite and Akala, he was put through floor exercises and taught by the tutu-wearing professionals how to bend into a plié.
Lord Coe, whose sister is a dancer, put his efforts down to his natural athleticism but declined offers to repeat the exercise in tights and codpiece.
As chairman of London 2012, he was launching Ballet Insights at the Royal Albert Hall which is offering dance classes as part of a programme this weekend of hundreds of sports and cultural taster events.
Lord Coe said: “It was a pleasure to help start the English National Ballet's Ballet Insights programme that is one of 220 events taking place across the capital this weekend as part of the London 2012 Open Weekend.
“From what I've seen today, I know the members of the public will enjoy their classes this weekend with the English National Ballet dancers. It shows that the Games are not just about sport — it is about getting people to do things they would not normally have done before.”
London 2012 Open Weekend will feature the chance to play beach volleyball in Barking and study a language at Birkbeck College.
A highlight of the three-day celebration is a giant dominoes game with thousands of concrete blocks being used to create a six-kilometre moving sculpture. It will begin in Mile End Park in Tower Hamlets and wind its way south to Greenwich to end in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College on Sunday.
There will also be a hip hop Shakespeare performance, hosted by Mobo and Mercury Prize winners Akala and Ms Dynamite, which will be held at the Southbank Centre.
On Sunday, more than 300 winners, of London 2012 prize draws and competitions on Twitter will get an exclusive look at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
Reader views (4)
Please - don't ruin Shakespeare with hip-hop rubbish!
- Cally G, Essex, UK, 27/07/2009 10:52
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With the amount of money he has made out of the Olympics I am not surprised he is dancing for joy.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 27/07/2009 09:29
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The Hip Hop Shakespeare event looks brilliant - I think I'll take my son as he moaned when they had to read Midsummer Night's Dream at school - this might make him have an appreciation!
- Stephanie Smith, London, 24/07/2009 23:05
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There is £100MILLION unaccounted for which is currently being investigated by KPMG forensic auditors but Coe and his team are refusing to publish the results of the auditors' findings. As tax payers are being made pay for this debacle we have a right to know if there has been misappropriation of our money.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 24/07/2009 13:47
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Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent, on Twitter
