Danny Boyle's desperate plea for men to open Games
Danny Boyle: aims to recruit 10,000 dancers, actors, musicians, gymnasts and all-round performers
12 April 2012
Games chiefs have issued a plea to men in London to volunteer for the 2012 opening ceremony after too few signed up to take part.
Artistic director Danny Boyle aims to recruit 10,000 dancers, actors, musicians, gymnasts and all-round performers, but has had twice as many women apply than men. Muscle is also needed to help move stage sets around.
Boyle, who directed the film Slumdog Millionaire, today told men: "Don't be shy!" before this weekend's deadline. He is under pressure after London's eight-minute ceremony marking the handover in 2008 of the Games from Beijing was critically panned.
Performers must be over 18 and will face hours of rehearsals but the ceremony will be broadcast to a global TV audience of four billion.
