A conspiracy theory has circulated online claiming that a segment from the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony predicted the coronavirus pandemic. This claim focuses on imagery of hospital beds and medical personnel within the ceremony’s tribute to Great Britain’s National Health Service and children’s literature.
The 15-minute segment of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony was designed to celebrate Great Britain’s National Health Service and its history of children’s literature. It featured performances by patients from a local children’s hospital, medical staff in vintage costumes, and scenes depicting nurses with a “shh” gesture, children reading books under covers, and the use of hospital beds.
Conspiracy theorists have suggested that these elements symbolize the pandemic. However, fact-checking organizations have determined that there is no connection between this segment and the coronavirus outbreak. The ceremony was part of a cultural celebration without any reference to pandemic events or health crises.
The video clips shared by conspiracy theorists include still images of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton making the “shh” gesture, but these were added by the conspiracists themselves and not part of the original ceremony.
