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Elbow frontman Guy Garvey: "We are knocked out to be involved." Geoff Kirby/EMPICS Entertainment

Elbow to record BBC theme tune for 2012 Olympics

Composing the six-minute track has been “quite a challenge” says frontman Guy Garvey.

BURY ROCKERS ELBOW have been commissioned to write a one-off piece of music as the theme tune for the BBC’s coverage of the 2012 Olympics.

The six-minute track, which has not yet been recorded, will remain under wraps until shortly before the Games’ opening ceremony in London on 27 July.

Commenting on the announcement this morning, frontman Guy Garvey said that the 2008 Mercury Prize winners were honoured to participate in the project.

“We are knocked out to be involved and it’s been quite a challenge,” Garvey said.

In the past, the title music used by the BBC for major sporting events has gone on to achieve iconic status.

Luciano Pavarotti’s performance of “Nessun Dorma” soundtracked the broadcaster’s coverage of the 1990 World Cup in Italy while Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s “Barcelona” was chosen for the 1992 Olympics.

The importance of the task was not lost on the band when composing the piece for next year’s Games, Garvey said.

We have feelings of real responsibility as we will be the soundtrack to so many images of personal sacrifice and endeavour while the nation roots for and celebrates with Team GB.

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    Mute 800yearsofoppresion
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:02 PM

    Ruddock Leavy Heaslip O Brien Van der Flier Murphy Fardy Conan Deegan Leinster back row strength is unreal If carlsberg did backrows they would probably not be as good as Leinsters

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    Mute Lf
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    Jun 27th 2017, 2:44 PM

    Rare to see two players joining straight from school in Aungier and O’Sullivan.

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Jun 27th 2017, 2:59 PM

    I just don’t know how Leinster are going to keep all these backrows happy but I hope they do.

    The talent level being brought through is amazing.

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:37 PM

    @Gustave H: the great thing is the talent is flowing to the first team and beyond so they must know the way to keep them all happy.

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    Mute Christiaan Theron
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:46 PM

    @Gustave H: Let Ulster sign them to let them get game time.

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Jun 27th 2017, 5:08 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: I don’t think it’s a case of letting them. They want to stay and fight for their place.

    From what I heard Ulster went in heavily for Jack Conan and he’d no interest.

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    Mute Ewan Euphrenza
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    Jun 28th 2017, 4:01 PM

    @Gustave H: True. There’s one or two that would want to do a serious bit of thinking though. It’s admirable wanting to earn the starting spot here, but playing week in week out and in Champions Cup games in Ravenhill would stand to them more than a few Pro12 games during the Six Nations. It’s a short career, and waiting in line didn’t work out for Ryan or Madigan.

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    Mute Aidan O
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:46 PM

    Some of these kids should go on loan to Ulster and London Irish

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    Mute Lf
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    Jun 27th 2017, 3:49 PM

    @Aidan O: They don’t want to.

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    Mute Christiaan Theron
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    Jun 27th 2017, 4:32 PM

    @Lf: Shows how ambitious they are. Every player knows they have to play regular on the 23 for a province to get capped.

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    Mute Oval Digest
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    Jun 27th 2017, 4:47 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: You’re right Christian, it does show how ambitious they are. Instead of moving to another lesser side backing yourself to get into a team packed full of talent that’s more likely to challenge for trophies shows serious ambition and confidence.

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Jun 27th 2017, 5:10 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: Heaslip, O’Brien, Leavy, Murphy, Van der Flier, Conan and Ruddock. All Irish internationals

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    Mute Christiaan Theron
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    Jun 27th 2017, 5:49 PM

    @Oval Digest: You mean like Marty Moore and Ian Madigan now presently lost to the Irish national side.

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    Mute Marc Richardson
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    Jun 27th 2017, 7:38 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: did James Ryan not get capped for Ireland before playing for Leinster?

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    Mute Oval Digest
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    Jun 27th 2017, 8:33 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: Haha those support my point! Both stayed and were in the Irish squad, when they left they were found out a bit and left out.
    Why would you want to head to Ulster or London Irish if you were an ambitious, talented player from Leinster?
    If anything, it would show a lack of ambition to move.

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    Mute Camroc
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    Jun 27th 2017, 9:12 PM

    @Christiaan Theron: Ulster should try developing their own players instead of relying on Saffers and other provinces.

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