Will Damon Albarn Direct 2012 Olympics Ceremony?

Now here’s an Olympic-sized good idea: Damon Albarn is a leading contender to be the artistic director for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012, according to The Independent.

The Blur and Gorillaz singer has already spoken with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. An appointment is expected to be made in the new year. Albarn already has some Olympics experience under his belt; he and artist Jamie Hewlett created the opening TV sequence for the BBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics.

Watch the video below.

Albarn is not the only person up for the job. Oscar-nominated film director Stephen Daldry has also reportedly been consulted.

Regardless of who gets tapped for the position, it’s doubtful London will be able to top Beijing’s spectacular opening celebration from last year. Still, someone like Albarn would bring something creatively exciting to the proceedings – perhaps a little Britpop for the world to enjoy, something the 41-year-old East Londoner knows all about.

But at least the London Organising Committee is not going to stress themselves to the death about trying to outdo Beijing’s massive undertaking – cool as it was to witness.

The Locog chief executive, Paul Deighton, said:

“I am not sure how many countries would have either the resources or indeed the controlled resources to put on an event like [Beijing's]. I doubt we will have 20,000 people doing things in unison in our opening ceremony. That’s just fine. That’s the beauty of the contrast.”

Albarn at the artistic helm feels right – no offense to Billy Elliot director Daldry.

Maybe Blur will just a play a two-hour set smack dab in the middle of the Olympic stadium in front of all the athletes and the world watching at home and that’ll be that.

Do you like the idea of Damn Albarn directing the opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics?