The fun and Games begin... but Olympians struggle to hide their bemusement as jesters welcome Team GB to athletes village

By LOUISE ECCLES

Trippy: Performers on stilts and riding a bicycle chariot entertain athletes during the Welcome Ceremony at the Athletes Village, Olympic Park, where performers from the National Youth Theatre welcomed Olympians with a bizarre show

Britain's Olympians struggled to hide their bemusement yesterday when they were welcomed to the Athletes’ Village by a troupe of jesters.
Team GB found themselves surrounded by dozens of dancers speaking in tongue and hooting while ringing bicycle bells and blowing whistles.
Poems were read in French and performers wearing pom-poms on their heads jumped around and span in circles to the tune of ‘I want to ride my bicycle’.

Bemusement: Zara Phillips (centre) and other Team GB sports men and women arrive and take photos of out-there performance

Trooping in: Colin Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association leads members of Team GB as they arrive for the official welcome to the Athletes' Village

And this has what to do with athletic excellence? Performers dressed as harlequins sing and dance for Team GB

Circus skills: Team GB athletes look on as the brightly dressed members of the troupe stand on each others shoulders and dance around

Joyful: Poems were read in French and performers wearing pom-poms on their heads jumped around and span in circles to the tune of 'I want to ride my bicycle'

Playful: At the end of the ceremony, an enormous wire mesh ‘Queen’ appeared and a woman in red face-paint announced: ‘Follow your queen and follow your dreams'

Wow: Team GB athletes look on agape at the show that has been laid on to greet them

Some of the athletes looked uncomfortable and laughed nervously, while others got into the spirit of it and took photographs of the National Youth Theatre performance on their phones.
At the end of the half-an-hour ceremony, an enormous wire mesh ‘Queen’ appeared and a woman in red face-paint announced: ‘Follow your queen and follow your dreams.
‘We come to the close of our ceremony, but the beginning of our friendship.’

Acrobatic: A performer leaps while wearing stilts

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and Princess Anne, president of the British Olympic Association, were among those who attended the ceremony.
Mr Clegg told the Mail afterwards: ‘It was absolutely fantastic. In fact, those of us in the VIP area wanted to jump down off the steps and join in with the dancing.’

It's not just Team GB that had to sit through it: Performers prance as members of the South African Olympic delegation arrive for the flag raising ceremony at the Olympic Village

Mr Clegg, meanwhile, left today's show convinced that the problems which have emerged in recent days over transport, security and border control would soon fade into the background of a successful Games.
'This Olympic Village is a triumph and I've already spoken to some of the athletes, who've said the facilities are the best they've ever seen,' he told BBC News. 'No doubt there will be a few ups and downs along the way but I think people are going to be so proud that Britain has been able to put on such a successful Olympics.
'This isn't just about the athletes, it's about the nation really coming together to support Team GB. This is the greatest show on the planet and I'm clear that the nation is going to love every minute.'

source: dailymail