Quirkily British, multicultural, youthful, sporty and energetic, happy and optimistic. Brighton-based but at leat one member is a Londoner.
They seem to be able to mix any sample they like, so if our pop royalty were willing to grant permission I'm sure the Go! Team could do something inspiring with our musical heritage.
By 2012 they'll just about be old enough to stay up late for the opening ceremony.

Leona Lewis in China - X Factor. Will Young in the Mall - Pop Idol. Therefore there can only be one man to sort out the acts on the big night in "20-12".

Step forward Sir Simon Cowell.

Therefore the betting must be on Girls Aloud, who seem to have sufficient street cred these days to play universities and festivals. What's the odds that instead of Placido Flamingo as the token tenor we have Paul Potts singing Nessun Dorma. Mind you it depends on whatever new acts his shows come up with in the next 4 years and if they are signed up to Sony/BMG. So that rules out Shane Ward.

See also my earlier posting about finding athletes for the next Olympics

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/team-gbs-got-talent

We are to get "The Greatest rock show in the World"
Considering the names mentioned were Paul McCartney, Elton John and The Rolling Stones I would have thought Oldest would be more appropriate!

By 2012 they will be in their 70s! But knowing how our elders and betters think that is exactly who we'll get. Oh and Sting :-(

I confidently see 2012 morris men, Pearly kings and queens and loads of Dick Van Dyke look-a-likes.

Sign up Vicky NOW!

Not that I imagine he could be persuaded to get involved, but I imagine Damon Albarn could put something worthwhile together - he'd at least have an understanding of what he was getting into.

Like I say, though, doubt he'd do it. The list of people who'd no doubt revel in the exposure doesn't bear thinking about.

Elbow.

English as Pie and Chips.

Multi-skin toned, if not multicultural.

"One Day Like This" as the requisite uplifting crowd singalong.

Guy Garvey possibly the nicest man in rock.

They are not Coldplay or Keane.

Next question?

but not Welsh as Cawl.
Or Scottish as Haggis.
Or Nothern Irish as....er.....you know....um....

an ensemble comprised of the UK's primary school musicians. They would make an almighty racket, and their rendition of 'Jerusalem' would go down in history but, by heck, it would be about 5000 times less embarrassing than the pop/rock concoction we will be lumped with.

Not that she exactly fits any of the above criteria, but such a mega event may be a one and only opportunity to convince her to perform live.........

Can we not just have no pop music at all? Is it compulsory?

Get Terry Gilliam in to choreograph the thing, add some stirring, inspiring, modern orchestral theme from Clint Mansell or David Arnold or someone, and try and make it magical rather than relevant?

...is getting Damon Albarn to put something together. Something with that Gorillaz sound. Lots of huge Jamie Hewlett puppets. All sorts of musicians taking part. Can see that.

These seem to be the essential two ingredients. There's only one way to go then: just hire Cirque du Soleil's Love show as is, and have done with it.

though won't it? And Brian May.

I'll bet anyone a fiver it's going to be Take That and Queen performing We Are the F*cking Champions.

And there's more. The 'That will once more include the fat dancer Robbie Williams. Of course they will. Think about it. He's been off the boil for a couple of years. By then he'll have had a few more goes at rehab and a suicide attempt, they'll have spilt and reformed at least once more.

So by 2012 the scene will be set for a triumphant burying of hatchets (and guaranteed royalties from cloth-eared chip-eating girls).

I can feel it in my water.

"This is aimed at a worldwide TV audience not a bunch of rock buffs, so you can't have Richard Thompson or the Aphex Twin."
Boy oh boy !! are you playing with Fire.
It'll be the Stones Surely ?

I think Archie's got it spot on - Cirque du Soleil are the act to go for. Any Fabs still alive in 2012 (Lord McCartney & Sir Ringo Starr) can do some live bits, and they can holograph in the dead ones.

Anyway what's the betting that it will all be leaked in the Sun as a spolier about 6 months before the event?

I couldn't give a flying. Unless they have Supertramp.

If Mr H's "world fame" and "no wrinkly rockers" caveats apply, together with "can be relied upon not to balls it up on the day" (bye, Amy), then we're left with only two names, let's face it.

Damon Albarn here. I think he's the only man for the job. Writes about London and the world.

Surely the Pet Shop Boys fit into some of these categories....they are not exactly young and vibrant but if you want something camp they are a good bet...
Are PSB world famous? Not sure but they know a good pop tune

Can't think of anyone else that would fit the bill

not only would he be able to make the likes of Dizzee Rascal - who I think is astute enough to capitalise massively on Dance Wiv Me and will still have a career and even actual hits in four years - and Roots Manuva look accessible and super-fun, but he has shown he can involve some crusty oldsters as with Ike Turner in the Gorillaz show... Do Gorillaz sell anywhere else in the world, tho? They've had US hits haven't they?

My dream act, whose live spectacle I think represents the best of modern Britain tumbled together into one almighty circus, would be Basement Jaxx... they too incorporate guest musicians and diverse styles effortlessly...

Surely 2012 must be roughly about the time for Roger "Rog" Waters and David "Dave" Gilmour to start talking again?

"Laydeez and gennlemen, I give you the Pinnnnk Floydddddddd re-reunion." :-)

I think we all know that it will contain someone who has won a TV talent show for which the prize is performing at the opening ceremony.

Where can we start a petition to get the Albarn in? Or would that be counter-productive?
I'd happily trust him with the whole thing (musically) - give him the brief and let him choose his own collaborators. If we finish with something even nearly as stirring as "This Is A low" then, well, my neck hairs are standing at the thought of it.

anyone for Bowie singing "Heroes"?

alongside Ray Davies and Burial?

Spend £20billion on an Olympic Games?

You were lucky.

We only 'ad £10billion to spend on our Olympic Games. Velodrome 'ad no roof mind.

You 'ad a velodrome?

Luxury.

Forget debating which supergroups should reform for the games (my money's on a supergroup Live Aid style sing-song).

Bring back the remaining Monty Python team for one last sketch that takes the piss out of all sport and all nations.

Luxury.

It can't be Take That, because nobody under 30 from any other country around the world have ever heard of them, I barely remember them and if I didn't live in the UK for a couple of years I would of totally forgotten about them.

Maybe Robbie

foghorning her way through that awful 'Proud' number.

I would like to suggest Jarvis Cocker's Running the World as the logical choice of theme song for the London 2012 Olympics.

As far as the opening ceremony entertainment is concerned, it seems appropriate that only our most physically fit bands be allowed to take part. If nations such as China or the US catch on to the fact that our most successful pop groups are drug fiends and layabouts, they are likely to commence an aggresive assault on the British Isles with their own pop and indie groups. The last thing anyone wants is for the UK top 40 to be annexed by Russia.

I propose that British bands who have achieved a certain level of success and who wish to participate in the Olympic opening ceremony be required to compete for the honour in a marathon, to be held on the day that the games are due to open. The finish line will be at the Olympic stadium, with the running order for the evening's concert being decided by the order in which the competitors finish, with first place headlining and so on. Dance acts may enter a 41 mile 903 yard, 12 inch remix of a conventional marathon distance. In this case the circuitous route though the Capital will be replaced by a repetitive course up-and-down the same street.

The concert will be an extravagant celebration of British talent, however the true spectacle will be live coverage of the marathon itself. The world will not soon forget the sight of an emaciated Amy Winehouse veering wildly along The Mall, with all the grace and coordination of a Daddy Long Legs; her beehive hair-do lurching wildly from side to side, gradually losing its structural integrity.

And who wouldn't have their spirits lifted by the sight of a heavily sweating Thom Yorke, dressed in an orange tracksuit, leaning against the plate glass window of an independent newsagents in Limehouse, drinking deeply from a plastic bottle of Summer Fruits-flavoured Oasis; his face, for once, contorted in the throes of physical exertion, as opposed to the existential angst of a man unable to decide on the order the songs should go on the new Radiohead album.

The conclusion of the race is likely to be nail-biting affair, especially if it looks like James Blunt and Sandi Thom might cross the finish line hand in hand, in first place and thereafter make good on their threat to play semi-improvised new material as the Olympic flame is lit.

My only reservation is that the sheer awesomeness of such an opening ceremony might overshadow the actual athletics.

after all that is what this has descended into

because the natural act (in fact, the house band, if I have my way) for the 2012 Olympic shindig is of course The Portsmouth Sinfonia (Look them up on t'interweb if you're not familiar). This will also perhaps give founder member Brian Eno something else to sort out after the LibDems "yoof" vote.