Rolf Harris - 1982 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

1982 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Matilda, a winking kangaroo was the mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. When Matilda arrived at the stadium, she 'winked' to the crowd as she went around the stadium track — then her 'pouch' opened and several young children (about 5 to 7 years old), dressed as joey kangaroos, rushed out (then ran to — and jumped on — a number of trampolines which had been set up specially for them).

Harris, who was standing, complete with wobble board, at the back of a small truck, then sang a special rendition of his hit song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", which included some lyrics specially written for the Opening Ceremony:

Let me welcome you to the Games, friends,
Welcome you to the Games
Look, I don't know all of your names, friends,
But let me welcome you to the Games.

Following his singing of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", Harris sang "Waltzing Matilda". As well as a videotape recording of the Opening Ceremony being released, the music for the Opening Ceremony was released as an album and an audio tape, with Harris as one of the featured artists.

Read more about this topic:  Rolf Harris

Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth, games, opening and/or ceremony:

    We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.
    Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)

    In 1600 the specialization of games and pastimes did not extend beyond infancy; after the age of three or four it decreased and disappeared. From then on the child played the same games as the adult, either with other children or with adults. . . . Conversely, adults used to play games which today only children play.
    Philippe Ariés (20th century)

    “If you do!” She was opening the door wider.
    “Where do you mean to go? First tell me that.
    I’ll follow and bring you back by force. I will!”
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)

    Friends, both the imaginary ones you build for yourself out of phrases taken from a living writer, or real ones from college, and relatives, despite all the waste of ceremony and fakery and the fact that out of an hour of conversation you may have only five minutes in which the old entente reappears, are the only real means for foreign ideas to enter your brain.
    Nicholson Baker (b. 1957)