No, the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony didn't predict coronavirus pandemic

Hoax posts have been circulating on social media suggesting that the glittering ceremony eight years ago accurately forecast this year’s Covid-19 pandemic.

Conspiracy theorists says footage shows nurses dancing around hospital beds with a death like figure looming above them, with suggestions the imagery was a prediction of coronavrius.

The caption accompanying the photos questions “the very strange tribute that was paid to the NHS (National Health Service) which saw Doctors, Nurses and Surgeons all gallivanting and dancing around empty hospital beds and beds....it was all overseen by a grim reaper(DEATH) looking character”.

“Empty Hospital Beds, Dancing Nurses, Doctors and Surgeons, Death. All this sounds terribly familiar don’t you think?????”

But of course, the performance has no link to coronavirus.

The opening show was designed by Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle as an ode to British history and culture. In the second of three “acts”, Boyle paid homage to the NHS, featuring hundreds of nurses dancing and roller-skating around hospital beds.

Later on, representations of famous villains from English literature are seen rising from the beds. The grim reaper-like figure that the post claims symbolises “death” is actually Lord Voldemort – the main antagonist in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series.

According to the Olympic media guide, the performance honours “two of Britain’s greatest achievements: its amazing body of children’s literature and its National Health Service”.

So, no, the London Olympics didn’t predict the coronavirus pandemic.