It has been revealed that the Olympic Opening Ceremony performers received a measly pound for their services.
Paul McCartney
AFP reports that the acts that performed during the London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony essentially did it for free, but since there had to be a formal contract for their performance there had to be a figure. So that figure was exactly £1.
A London 2012 spokeswoman said, “The top talent basically gave their services for free. But in order to have a formal contract for their services you have to show an amount, so that was set at a pound, which enables them to have a contractual arrangement.”
McCartney, Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal, Underworld and Emeli Sande each signed on for the token payment, although Sande admits that she hasn’t been paid yet. She told London’s Evening Standard “When I do, though, that pound will be truly special. Part of what made the whole event so special was the volunteers who were paid nothing and even paid for their own accommodation. It shows how important art is.”
The spokeswoman said, “I don’t imagine they’re going to be fretting too much about it. We greatly appreciate all of them for giving up their time.”
Check out the song Emeli Sande sang at the opening, ‘Abide With Me’, below.
