The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games finally got underway on Friday after a dazzling – it somewhat subdued – opening ceremony.
Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka had the privilege of lighting the Olympic cauldron, kicking off just over two weeks of sporting excellence.
The event provided some spectacular sights, including 1,800 drones flying in the formation of planet earth, the hugely popular pictograms and a certain shirtless flag bearer from Tonga.
However, one inclusion nobody saw coming was Susan Boyle.
Yep, the Britain’s Got Talent star’s version of The Doves’ Wings To Fly was belted out to the billions watching, and listening, across the globe.
Thousands of paper doves descended from the sky as the ballad, which SuBo had a hit with in 2009, was being played in the background.
The sweetest thing hearing @SusanBoyle singing #WingsToFly at the #Olympics in #Japan#susanboylepic.twitter.com/HJU4hn8DSe
— Wesley Correa (@wesley_correa_) July 24, 2021
A pleasantly surprised Twitter was very much here for it…
I never thought I’d see the day when Susan Boyle and Sonic the Hedgehog were on the same bill. #Tokyo2020
— David Smith (@DVDSmith) July 23, 2021
Who had Susan Boyle as part of the Tokyo Opening Ceremony on their 2021 bingo card?! #bbcolympics
— Ryan Love (@RyanJL74) July 23, 2021
They played Susan Boyle during the Olympics opening ceremony!!!!! God bless you Japan. https://t.co/tU5RRYRFY8
— Daniel (@sillyolddaniel) July 23, 2021
Wait. SUSAN BOYLE is performing at the Tokyo Olympics. Did I hear that right?! #Olympics
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 23, 2021
Speaking about the inclusion of the song, Susan said it was “a true honour” to be featured in the opening ceremony.
She tweeted: “It was a true honour to be asked by the #TokyoOlympics to use my song “Wings To Fly” during the dove release at the Opening Ceremony. Good luck to all of the athletes competing and especially to @TeamGB.”
It was a true honour to be asked by the #TokyoOlympics to use my song "Wings To Fly" during the dove release at the Opening Ceremony. Good luck to all of the athletes competing and especially to @TeamGB
— Susan Boyle (@SusanBoyle) July 23, 2021
