A thought-provoking extravaganza marking the beginning of the Paralympic Games was kicked off yesterday by Professor Stephen Hawking (pictured here at the Technical Rehearsal).
A thought-provoking extravaganza marking the beginning of the Paralympic Games was kicked off yesterday by Professor Stephen Hawking (pictured here at the Technical Rehearsal).
Look up at the stars, and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.
Stephen Hawking
Entitled ‘Enlightenment’, it saw central character Miranda, taken from Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, go on a journey of discovery around the themes of reason and human rights.
Featuring over 3,000 volunteers and 100 professionals, it was performed to a sold out Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London.
Appearing on stage at the beginning of the Ceremony, surrounded by projected images of space, stars and nebulae, Professor Hawking opened proceedings by proclaiming:
“Ever since the dawn of civilisation, people have craved for an understanding of the underlying order of the world. Why is it as it is, and why it exists at all. But, even if we do find a complete theory of everything, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations, and makes a universe for them to describe?”
After the introduction of key character Miranda, Hawking began guiding her on her journey of discovery, conveying the fundamental importance of the application of reason and the scientific tradition of empiricism:
“We live in a universe governed by rational laws that we can discover and understand. Look up at the stars, and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”
At the climax of the Ceremony, Hawking was joined by electronica duo Orbital. As the Paralympic Flame was zipwired into the stadium from the nearby ArcelorMittal Orbit, coinciding with a huge pyrotechnic display, he addressed the Paralympic athletes:
“The Paralympic Games are also about transforming our perception of the world. We are all different, there is no such thing as a standard or run-of-the-mill human being, but we share the same human spirit.
"What is important is that we have the ability to create. This creativity can take many forms, forms, from physical achievement to theoretical physics.
"However difficult life may seem there is always something you can do, and succeed at. The Games provide an opportunity for athletes to excel, to stretch themselves and become outstanding in their field.
"So let us together celebrate excellence, friendship and respect. Good luck to you all.”
Professor Hawking held the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge from 1979 to 2009, when he retired and was succeeded by Professor Michael Green. He is currently Director of Research at the University’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, where he is also a member of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology which he founded within the Department in 2007.
Hawking who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease, in 1963, commented: “I was delighted and honoured to be in the Ceremony. It was a real pleasure to welcome the Paralympic athletes to London for such a special event. To use this stage to show the world that regardless of differences between individuals, there is something that everyone is good at, is very important.”
Photo Credit: Judith Croasdell
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