Spare a thought for members of the Games Makers Choir, who thought they would be singing alongside Coldplay’s Chris Martin at the Invictus Games opening ceremony next week, the Prince-Harry-backed sporting event for wounded soldiers.
“We have some very exciting news!” ran a jubilant email to choristers, dated August 1. “Chris Martin, of Coldplay (yes Coldplay), has created an anthem for the occasion, and we’ve been asked to provide the choir accompaniment for this brand new song.” Head honchos at the choir even started circulating a prospective rehearsal schedule to see if they could round up enough members of the choir — who are made up of London 2012 volunteers from all over the country — to participate in the event being held at the Queen Elizabeth Park.
However, just 12 days later, members of the choir were forwarded this email from the Invictus organisers: “Since last we spoke, things have changed regarding the choir,” it read, ominously. “Coldplay have requested that we use a choir they have previously worked with.”
Coldplay’s PR office didn’t respond directly to The Londoner asking why the choir thought they had been booked. “Lead vocals will be sung by serving military servicemen,” said a spokesman, adding that one of the established choirs that sang at the opening of the Olympics Games was now being used.
Games Makers Choir manager Liz Stainthorpe has brushed it off. “It’s just one of those things,” she said. So is it crossed wires, an almighty cock-up or a verdict on the choir? We contacted Invictus but they never got back.
